Dragonseye Part 24

Paulin opened the access door at the top and entered Chalkin's private apartments first. Behind him came eight Lords and Ladies Holder and M'shall, who insisted on representing the Weyrs. To their surprise, the room was brightly lit, glows shining from wall sconces so that the sleeping figures in the ma.s.sive fur-covered bed were quite visible. All three of them... Chalkin's portly frame bulked the largest under the sleeping furs, though his head was covered by a fold of the fine white bedsheet.

One of the girls woke first. She opened her mouth to scream, but did not when she saw Paulin's abrupt gesture for silence. Instead, she slithered across the mattress, sheet held up to her chin, to the edge of the bed and grabbed a discarded dress from the pile on the floor.

Paulin indicated that she could clothe herself. As smoothly as she moved, or perhaps because she had the sheet up to her chin and let in cold air, the other girl was awakened. She did scream.

"As loud as a green in season," M'shall said later chuckling at the memory. At that, Chalkin didn't rouse.

His guards had been alerted though and charged into the room, to be flabbergasted by the sight of so many armed folk in Chalkin's most private apartment.

"Chalkin has been impeached for failure to prepare this Hold for Threadfall, for abuse of his privilege as Lord Holder and for denying his holders their Charter-given rights," Paulin said in a loud voice, sword drawn. "Unless you wish to join him in his exile, put up your weapons."

To a man, they did just that as the reinforcements, led by Iantine, burst in from the hall. That was what finally roused Chalkin from a drunken sleep.

Later Paulin remarked that he'd been disappointed at such an anti-climactic outcome of their dawn invasion.

"S'nan will be rea.s.sured," K'vin said. I think he was certain we intended to humiliate Chalkin."

"We have," Tashvi said with a chuckle.

Lady Nadona, though she took a strong case of hysterics Irene took some pleasure in applying the slaps that cut her histrionics short decided that she could not leave her darling children to the mercies of unfeeling men and women, and would sacrifice herself to remain behind while Chalkin went into exile. She was exceedingly well acquainted with her own rights as granted by the Charter, down to the Clause and relevant sub-paragraphs.

Chalkin showed every fiber of his cowardice, trying to bribe one Lord Holder after another, with hints of unusual treasure if they a.s.sisted him. If anyone had been in the least bit tempted, their resolve was strengthened when the broken, shivering wrecks were released from 'cold storage'.

"The place was full," Issony said, looking shattered by what he had seen on that level. "Border guards, most of them, but they didn't deserve that from Chalkin!" Even the hardiest of them would bear the marks of their incarceration for the rest of their lives.

"Iantine? Did you bring... ah, you did. Do a quick sketch of them, will you?" Issony asked, pointing to the two so close to death: the two who had been castrated for rape. All that could be done for them was to ease their pa.s.sing with fellis juice. "To show S'nan. In case he has lingering doubts as to the justice of what was done here today."

"Any sign of Vergerin?" Paulin asked when all the cells had been emptied.

"No," M'shall said grimly. That shouldn't rea.s.sure you any." He jerked his thumb at some of the stretcher-bearers who had previously been the 'cold storage' guards. They said there were four dead ones who were slipped into the lime pits day before yesterday. We may have moved too late for Vergerin." Paulin cursed under his breath.

"Did you ask if any had heard the name?"

M'shall grunted. "No-one down there had a name."

Paulin winced. "We'd best send for the Holder team."

"I have dispatched riders to collect the deputies already. They should be here."

There was a commotion in the Hall, with cheering and shouts of welcome.

"They can't have got here this soon," M'shall said, surprised.

Both men went to investigate.

A tall man was shrugging out of thin and dirty furs and smiling at the riders clapping him on the back or whatever part of him they could touch.

"Guess who just walked in?" B'nurrin of Igen cried, seeing Paulin and M'shall.

"Vergerin?" Paulin asked.

"Optimist," M'shall muttered, and then, taking a second hard look at the face no longer hidden by a big furred hat, exclaimed, "It is!"

"It is?" Paulin hastened across the broad Hall.

"Has the family eyebrows," M'shall said with a chuckle.

"Where've you been hiding, Vergerin?" M'shall?" Vergerin peered around, a hopeful smile breaking across his weather-beaten face. He did bear a facial resemblance to Chalkin; as if Chalkin's features had been elongated and refined. "You don't know how glad I was to see all those dragons on the heights. I figured you had to come to your senses and get rid of him." He jerked his thumb ceiling-ward You've no idea."

"Where did you hide? When did you hide?" Paulin asked, clasping Vergerin's hand and shaking it enthusiastically.

Vergerin's grin turned wry. "I figured the safest place was under Chalkin's nose." He gestured in the general direction of the cot holds "He houses his beasts better than his folk, so the smell of me is at least clean horse manure. I've been earning my keep at the beast hold."

"But your holding has been empty."

"By my design, I a.s.sure you," Vergerin said, running a grubby hand through greasy hair and smiling apologetically.

"I've a strong survival streak, my Lords Holder, and when I realized my nephew really was not going to do a single thing about the imminence of Thread, I thought I had better disappear before he thought of possible retaliation - - and me as his only too obvious replacement." He had unwound the layers that clothed him and stood with a quiet dignity in the midst of the warmly-dressed riders and Lord Holders. It was that innate dignity which impressed Paulin. Nor was he alone in noticing it.

"Admittedly, my Blood claim to the Hold was squandered foolishly but then, I should have known that Chalkin was likely to cheat that night, if ever, with such stakes. It took me quite some while to figure out how he managed it, for I'm not without knowing a few tricks myself, and most of those that can be played on the unwary."

He gave a self-deprecating little smile. "I forgot just how hungry Chalkin was for a Lord Holder's power."

"But you kept your promises," Paulin said, nodding approval.

"The least I could do to restore self-esteem," and Vergerin executed a little bow to Paulin and the others.

"Dare I hope that you wish to keep this Bloodline in Bitra Hold?" He c.o.c.ked one of his heavy dark eyebrows, his glance candid and accepting.

Paulin did a quick check of the expressions on the faces of the other four Lord Holders who had arrived on the scene.

"You will certainly be considered by the Conclave when it meets at Turn's End," Paulin said, nodding. The others murmured agreement.

Loud protestations of innocence suddenly broke up the tableau as Chalkin, bracketed by Bastom and Bridgely, was walked down the main stairs. The tears of his wife and the frightened shrieks of his children added to the tumult.

At the last landing, Chalkin halted, wrenching his arms free from the two Lords as he flung himself down the stairs at Vergerin.

"You! YOU! You betrayed me! You broke your word! You did it. You did it all!" Bastom and Bridgely, moving with creditable speed, managed to recapture Chalkin and restrained him from physically attacking Vergerin, who did not so much as recoil from his nephew.

"You did it to me. You did it all," Chalkin said and shrieked louder than his children when Vergerin, with an expressionless face, slowly pivoted away from him.

Then Lady Nadona saw Vergerin and her cries turned raucous with hatred. "You've taken my husband and now you stand there to take my Hold, my children's inheritance - - Oh, Franco, how can you let them do this to your sister?" She fell against the Neratian's chest.

Franco's expression was far from repentant as he quickly unwound her plump arms from his neck with the help of Zulaya and the Istan Laura. Nadona was still in her nightdress, with a robe half-closed over the thin garment. Richud had the two boys by the arm, and his spouse the two weeping little girls who certainly didn't understand what was happening but were hysterical because their mother was.

Paulin took Vergerin by the arm and led him towards the nearest door, which turned out to be Chalkin's office.

Decanters and gla.s.ses were part of the appointments and Paulin hurriedly poured two gla.s.ses. Vergerin took his and drank it down, the draught restoring some color to his face.

He exhaled deeply.

Paulin, impressed by the man's control in a difficult situation, clapped his shoulder and gripped it firmly.

"It can't have been easy," he said.

Vergerin murmured, then straightened himself. "What was hardest," and his smile was wry, "was knowing what a consummate idiot I had been."

"One can forgive almost anything except one's own stupidities." Despite the thick stone walls the screams and bellows continued, the sound altering slightly as Chalkin was hauled out of the Hold and down the courtyard steps.

Lady Nadona's shrieks became earsplitting and then abruptly ceased, at which Paulin let out a sigh of relief. Irene might have knocked her out but she'd probably fainted. Either way the silence was welcome.

More shouting and confused orders! With an exasperated sigh, Paulin went to the shuttered window and threw it open on the most extraordinary scene: five men struggling to lift Chalkin to Craigath's back while the dragon, eyes whirling violently with red and orange, craned his neck about to see what was happening. Abruptly Chalkin's body relaxed and was shoved into position on Craigath's neck. M'shall leaped to his back and waited while two other Weyrmen roped Chalkin to M'shall and then added the collection of sacks and bags which would accompany the former Lord Holder into exile.

Craigath took off with a mighty bound and brought his wide wings down only once before he disappeared between.

"An island exile?" Vergerin asked, pouring himself another gla.s.s of wine.

"Yes, but not the same one we sent the guards to. Fortunately, there's a whole string of them."

"Young Island would be the safest one," Vergerin said dryly, sipping the wine. Then he made a face, looking down at the gla.s.s. "Wherever does he get his wines?"

Paulin smothered a laugh. "He's got no palate at all. Or did you like the idea of your nephew on an active volcanic island?"

"He's quick-witted enough to survive even that. Does Nadona stay on?"

"Her children are young, but you would be perfectly within your rights to relegate her to a secluded apartment and take over the education and discipline of the children." Vergerin gave a shudder of revulsion.

"Oh, there might be something worth saving in them, you know," Paulin said magnanimously.

"In Chalkin and Nadona's get? Unlikely." Then Vergerin walked to the cabinet where Hold records should be kept and, on the point of opening the doors, turned back to Paulin.

"Should I start right in? Or wait for the Conclave's decision?"

"Since we didn't know whether or not you had escaped Chalkin's grasp, we decided to let competent younger sons and daughters see what order they could contrive. However, since you would know a lot more about this Hold than they could, would you take overall charge?"

Vergerin now exhaled and a smile of intense relief lit his features. "Considering what I know of the state of this Hold and the demoralization of its holders, I'll need every bit of a.s.sistance I can muster." He shook his head. "I don't say my late brother was the best Holder in Pern, but he would never have countenanced the neglect much less Chalkin's ridiculous notion that Thread couldn't return because it would reduce the gaming he could do."

There was a polite rap on the door and when Paulin answered, Irene poked her head in.

"We managed to get the kitchen staff to prepare some food. I can't vouch for more than that the klah is hot and the bread fresh made."

Vergerin looked down at himself. "I couldn't possibly eat anything until I've washed."

Irene grinned. "I thought of that and had a room, and a bath, prepared for you. Even some clean clothing."

"Fresh bread and good hot klah will go down a treat," said Paulin, gesturing for Vergerin to precede him out of the room.

"No, my Lord Holder, after you," Vergerin said with a courtly gesture.

"Ah, but my soon-to-be Lord Holder, after you."

"I didn't realize I smelled that bad," Vergerin said ruefully and led the way out.

He was looking about him now, Paulin noticed, as if a.s.sessing the condition of the place. He stopped so short that Paulin nearly bounced off him. Pointing to the inner wall where Chalkin's portrait by Iantine was ostentatiously illuminated, he pivoted, eyes wide, his expression incredulous.

"My nephew never looked like that," he said, laughter rippling through his tone.

Paulin chuckled, too, having his first good look at the representation. "I believe it took the artist some time to paint a.... satisfactory portrait of your nephew."

"With so little to work on... but I can't have that hanging there," Vergerin exclaimed. "It's... it's..."

"Ludicrous!" Paulin suggested. "Poor Iantine, to have had to prost.i.tute his abilities to create that!"

"That will do for starters." Paulin leaned close to Vergerin, trying not to inhale because the warmth of the Hall was increasing the pong of manure emanating from Vergerin's clothing.

"I don't think you'll hurt the artist's feelings by removing it from such a prominent place."

"Would he consider repainting it to a closer likeness to the model?" Vergerin asked. "That would remind me of my youthful follies as well as how not to manage a Hold."

"Iantine's here - helped us get in, in fact. You can ask him yourself."

"After I've had that bath," Vergerin said and continued on his way to the stairs and cleanliness.

Younger sons and daughters were conveyed in from every major Hold, dressed and prepared to work hard. If some were disappointed that Vergerin had been found, they hid it well which did them no disservice.

By the time a substantial breakfast had been served, Vergerin had had a chance to speak to each of the eight young folk and decide what areas of responsibility they should a.s.sume.

Irene put a wing of Benden riders at Vergerin's disposition to use in contacting the larger holdings in Bitra and announcing Chalkin's impeachment and exile.

By then M'shall had returned. "I dumped him... and his packages, on Island 32. You'll need to know that for the records. It's rather a nice place. Too bad he gets it."

"Did you have any trouble with him?" Paulin asked.

M'shall looked amused as he unbuckled his flight gear.

"With the wallop Bastom gave him? He was still unconscious when I left him. Near a stream." M'shall made a face. "I should have dumped him in it. Serve him right for what he did to those he had in cold storage."

By mid-morning matters seemed to be in Vergerin's complete control and the Council members felt able to leave Bitra Hold.

Iantine begged a ride from K'vin for himself and Chalkin's portrait.

"When are you coming to Benden Hold?" Bridgely wanted to know, catching the young portraitist coming down the courtyard steps.

"Lord Bridgely, I am sorry not to be ready quite yet," Iantine said.

Bridgely jabbed his finger at the painting. "You're not letting that take precedent, are you?" And he scowled.

"No, never," Iantine said, recoiling slightly. Then his grin fled.