Chap. 396 Back in the Saddle

Chap. 396 Back in the Saddle

K’ndar had just finished correlating his data when his datalink called.

“K’ndar here, who calls?”

For a moment, all he heard were odd sounds in a background of wind. Then, “K’ndar! It’s Harve, of Serengeti. We had something come up in our nets and Cap’n Disko wants someone from Landing to see it. Oh, and we have a load of fish for you.”

Oh, no, K’ndar thought, I remember what an issue the strange jaw caused.

“That thing, it’s not another stinky jaw, is it?”

Harve laughed. “Not this time, K’ndar and had it been another dead thing, Cap’n would have said, drop it and don’t say a word. It’s something metal. I can’t even describe it. It’s heavy and about four meters long. Do you want it?”

“Of course we want it. I’ll tell my boss and he’ll probably tell me to go get it right now. Where are you?”

“We’re pulling into Cove Hold now.  We’ll be unloading at the new wharf.”

“What’s the weather like?” although he knew he could find out at Flight Ops.

“For us seamen, it’s perfect weather. We have steady winds out of the West, and as soon as we unload, and replenish stores and water, we’re heading right back out deadhead. The fish are running and Cap’n Disko doesn’t wait for some landsman to figure out what he wants to do. So, I might not be able to talk for long.”

K’ndar laughed. “Right then. I’ll ping you when I’m in bound.”

——————————————————————————————

“You’re not going without me,” Raylan said, “If it’s an artifact from the sea floor, it’s bound to be interesting.” And I HAVE to get out of this office, at least for a few hours.  Arr and Dee has decided that, because I did them a favor and got their blasted rocks, using MY budget, MY time and that of my dragonrider to find the source, MY arranging with the Weyr to transport them here, that suddenly, that’s my job? I’m not Acquisition. Did they even say thank you, Science? Oh, shaff no, it’s ‘that’s all? Raylan, you’re not doing anything, go get more.”

It was my pleasure to tell them to go bag their arse, they can go pick up all the rocks they want. It’s NOT my position or job to run their errands.

He sighed. There are times I absolutely hate this job. But….

K’ndar did the logistics. “Boss, I’m going to have to make two trips. First the fish and I’ll get a look at the metal thing and if it’s too big, I’ll need a second trip. Carrying you, me, the fish and the thing is too much weight, for Raventh, never mind I have no idea how it will balance.”

I can do it. I can carry two humans and the thing and fish. I am Raventh!

I know. But remember the jaw, how heavy it was?

It fell into the water BEFORE I picked it up. Wait. Motanith says she’s coming to help.

By herself?

No. She heard you and Raylan talking and now she is saying Francie is  well enough to fly.

Raylan saw his glazed expression, knowing very well when a dragonrider was talking with his dragon, despite not ever having heard it.

“Let me guess,” he said, smiling, “Motanith?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You aren’t going to carry it all by yourself. First, Francie has always been the one to bring a load of fish here. Motanith is half insane from Francie being grounded.  Second, she’s clear to fly as of today!  I’m waiting on Francie to respond, I just pinged her. “

As the words left his mouth, his datalink pinged. Francie’s voice came over the link, strident.

“Don’t you dare leave without me, Raylan, if you do I’ll never speak to you again,” she threatened, “I can do this. Motanith will carry anything. I’m out to harness her now.”

K’ndar was gobsmacked. “She…she didn’t really mean that, did she? I mean, not speaking to you?”

Ah, Francie. Somehow, even on the other side of the compound, you can lighten my spirits, and make me laugh, Raylan thought.

“K’ndar, one of these days you’ll find yourself with a wife or a weyrmate who uses ‘wifeish’ as a supplement to Global. Francie wasn’t threatening me, she was making sure I knew in big capital letters that she really really wants to go and please don’t argue with her.”

“Oh. So how do you know when it’s a real threat?”

Raylan sighed. “It’s when they look at you with black ice in their eyes and say in a flat tone, “Fine.” When you hear ‘fine’ in that tone of voice, your shit is weak.”

__________________________________________________________

It’s so good to see Francie back in the saddle again, he thought. Her green dragon was flying just behind Raventh’s left wing, taking advantage of the  bigger dragon’s breaking the wind resistance and creating an uplifting vortex for her wings.

Motanith was carrying a neatly bundled fishing net almost as big as she was.

“It’s the Serengeti’s net,” she had explained, “from the last time I picked up a load of their catch. Most captains won’t lend their nets to anyone, but Captain Disko trusts me, K’ndar, and much of that is because you rescued Harve. They consider you family, you know.”

 K’ndar felt humbled. “I know. It was just a navigational error that led us to find Harve on that island. And it wasn’t just me, Francie, F’mart, D’mitran and B’rost all were part of it.  Oh, what a monster his captor was! I couldn’t bear to think of leaving Harve in his clutches. His uncle and crew  are all the family he had left. That and the ship. They’re awfully fine people and for them to treat me and you like this makes me feel so, oh, appreciated? Honored?”

“Honored. That’s the word.”

He stole a look behind him at Francie as they flew. She looked rapturous. Raylan rode behind her, his arms firmly around her waist. Above their heads, Francie’s trio of fire lizards were warbling their happiness that finally, finally! Mom was flying again.

What a gorgeous day, he thought.

 I don’t have to wonder why she’s got a grin wrapped three times around her head, he thought. I probably look the same. If there’s one thing I love more than riding horses, it’s riding my fabulous dragon Raventh. I love how well trained we are, Francie just automatically took up that position, and if we were going to go any distance, she’ll eventually take her turn in front.

As if hearing him, Raventh said, Motanith wants to fly to Cove Hold rather than go between. She’s not had a chance to fly drills with us.

She could have, does she know that?

Of course she knows that. But she wants her rider on board. Just like me.

If I were laid up like she was, of COURSE I’d want you to fly with the others.

I know. I would, too. It didn’t stop her from hunting with us. Sometimes females just are that way.

He laughed.

“K’ndar, do you mind if we just fly there? Motanith needs the exercise,” Francie called.

“I know. Raventh said the same thing. Sure, let’s just fly there. It will take a lot longer, but it’s lovely weather.”

“Uh, don’t I get a say in this?” Raylan called, having expected to show up at Cove Hold after going between, “I thought we’d just get there in a few seconds.” Dismayed, he thought, I DO have work to do. I hadn’t planned on flying instead of going between. But, on the other hand, it will keep me from losing my temper with Arr and Dee. Let them figure out how to be polite with Master Nickle.

Francie giggled. “Don’t say that! Motie hears you and she will…”

Did you hear that, brown? Her weyrmate wants to go fast. Want to race?

Think you can beat me? Raventh retorted, knowing full well greens were desperately fast-but didn’t have the stamina browns did.

Motanith snorted derisively and accelerated. Without a word, Raventh sped up, pacing himself. Motanith quickly opened up a large lead, but, Raventh thought, that means she’s breaking the wind resistance, not me. She’ll slow down eventually.

Francie whooped in joy.

By the time they’d reached Cove Hold, they’d slowed to a more sedate speed.

That felt good. I needed a good long flight, too Raventh said.

Below them, he could see the Healer Hall, set back from the shoreline and built to take advantage of the cooling winds of the onshore breezes.

I remember strapping Francie into a sling for Motanith to carry her here. Oh, stars, I thought she was going to die. I know Raylan did, too.

Motanith wouldn’t let her die. She was in her mind the entire time she was with the healers. She pushed so hard into Francie’s mind, don’t die, don’t you dare leave me Raventh said.

And you kept Motanith from suiciding. It was you, too.

There was no need. Francie lived. It took Motanith a few thinks before she knew Francie was alive.

It smells like spring, he thought. The sun warmed his back. They circled, and K’ndar called “Ladies first!” to Francie. She signaled ‘thank you” in return. Motanith circled until the prevailing wind was in her face, then backwinged and dropped onto the dragon meadow.

There were two bronzes, curled up in the meadow. They were napping.

Who are they?

They are from Honshu Weyr. I don’t know them. They probably flew here instead of going between.

Motanith immediately moved several dragon lengths to the side to give Raventh room to land.

They dismounted. Francie turned to unbuckle Raylan and he stepped off of Motanith’s knee.

Francie pulled her jacket and helmet off. “By the stars, I’ve needed to fly what seems like forever,” she said to K’ndar.

“I’ve been so busy, Francie, I’m sorry I didn’t come and visit you earlier.”

She laughed. “I am NOT a patient patient, K’ndar. I would probably have either harangued you or whinged, when I should have said, THANK you, dear man. As it is, thank you, K’ndar, for you and Raventh, and for you exercising Donal for me.”

“This is the fifth time you’ve thanked us. Wouldn’t you have done the same for me? Come on, Francie, it’s good. And riding Donal is NEVER a chore. It’s a privilege,” he said. She hugged him.

Raylan had rolled his eyes. “Be thankful, K’ndar, because what she said..yes. She’s not a patient patient. Whereas I, apparently was a screaming tree.”

“I didn’t scream.”

“You know what I mean by screaming tree. Not out of pain, no. But you sure did some complaining when doing physical therapy!”

“That was to tell my leg that yes, I DO need to do these, stop whinging. I always get a bad case of the ‘I don’t wannas’.”

She stomped her feet to show she was almost back to normal. She faced Raylan. “I’m sorry, love. I have been a pain in the arse. Forgive me,” she said to her weyrmate. “Thank you for calling me to help today. I badly needed to fly.” Her leg twinged just a little. Okay, she thought, I still am not 100% but I can’t let these males know. “Now then, what are we here for again?”

“Fish for the dining hall, courtesy of the Serengeti. Also, a metal thing they’ve recovered. Ah, here’s our ride.”

A young girl driving a horse cart approached.  Francie and K’ndar immediately assessed the horse. “I like his shoulder, but he’s cat hammed,” Francie said.

“Yes. He’s a bit post legged.”

“A “bit?” He’s probably a very hard ride, poor thing. But he’s in beautiful condition, just the same.”

“Oh, you horse people,” Raylan groused. The cart driver halted her horse.

“Raylan of Landing? I’m here to transport your cargo from the ship. Oh, HELLO, Francie! It’s so good to see you up and moving around!”

“Thank you, lassie. It’s good to see you, too,” Francie said, dismayed.  I recognize your face, she thought, but I can’t remember your name.  Come on, brain, it was my leg that was hurt, not my brain.  Ah, well, may as well admit it.

“I’m sorry, lass. But my brain is still sort of foggy, I can’t remember your name.”

The girl laughed. “Prob’ly because I don’t tell anybody. It’s a dumb name that my mother pinned on me to punish my father for making me a girl.  Lassie is fine. I remember hearing about your dragon saving your life.” She looked over their shoulders at the dragons.

“Thank you,” Francie said. “We’ll help you load the net.”

It took all four to load it. “I’m so glad it’s clean and dry,” K’ndar said, “I learned the hard way how bad a net can smell.”

The girl laughed as she checked the net’s tag. “I thought this was one of Serengeti’s. They have a topnotch net team on board. And I know Francie is good at returning a net clean and dry. I won’t put a filthy net in my cart. I clean it out after every cargo, especially if it’s fish. I always think, would I want to eat whatever comes out of a dirty cart? There’s some that will, but not me. Not even if I’m paid. If it weren’t clean and dry, you’d have to take it to the ship by yourself.”

Several smaller boats were tied up to the original, small dock. They all bristled with booms, their purpose unknown.

At the larger dock, the Serengeti rocked gently in the swell, her sails neatly stowed and her decks crammed with cargo being unloaded.

A large flock of sea wherries and seabirds swirled over the topmasts, bickering and skreeling, hoping for a chance to snatch a fish they knew would be coming from the cargo holds. On the deck, and safely out of the way, a large ginger cat watched them warily.

He remembered his friend from the weyr, Lindea, saying, every ship needs a cat, for good luck.

Siskin and Francie’s trio of fire lizards stayed with their dragons. The sea wherries were twice their size and wouldn’t hesitate to attack a fire lizard.

“Excuse me, but you have to get out of my cart here,” the girl said, pulling up to a point a ways from the wharf.

“Oh?” Francie asked, surprised, “I can’t go out to the ship?”

“Yes’m. I mean No ma’am,” she said, apologetically. “We have a new portmaster. She said that supercargo, uh, I’m sorry, you’re not passengers, but, um, well, uh, she said people who aren’t port staff like me, or crew need to stay off the wharf during loading and unloading UNLESS specifically invited by the crew. “

“Hmm, that’s new.”

“Yes,m. It’s for safety. Last month some yob decided he knew better than Fogbow’s crew how to load his cargo and literally charged aboard the ship to stop one of the crew from opening the box. Things got heated and the lout pulled a marlinspike out to make his point. He got conked in the head from a falling block and spent a few weeks here in Healer Hall. In the meantime Fogbow’s first mate discovered that the lout had lied about the cargo and hadn’t paid the going rate. So now, no one is allowed onto the wharf until it’s clear. Or the crew invites you.”

Francie shrugged. “Okay. That’s probably wise.”

“What in the world was the cargo?”

The girl giggled. “A box of live chickens. Not a crate, a closed BOX. Live cargo is more expensive than just a box full of stuff, the lout tried to cheat. Never mind the chickens would never have survived a six to eight week voyage. It was plain cruelty, it was neglect. That made the crew furious, the cruelty. No one on the Fogbow had any interest in caring for a bunch of chickens in a tiny box, no food, no water, and no one knew when the lout was going to return to claim them.

The lout slipped out of sick bay in the middle of the night without paying for his care or keep.”

“What did he do, just walk out?”

“As far as I know. There were no ships in port at the time other than the netters. None of us carters transported him and no one really remembers how he got here in the first place. Not that any of us would have transported him after he left the Hall. We don’t like cheats or liars.”

“He didn’t take his chickens?”

“Nope,” the girl said, “No one seems to know what happened to the box after it was offloaded. You’re supposed to keep track of every box, every crate, every bundle, and it’s illegal to keep a shipper’s goods, even if he did cheat on the shipping rate. But isn’t it interesting, no one here at the port knows where the box went. I guess the chickens broke open the box and flew away.  And it’s so interesting, because about a week later? Cove Hold began to see wild chickens in the underbrush here. Can you believe the luck? We needed them badly.  A nice big night roost was built for them and they’re laying several eggs a day. But you didn’t hear that from me.”

“You do know chickens can’t fly,” K’ndar said. She looked at him with disdain.
“Of course I do,” she said, “I was being facetious.”

“Oh, duh. I get it. Sorry,” he said.

They dismounted from the cart. The girl kissed at her gelding to move out.

“ ‘Ware cart, Serengeti, cart coming in,” she called. The crew on the wharf cleared a path for her.

“Wharf is clear, lassie, bring it on,” Serengeti’s First Mate called.

K’ndar thrilled to the sound of hoofbeats on stone, a sound that every horseman has instead of a heartbeat. He watched as she drove past the Serengeti to the end of the wharf. That end was twice the width of the rest of the wharf, to allow carts to be turned around.  Bolsters at the end formed a barricade to keep carts from falling into the sea. That is smart, he thought, it’s so much easier to go around than back up a cart.

“Firstie, I have your net from last Landing shipment,” the girl called in an official tone. Serengeti’s First Mate marked her clipboard, then motioned to a crewmember, who immediately cranked the winch on a loading boom, dropping a cable with an empty hook.

“Is it clean?” yelled the boom man.

The girl laughed. “Of course!  Francie knows better than return a dirty net!” She alighted, attached the hook to a ring on the net and called, “Heave ho!” 

The boom man cranked the net up out of the cart, then moved the boom over an open hatch. “Looks good, lassie! Nice and dry!” the man cried.

K’ndar felt a strange kinship with the dockworkers and the ship’s crew. They’re in their own world, he thought, everyone working as a team, everyone knowing what to say and do. Like us dragonriders fighting thread. That girl, she’s what, sixteen?  And already an accomplished and accepted member of a closely knit society.

“Fish coming down!” the crewman cried. With a squeal of blocks and rope, a bulging net of fish emerged from the hold. The man turned the boom until it was directly over the cart, then gently lowered the net of fresh fish into it. She motioned at the crewman until the hook was at shoulder level, then detached it and reboarded her cart. “Thank you, Serengeti!” she called. She kissed at the horse, unnecessarily. The gelding knew his job as well as she did and was moving away. The moment she reached land, another carter drove onto the wharf.

I could watch this for hours, he thought.

“Francie! I’m taking the fish to your green dragon?” the girl asked when she pulled up next to them.

“Yes, when we get to her, I’ll have Motanith hover and pick up the net, just like always.”

“Yes, ma’am, I like Motanith. She’s so pretty.”

She moved to one side of small cart seat. “Climb aboard, ma’am, there’s just enough room for you. I’ll take you to your dragon. Sirs, if you don’t mind waiting, I’ll be back for that other thing you’re here for.”

Raylan nodded. Francie’s expression suddenly turned to consternation.

“Um…” she turned to Raylan, “are you riding back with me? On Motanith?”

“Um…”

“I don’t know if she can..oh, I have to be careful with what I say,” she said. “That net is heavy and it’s always been just me on her back when we’ve transported that heavy a load.”

She stuffed that doubt deep into the part of her mind that she kept from Motanith, sometimes not successfully. Motanith, like every dragon, was utterly convinced she could do ANYTHING she put her mind to and was insulted if doubted.

“She can do it” she said, out loud for the dragon’s benefit. But she shook her head with a grimace, thumbing over her shoulder at Motanith. Shrugs and expressions were silent, in one’s mind as well as on one’s face.

 Raylan and K’ndar both knew why.

“But we need to get the fish to Landing as soon as possible,” Francie said, “they’re holding a refrigerator for it.”

“Um…” Raylan said. He looked at K’ndar.

“I will have to come back anyway to return the net,” she said, “but I don’t necessarily have to do that today.”

“Is Motanith up to it? Are YOU up to it? That was a long flight,” he said, his tone worried. We’d go between, of course but she might be worn out.

Francie bristled. “Of course I’m up to it, and yes, Motie can, this time we’ll go between both ways. But I have to unload the net, even when the dining staff does all the packing it into the refrigerators. It takes a while, though, and I like to have the net clean when I return it.”

“How do you do that?” K’ndar asked.

“Motie carries it back in her talons and we pull it through the water to clean it. It’s hard work, that net gets heavy when it’s wet. Sometimes I ask the folks with the net boats to hang it for me.”

“Net boats?”

“See those little boats, with booms all over? They’re net boats. Their owners make nets, they mend them, clean them and hang them to dry on the booms. Last time I picked up a net of fish, they were all full, so we dragged it through the sea and then we flew home to let it dry out.”

“That must be, um, a lot of work for a green. They’re built for speed, not for weight lifting,” K’ndar said, softly.

“Yes,” Francie agreed, “but you know how dragons are. A net full of nice fat whiptails is just about the limit for you know who.”

He grinned and said, loudly, “I’m absolutely sure Motanith can carry anything, but I am worried about you and your leg. I’m SURE you understand.”

Francie smiled. “Let’s just say that I may have overdone it today, my leg is starting to bother me, please, do, bring my man home.”

Which was making itself painfully true. Her leg WAS beginning to ache. Will I ever regain all my strength? What if I can’t ride? What if I can’t cue with this leg?

She forced herself to stop that worrisome train of thought. I WILL ride him on the leg. I will.

“He can ride behind me, Francie,” K’ndar said.

Raylan kissed her. “Go home. I’ll be there in a while. I expect some of your fabulous fish chowder for dinner.”

“Oh, no, not chowder, Raylan. These fish are so fresh they’re still flapping. I’m wrapping them and steaming them after I put on my secret spice mix.”

She turned to Kndar. “And you, K’ndar, you’ll be there at my table? Yes?”

K’ndar grinned. “Miss your secret spice? Not me, ma’am.”

I wonder what life would have been like had my parents been like these people are, the girl wondered wistfully.

But then, I might not be here, doing this. I’m rich, after all. This is MY cart, she thought, running her hand over one of the supports. I bought it from a man who had gotten too old for the job and I fixed it by myself. The horse is mine. I make enough to pay for a place to sleep and all the food I can eat and still have some left to save. I have a cat, a horse, a job, and mother has no clue where I am. That suits me just fine. And if all else fails, I had a dragonrider tell me I could be a dragonrider if I chose. I have the Gift. Maybe someday.

“Shall we?” Francie said.

“Yes, ma’am!” The girl kissed at her horse.

As they drove away, Francie said, gently, “You know, you can change your name to anything you want.”

The girl laughed. “I know, but Lessa  is already taken.”