I Read What?!

So last time Nerilka made a few pit stops and found her way to Ruatha. And I didn't say this before, but I really appreciate the pacing of that. It would have been a bit of a waste to send Nerilka straight to Ruatha proper, rather than let her roam a little. But since we know the plot continues in Ruatha, it would have been annoying to stretch that part out too long.

McCaffrey, when she's on, is a very good craftsman. This is a good example of it. But now, let's let the plot continue...



We rejoin Nerilka as she's waking up in a strange new place. Well, not THAT strange. It's Ruatha, of course. But it's quiet: there are no drums at all.

It's a credit to McCaffrey that I actually find that to be a chilling thought. We've gotten so used to the drums, that now their absence underscores how many Ruathans died.

Desdra arrives. As mentioned, Nerilka intended to talk to her and ask her to keep her identity secret, but she doesn't have time. She, Pol, and Sal are off lead the animals in to the beasthold, so that their blood can be drawn.

Oh that makes sense. They can't use the serum derived from human blood to cure the animals. And Alessan's line survived their bout with the plague. I hadn't thought about that.

Apparently the healers have a very big centrifuge, which Nerilka has some doubts about, but everything works fine. Apparently everyone in Ruatha Hold is taking part in the inocculation process, because [o]nly a mass and instantaneous inoculation of threatened runners would prevent the plague from recurring.

That was the same justification for Moreta's desperate flight as I recall. I appreciate the consistency. And of course, real world events make this whole thing a little more bitter. But that's not McCaffrey's fault.

Nerilka, Pol and Sal spend some time with Dag, taking care of the animals, as they await the results of the creation process. We also get an actual explanation of the child, Fergal, who had appeared in the Ruatha parts of Moreta as well: he's Dag's grandson, and described as rascally, impudent, possessive, and suspicious of everyone. Including Alessan. Fergal adores Oklina and Dag, though. And he's very patiently dedicated to the animals.

So we get to see what happens:

What startled me was the odd straw-yellow fluid that was the product of this centrifugal process. By the time we got to the Hall, Desdra was already drawing it from one jar, explaining how this should be done without stirring up the darker residue. Under her direction, we tentatively began to imitate her, drawing the clear fluid from the jar, placing it in the glass bottles, using a clean needlethorn with each insertion to reduce the possibility of contamination. Ruthlessly, Desdra employed everyone at the Hall at this task, even three of the strongest convalescents, constantly moving among us to oversee the task.

Yay!

They'll be getting more bottles soon, which is good, because they need to make a LOT of serum. Enough for the mares and foals of ALL the remaining herds in Keroon, Telgar, Ruatha, Fort, Boll, Igen and Ista. Everyone's groaning a little at the work, but they're willing to do it.

It's a nice contrast with Tolocamp's stinginess, I think.

“Ista doesn’t breed runners. It’s an island,” Fergal said belligerently.

“It suffered the plague, man and beast,” Tuero said when Alessan did not reply. “Keroon and Telgar are also producing this serum, so Ruatha doesn’t have to do it all.”

“Ruatha has that much, at least, to give Pern,” Alessan added, as if no other comments had been made. “We will insure that the best possible serum comes from our beasts. Let us return to our tasks.”

Not subtle, McCaffrey, but I'll allow it.

Nerilka's particular job is to bleed the runners. It's actually not so bad, because she can escape the stench of the redwort involved in the preparation. They've marked the animals so they don't end up taking too much blood from any of them. This gives Nerilka a chance to see what's become of Ruatha, and she actually seems pretty optimistic that it can be set to rights. She starts thinking about what she would do, if she were given the right to meddle in Ruathan affairs.

Then the drums start: with the announcement as to how much quantities are needs, where, and who'll collect them. Alessan can't spare Tuero to listen for the codes, so Desdra volunteers "Rill" to do it, since she understands drum messages.

“And probably the codes as well, isn’t that right, Rill?” Desdra was quite ruthless, but at least she did not explain to anyone how she knew so much about my unmentioned skills. “She can fill serum bottles between messages. She needs a bit of sit-down time. She’s been going full pelt for some days now.”

Heh. Alessan is suitably impressed though, and thankfully doesn't ask how a drudge who had risen to volunteer healer would have learned that skill. And I'm a little happy about this too. The implication SEEMS to be that if a drudge has the inclination to learn a craft or skill, they can do it. I don't know how accessible the training is for drudges, but it's at least an indication that normal drudgehood is not the slavery it was/will be in Fax's domain.

This means I can feel better about Nerilka, Alessan, Lytol, and even Jaxom having drudges in their realms. (I have other reasons to hate Jaxom than that.) Anyway, Nerilka has decided to interpret this as Desdra approving of her labors here and "permitting [her her] whimsy."

Nerilka is also developing quite a bit of admiration for Alessan:

I could see why Suriana had admired as well as adored him. He deserved respect, and he had mine for new reasons at every turn. I could also perceive that he was driven. Somehow, despite all the brutal odds against him, Alessan was going to restore Ruatha Hold, repeople its vacant holds, restock its empty fields. I wanted to stay on here, and help him.

As it turns out, Nerilka has other skills that are turning out useful. There isn't much by way of authority here except for an overworked Alessan and Oklina, so Nerilka's kind of automatically assumed a lot of the responsibilities she had at Fort, such as directing drudges or explaining tasks.

Oklina in particular, we're told, is working very hard, and unlike Nerilka, has no sisters to help ease the burden. (I like this bit. McCaffrey often goes overboard with making her leads the most put-upon, I like that Nerilka is aware that she has had some advantages that Oklina hasn't, without any need to posture or dismiss the latter.) We're also told, for the first time, that Oklina herself isn't particularly pretty. Apparently the "dark complexion and strong features" that suit Alessan aren't quite as well suited for a girl.

...um. Not really sure what I think about that, McCaffrey. There are plenty of lovely women with dark skin and strong features.

And Nerilka does tell us that Oklina is very graceful, has a charming smile, and great, dark, expressive eyes. She notes that Oklina often looks dreamy, and wonders if she's fallen in love. She even spares a moment to consider Oklina's marriage prospects: Ruatha is really fucking poor at the moment, but there's a lot of prestige in the Bloodline, and the altruistic labor on the serum will also raise them in the eyes of their peers.

On one hand, this speculation seems a bit out of nowhere. But on the other, it does make sense. Marriage IS a central facet for women, especially noblewomen, on Pern. And we know that Nerilka isn't opposed to the practice - it's just that her father had refused the one prospect that she rather liked. And I'll compliment McCaffrey here: she's done a good job of avoiding that whole "not like other girls" trap that she kind of fell into with Menolly.

There's another bit that I like a lot:

From somewhere, fresh fruit had appeared—one of the dragonriders was dropping off supplies. Why ripe melon slices would cause Oklina’s eyes to tear, I could not then fathom. I doubted that she was so moved by the thoughtfulness behind the gift. Then I noticed that Alessan regarded the fruit with a soft smile of reminiscence, but he was off to work again so quickly, bread in one hand, the melon slice in the other, that I could have been wrong.

Truth be told, I'd forgotten the significance of melons. But a quick skim of Moreta reminds me of that trip where Moreta, Alessan, Oklina and B'lerion went and got supplies together. Romantic rendezvous and all that. The moment works well enough even without that though. It's a nice bit to underscore the shared trauma that Alessan and Oklina share. Ruatha was hit so very hard, and they've been stressed and scared and sick. Fresh fruit, even without the additional context, would be something that would be emotional for them.

About three days in, they succeed in making enough of the serum. Alessan sends Oklina and "Rill" down to get four flasks of wine from his private store so they can all celebrate together. Oklina tells Nerilka that he must be VERY happy, since Alessan is pretty possessive of his private stash - saving them for a "special purpose".

The implication, I think, is marriage. Or at least romance.

Anyway, the wine in the cellar is Benden white. Nerilka recognizes it, but has never had it herself. Tolocamp apparently only let his daughters drink "foxy Tillek pressings" rather than rare vintages. She wonders if it's as good as they say, and Oklina tells her she'll get to judge for herself.

It's a bit of truth-telling time. Oklina asks if Nerilka finished training at Healer Hall, and Nerilka decides she has to be honest even if it makes her look bad: she volunteered to help nurse when her Hold didn't need her any longer. (Well mostly honest, she omits the whole Dad is Lord Holder part.)

Oklina asks if Nerilka had a husband who died of the plague. It's all preamble though. Oklina is hoping for something else.

...not like that. Though that would be an unexpected plot twist! But no. She's hoping Nerilka will decide to stay in Ruatha. She's noticed how much Nerilka understands about Hold Management, and there's apparently so many dead that there are holds standing empty. Alessan's planning to start talking to "the holdless" to see if there are folk suitable enough to become vassal lords, and Oklina would really like to have some people around that they already know and trust. Alessan had also asked Oklina to sound Nerilka out about staying.

Tuero's staying too, and he and Alessan have been amicably bickering about salary and perks. Which raises interesting questions about the relationship between crafthall and Hold. We don't hear Nerilka answer Oklina though, instead, they return to the Main Hall for revelry.

Nerilka sits near Alessan and, maybe it's just the wine, but it seems like she might be starting to get a little bit of a crush:

That dinner was a very happy event for me. Alessan had taken the seat next to me, and I found his proximity strangely agitating. I tried to avoid touching him, but we were rather crowded on the benches, companionably so for everyone else. Since he was close to me, his arm resting on the table touched mine, occasionally his thigh brushed mine, and he grinned at me when Tuero said something particularly amusing. My heart raced, and I knew that my answering laugh was a little high and foolish. I was tired, I expect, overreacting to the success we were celebrating, and very much unused to the fine white Benden wine.

Aw. Alessan asks her what she thinks of the Benden wine, she admits that it's making her giddy. They share a moment, bonding over Ruatha. Both are pretty passionate about the Hold's well-being, which leads into Alessan asking her if she'll consider staying on. And of course, Nerilka does, admitting that the plague left her holdless.

It's very sweet and cute.

Eventually, Dag brings up that he's not a big fan of Balfor, who'll be Beastmaster in Keroon. He doesn't think he has the experience. Tuero notes that he's done everything Capiam said. Talk goes to one of the runner beasts being about to foal, and Nerilka decides to go out with Dag and Fergal to help with it.

She's still kind of reeling from the joy of actually being appreciated and trusted, and I admit, I'm not totally cold. I'm happy for her.

She does note, when Dag makes small talk with her, that she probably has to invent an appropriate personal history, now that things are calm enough for everyone to actually talk to each other. She manages so far with omission, but hopes to keep her full origin quiet until she's well established.

I don't really see why it's a big deal, but maybe she's assuming there's more animosity between Alessan and Tolocamp than there really is?

Eventually, they're joined by Pol, one of the brothers from the Hold last chapter. Apparently, his lord's second son is looking for cropland and might be a good candidate for land in Ruatha. Pol and his brother instead to stay for a while too, though they'll go back when they're needed in springtime.

We learn that Tuero was able to find out what happened to Bestrum and Gana's son and daughter. The daughter, as well as the servant who came with her, died in the first wave. The son had helped the field manager, but eventually collapsed and died too. They're buried in the great mounds.

Aw, that is sad. Nerilka will be writing to Lady Gana to inform her. I don't envy that letter. I like it though, it's a nice little illustration of Nerilka taking on the duties of a Lady Holder without necessarily realizing she is.

And eventually, with a bit too much detail, the runner beast does deliver its foal: a colt, which delights Fergal. Who indeed seems to be very very competent, despite his age. Nerilka goes off to inform Alessan...

OH, I remember this bit from Moreta. So that's when we are. Oklina and Desdra have gone to bed. Tuero's awake, but pretty drunk. Alessan's passed out at the table. Tuero thinks he recognizes Nerilka, but she denies it, as they both get Alessan up to his room.

Of course, we get bits with Nerilka being attracted to a sleeping Alessan's smiling, less stressed face.

Tuero wistfully asks if she'll tuck him in too. She gets him situated on the "doss-bed" in the next room and muses that Tuero was the one who coined the phrase "the Fort Hold Horde" to describe Tolocamp's daughters. Nerilka doesn't mind, but she thinks he might, if he does remember it. Then she dismisses it as his problem if he does.

The chapter ends with this reasonably happy moment. Before things go to hell again.