I Read What?!

Last time, things ACTUALLY happened. We got an eleventh hour adversary that's much more interesting and likable than our hero! We had F'lar and Lessa being awesome! We had Lytol being droll and even Robinton didn't annoy as much as usual. Of course, we also had Jaxom deciding that he finally wants his kingdom, seemingly for the sole motivation of impressing his girlfriend.



So the chapter starts with F'lar, Lessa and Robinton discussing Toric. And maybe it's just that I've checked out of the book, but I'm having trouble with this bit:

“I KNOW WHAT was originally conceded to Toric,’ Robinton was saying to the Benden Weyrleaders as they sat drinking klah at Cove Hold.

“To Hold what he had acquired when the Oldtimers left the Southern Weyr,” F’lar amended. “The purist would argue that, as the Oldtimers have not indeed all passed between, Toric may continue to extend his Holding.”

“Or secure the loyalty of others in Holding?” Robinton remarked.

...I mean, take F'lar's statement. He seems to think that Toric can keep expanding as long as there are Oldtimers alive. But that's not what he SAYS. "When the Oldtimers left the Southern Weyr" is pretty unmistakable. Just shift D'ram and company to a different Weyr.

That said, I'm not sure why this is even an issue. F'lar and Lessa don't WANT to govern the Holders. They've got an entire large chunk of the continent for their own use. And while Toric may, theoretically be "Fax-like", he's shown a distinct lack of a) conquering other kingdoms or b) murdering a lot of people.

You can't just TELL us that character A is like character B, Ms. McCaffrey. You have to at least give us a few examples as to how they're alike. You might as well say that Robinton is Fax like, seeing as how they're old men who are dicks to women.

I am amused that Robinton gets the same realization/insight that Jaxom did last chapter. It's kind of the opposite of the Piemur situation really. This IS something that Robinton, with his years of playing politics, should have picked up on. Jaxom hasn't paid a lick of attention for this entire book.

So anyway, Lessa's reaction to Robinton's insight is interesting:

Lessa stared at him, absorbing his meaning. “Was that why he was amenable to settling so many holdless men?” She looked indignant for a moment and then laughed. “Toric is a man we shall have to watch these next Turns. I’d no idea he’d prove so ambitious.”

I love Lessa. And I like that for Lessa (and implicitly F'lar), ambition is NOT a turnoff.

The discussion moves to Sharra and her sudden departure. Lessa and Robinton are smarter than Jaxom as both realize that the "emergency" that Toric used to summon Sharra was probably bullshit. Toric apparently intends to use Sharra, his other sisters, and his daughters to "bind men to him."

...okay? Is this supposed to be a bad thing?

Look, obviously, I'm going to sympathize with someone who wants to marry for love instead of politics. But how exactly the idea of Toric marrying off his female relatives any different than the setup in the North? Kylara had been betrothed before she was Searched, to a man she didn't choose. The wedding in Dragonquest was part of an important alliance.

Pern is a feudal society where women have very little rights. That's what makes the Weyr so attractive, remember? And really, when you think about the system in the Weyr, it's hard to argue that Toric is that much worse.

I am amused at Lessa's acidic reaction though. She approves of Sharra as a match for Jaxom, assuming that it's not a gratitude situation. (Robinton reassures her that per Brekke and Menolly it's not.)

Actually this bit is pretty great:

Robinton laughed. “Brekke feels, and so does Menolly, that the attachment is sincere on both sides. I’m delighted you agree. I’ve been daily hoping he would ask me to officiate. Especially in view of today’s reflections. By the way, only it isn’t exactly by the way but to our point, Jaxom went back to Ruatha Hold last evening. He approached Lytol on the subject of his confirmation as Lord Holder.”

“Did he?” F’lar was as pleased as his weyrmate. “Prompted by Sharra? Or by Toric’s not-too-subtle jibing yesterday?”

...I kind of love how all the adults realize that Jaxom is ONLY motivated through his dick and his ego.

So anyway, N'ton, Nicat and Wansor show up. F'lar ends their meeting with a kind of cryptic: "Shall we just let matters proceed naturally?" and Robinton and Lessa just as cryptically agree.

I like my interpretation that they're going to leave the layabout to fend for himself.

So there's more archaeology now. They identify some of the rooms on the plateau as classrooms. There's an interesting bit of theorizing, as Benelek speculates on whether or not the ancients would have "followed a logical sequence and progressed to the right in any circular formation." Lessa finds Benelek's manner very amusing. (Which leads F'lar to try[] to imitate Benelek's decisiveness, which I also find very amusing.)

So today they're unearthing F'lar's giant mound. They manage to uncover some doors, one large enough to admit a green dragon with a smaller man-sized one in a corner. The door hinges aren't metal, which everyone finds fascinating.

Unfortunately, Jaxom and Ruth arrive at this point. I was enjoying this chapter much more without them. And indeed, my annoyance is justified, since Jaxom is clearly here to move the plot away from the cool archeological stuff:

“Could I have a word with you, Master Robinton. Unless ... ” Jaxom waved his hands toward the mound and the little door hanging so invitingly open.

“I can wait until the air is cleared out,” Robinton said, having noticed the tense look in Jaxom’s eyes and his air of polite entreaty. He moved with the young man to one side of the others. “Yes?”

“Sharra is being restrained at Southern by her brother,” Jaxom said in a low voice that did not reveal his agitation.

It took you fucking long enough to figure that out, dude. What the fuck did you think would happen when you outright challenged the man?

Actually, Jaxom DIDN'T figure it out. Sharra told Ruth. Toric wants Sharra to marry one of his new Holders, and he considers the Northern "lordlings" useless. Oh and this is fun: There was a dangerous glint in Jaxom’s eyes and a sternness to his features which, for the first time since Robinton had known the lad, gave him the look of his father. Fax, a resemblance which afforded Robinton some small pleasure.

Wait. I thought comparisons to Fax were bad?

Also, the Northern lordlings ARE useless, Jaxom. They're all lesser sons that the Northern Lords wanted out of their hair. But you're the Lord of fucking Ruatha, dude. I'm pretty sure if you bothered to try to approach Toric with an offer, you could make him see the advantage to an alliance with Lessa's favorite kingdom.

(I mean, Jaxom's useless, but winning over Lessa is always good.)

But Jaxom's a fucking moron:

“I intend to get her back,” Jaxom said in a quiet firm tone, and gestured to Ruth. “Toric forgot to reckon with Ruth.”

“You’d fly into Southern and just carry her off?” Robinton asked, trying to keep his expression straight, though Jaxom’s romantic manner made it difficult.

“Why not?” Suddenly the glint of humor was restored to Jaxom’s eyes. “I doubt if Toric expects me to take direct action. I’m one of those useless Northern lordlings!”

This is the stupidest fucking plan.

Dude, you're NOT one of the useless lordlings. You are ACTUALLY A LORD. You have Lytol and Lessa in your corner. You're favored by dragonriders. You can MAKE AN OFFER. Hell. Why not go there full fucking ceremony? You want to prove yourself the Lord of Ruatha, fucking ACT LIKE IT. (I mean, I AM on board with rescuing Sharra as well, but you can do more than one thing!)

Hell, he's got the opportunity right now:

Toric and his group had dismounted in the clear space between two of the mound ranks. He had left his people to sort themselves out and, stripping off his flying gear, was striding toward Lessa and those clustered about the mound door. But, after giving her a greeting, he changed directions and there was no doubt his goal was Jaxom.

“Harper!” he said, coming to a halt with a courteous nod for Robinton before he looked at Jaxom.

I love that Toric greets Lessa first. And this is great:

“Holder Toric,” Jaxom said over his shoulder in a cool indifferent greeting. The title, which was certainly proper as Toric had never been invited to take full rank by the other Lord Holders of Pern, brought the Southerner up short. His eyes narrowed as he looked keenly at Jaxom.

“Lord Jaxom.” Toric’s drawl made an insult of that title, implying that it was not fully Jaxom’s as yet.

Jaxom turned slowly toward him. “Sharra tells me,” he said, noting as Robinton did the surprise twitch of Toric’s eye muscles, and a quick darting glance at the fire-lizards about Ruth, “that you do not favor an alliance with Ruatha.”

“No, lordling. I do not!” Toric flicked a glance at the Harper, a broad smile on his face. “She can do better than a table-sized Hold in the North.” The last word held contemptuous emphasis.

Okay, this is great. And aggravating. Because we had ten pointless chapters in Cove Hold when we could have had stuff like this. Though I have some complaints:

1) Of course, Toric has to dismiss Ruatha, because otherwise Jaxom looks like an idiot (which he is). But this requires Toric to be a fucking idiot. Because again, Ruatha is an old and powerful Hold, with a lot of influence.

...but then again, we ARE talking about Jaxom here. Possibly if LYTOL were looking for a wife, Toric's reaction would be different.

2) So Jaxom is going the classist snob route? I...feel like that's not going to work. Lytol said outright that the reason Toric isn't a LORD Holder is that he's never asked for confirmation. It seems pretty obvious that he'd get the title if he wanted it. Hell, he could use it now. Who the fuck would stop him?

3) And the title ISN'T fully yours, Jaxom. You've done nothing to earn it.

As much as I love Toric, I also love that Lessa is NOT happy about the dismissal of her Hold:

“What did I hear. Toric?” Lessa asked, her voice light but with a hint of steel in her eyes as she squarely ranged herself beside Jaxom.

“Holder Toric has other plans for Sharra,” Jaxom said, his tone more amused than aggrieved. “She can do better, it seems, than a table-sized Hold like Ruatha.”

“I mean no offense to Ruatha,” Toric said quickly when he caught the flicker of anger in Lessa’s face, though the Weyrwoman continued to smile.

“That would be most unwise, considering my pride in my Bloodline and in the present Holder of that title,” she said in the most casual tone.

Hehehe. Sorry Toric. You don't have a prayer against Lessa. I wish Jaxom didn't sound like he was fucking tattling here though. And I WISH McCaffrey would have let him have this confrontation without Robinton or Lessa as backup, because while they are great, it just reinforces the idea that Jaxom is weak and useless.

Which he is, sorry.

Anyway, Robinton points out what I did. This alliance would be beneficial. Toric would ally himself with one of the most prestigious Holds. And Lessa points out that it'd be in favor of Benden. All true. But wouldn't this scene have been better if JAXOM had been the one to point this out?

Lessa and Robinton end up leading Toric away. And his reaction is actually pretty interesting:

“I thought we were here to dig up Pern’s glorious past,” Toric said, with a good-natured laugh. But he did not disengage his arm from Lessa’s.

And to make my shipper heart happy, F'lar ends up joining in. (Presumably Lessa filled him in through Mnementh):

“Yes, with so many ambitious holdless men pouring into Southern,” F’lar said smoothly, “we’ve been remiss in making certain you’ll have the lands you want, Toric. I don’t ‘fancy blood feuds in the South. Unnecessary, too, when there’s space enough for this generation and several more.”

Toric’s answer was a full-bodied laugh and although he had adjusted his stride to match Lessa’s, he still gave Robinton the impression of invulnerable self-assurance.

OT3!!!

Toric's not a weak-willed sycophant though. He doesn't immediately capitulate. And here the discussion moves to some very interesting areas, as F'lar questions him about how far he's expanded, both himself and his exploratory teams. We learn that D'ram's dragonriders have been assisting. He's actually gotten all the way to the Western Range, which F'lar finds a bit alarming.

So F'lar asks, politely concerned, how he'll Hold it all. Toric has a plan, of course. He's got small cotholders establishing their families along the shoreline and strategic points. They're very loyal.

That's when Lessa hits, saying that she thinks he'll have more than enough to occupy himself with "from sea to Western Range to the Great Bay...". Toric is surprised and not exactly pleased by this. He's about to head back to his Hold for maps, when F'lar cuts him off.

This fascinatingly tense scene is interrupted as we go to Jaxom. Of fucking course. He's busy whining about Toric's "table-sized Hold" comment. We're told that it had never occurred to him that Toric "might not be honored by an alliance with Ruatha."

...and this is where a decent Lord would have explained the benefits. Maybe sent a proper courtship offer? I mean, Toric was at least LISTENING to Lessa and Robinton, even if he wasn't quite on board yet.

So Jaxom's off to rescue Sharra, and I'm really curious about the legality of this. Obviously F'lar and Lessa will support Jaxom, but could Toric issue some kind of complaint for the abduction of his sister?

Ruth is on board with rescuing Sharra, but notes that he's only ever been to the Hatching Ground. Should he call Ramoth?

“I’d prefer not to involve the Benden dragons in this. We’ll go to the Hatching Ground. That egg is coming in useful to us after all,” he added, appreciating the irony of the situation as he vaulted to Ruth’s back. “Give her the picture, Ruth. Ask her if she can reach the place?”

Okay. A few points.

1. So we finally get SOME use out of the fucking egg. Fifteen chapters later. Huzzah.

2. Okay, Southern Hold is NOT the same as Southern Weyr, any more than Fort Hold or Benden Hold are the same as their Weyrs. And the Hatching Ground is generally not all that accessible.

You're telling me that Toric decided to abduct his sister, but didn't put any kind of guard on her? And that she is free to travel from Hold to Weyr, all the way to the fucking HATCHING GROUND to reach Jaxom?!

...I'm starting to wonder exactly how much Sharra actually WANTS to be rescued. Maybe Toric is playing the bad guy because Sharra doesn't know how to tell a pushy guy no.

Anyway, Sharra DOES meet them at the Hatching Ground. Toric's queen fire lizard is with her. Ruth tells it to go away, but I honestly don't know why he bothers. Toric is going to know where she's going. It's not exactly a secret!

Oh, okay, two of Toric's men are apparently after her. How she escaped to begin with is anyone's guess. You know, guys, you could have gone to the Hatching Ground and then flown TO Southern Hold and broke her out there? It'd have made more sense and spared the poor girl a walk.

Alas, my theory is apparently wrong. Sharra is furious at her brother (understandably) and wants to go to Ruatha. She doesn't want to see Toric again. Jaxom is of course very sensitive to this:

“We have to see your brother again, for I’m not hiding from him. We’ll have it out in the open today!”

...yep. (I mean, okay, to be fair, that's what I WANTED him to do. But there's no reason he couldn't bring Sharra to Ruatha first. It's not like the poor girl will actually take part in this discussion.)

So they fly to the Plateau:

“Oh, I’m frozen, but they took my flying gear away,” Sharra cried. Her bare legs on Ruth’s neck were blue with chill. Jaxom leaned over to rub warmth into them. “And there’s Toric. With Lessa, F’lar and Robinton!”

“And the largest of the Benden dragons!”

“Jaxom!”

“Your brother does things his way, I do them in mine! In mine!”

Jaxom's way: running straight to more powerful people and hiding behind their skirts.

I'm just saying, while I appreciate that Jaxom is getting more of a semi-suspenseful climax than poor Menolly got, it's still not terribly impressive. In the end, Toric is no match for F'lar or Lessa, and that's the real conflict here.

Also the leg rubbing thing is creepy, knock it off.

So I'm sure Jaxom will approach this confrontation with the maturity and dignity of a true Lord:

“Toric, you cannot contain Sharra anywhere on Pern where Ruth and I cannot find her!” Jaxom said after the barest of nods to the Benden Weyrleaders and the Harper. There was no hint of compromise in Toric’s hard expression. Nor did he expect it. “Place and time are no barriers to Ruth. Sharra and I can go anywhere, anywhen on Pern.”

Or he'll dare him like a child.

And Ms. McCaffrey's amazing sense of nuance hits again. Toric's queen appears, crying piteously, and he brushes her away. This leads Jaxom to show off by telling Ruth to tell the lizards to go away. They vanish.

(To be fair to Toric, when they return, he does let his little queen land on his shoulder.)

Toric demands to know how Jaxom knew Southern. He'd been informed that Jaxom hadn't been there.

“Your informant erred,” Jaxom said, wondering if it had been Dorse. “Today is not the first time I’ve retrieved something from the Southern Weyr which belongs to the North.” He laid his arm possessively about Sharra’s shoulders.

Ugh. Why are you so gross? Also, is THIS why we've been talking about Dorse all of a sudden, McCaffrey?

And of course, of course.

Toric’s composure deserted him. “You!” He extended his arm, pointing at Jaxom; his face was a mixture of anger, indignant outrage, disappointment, frustration and, lastly, a grudging respect. “You took the egg back! You and that ... but the firelizards’ images were black!”

...

No. McCaffrey, you don't get to do this now. MAYBE if you hadn't spent every single chapter having Jaxom whine about not getting recognized for his heroic act, MAYBE this would actually have the dramatic sense that it should.

But instead:



Anyway, Jaxom explains with "understandable scorn" that he'd be stupid not to darken Ruth's hide at night. No one cares, Jaxom.

“I knew it wasn’t one of T’ron’s riders,” Toric cried, his fists clenching and unclenching. “But for you to ... well now,” and Toric’s whole attitude changed radically. He began to smile again, a trifle sourly as he looked at the Benden Weyrleaders and then the Harper. Then he started to laugh, losing anger and frustration in that laughter. “If you knew, Lordling ... ” again he pointed fiercely at Jaxom, “the plans you ruined, the ... how many people knew it was you?” Now he did turn accusingly on the dragonriders.

See, now, THIS is interesting. We forget that Toric was sole Southern Lord Holder while T'ron and T'kul were in charge of the Weyr. We know how the Oldtimers stole people and food and all that. And as much as they plagued the North, how would they have behaved in the South?

We know they didn't bother to fight Thread. At best, Toric and his Hold would have been left entirely to their own devices. So did he war with them? Did he make an alliance? How much did HE know about the theft?

Okay, I am FINALLY interested in the fucking egg.

“Not that it matters now,” Jaxom said. “What does matter is, do I now have your permission to marry Sharra and make her lady of Ruatha now?”

“I don’t see how I can stop you.” Toric’s broad gesture of frustration took in the people and the dragons.

“Indeed you couldn’t, for Jaxom’s boast about Ruth s abilities is valid,” F’lar said. “One must never underestimate a dragonrider, Toric.” Then he grinned without softening the implicit warning. “Especially a Northern dragonrider.”

“I shall bear that firmly in mind,” Toric said, the intensity of his big voice indicating his chagrin. The amiable grin reappeared on his face. “Especially in our present discussion. Before these impetuous youngsters interrupted us, we were discussing the extent of my Hold, were we not?”

...I really do love Toric.

And I will give Jaxom credit, for all that I bitch about his approach, I do think the confrontation was better than if he'd just fled to Ruatha with Sharra. I just wish...I guess I wish that Jaxom was the character that McCaffrey seems to think he is.

So we end with the Afterword. Spring's come to Northern Pern and Ruatha, and everything's been made spiffy for the one spring morning when, per Wansor's equations, no Thread falls anywhere.

I like this description:

Ruatha’s walls were scrubbed, its paving brightly sealed, and this day banners hung from every unshuttered window while flowers decked every corner of the courts and the Hall. Southern vines had been flown in the night before to garland the fire-heights. The broad meadows below the Hold proper were covered with tents and divided into fields for the runner beasts of the guests. Dragons began to arrive, greeted by the old brown watchdragon, Wilth, who would surely be hoarse from bugling welcome before the ceremonies began.

There are fire lizards everywhere. And LOTS of guests. Toric seems to have gotten on board with things, having sent "dragonloads of fresh fruit, fish, wild bucks, and wherries whose flesh was prized for its tender gamey taste, so distinct from Northern meats."

They had dancing and singing the night before. But now "the momentous hour for the ceremonious confirmation of the young Lord of Ruatha Hold drew close".

That little bastard really didn't take his position until fucking spring, did he?

Anyway, Robinton and N'ton are coming to talk to Jaxom, while Jaxom and Sharra have some sickening banter about how his tunic is too tight across the chest. (“All the spring digging at Ship Meadow, my love,” Jaxom said, inhaling so that the fabric of his brown tunic strained at the seams. Ugh.)

Ah, perhaps I'm being unfair to Jaxom:

He’d never been busier: managing the Hold and delving into the ancient mysteries of the Plateau and the Ship Meadow whenever he could spare a few hours. Lytol, as Jaxom had hoped, had found himself tremendously involved in the excavations, spending more and more time with the Harper at Cove Hold. With his Confirmation now a certainty, Jaxom had been admitted to the inner councils of the Lord Holders, as much because of his association with Toric as his own rank. Jaxom doubted that Toric would tolerate much more of the conservatism that dominated the Lord Holders’ attitudes to anything. Larad of Telgar Hold, Asgenar of Lemos, Begamon and Sigomel seemed more of Tori’s mind, and Jaxom found himself willing to be ranked with them rather than side with Groghe, Sangel and some of the older men. Some of the old Lord Holders simply didn’t understand the needs of today-nor the call of the vast Southern lands with their infinite variety and challenge.

And there we have it. An implicit conflict that supposedly existed throughout the book: the reason Jaxom was never really pushed to take more of a leadership role. The reason for the occasional side reference that Lytol really should be in charge a little while longer, leaving Jaxom free to gallivant around with the Dragonriders and rape Holder girls.

This whole set up, which we only really even glimpsed when Jaxom was about 11 years old, because god forbid McCaffrey bother to SHOW things to us. Resolved in one fucking paragraph.

I hate Jaxom and I hate this book.

Anyway, N'ton holds off on sharing the news so F'lar and Lessa could arrive too. And this is the news: Piemur and Nicat have finally decoded the colored map from the ship. The colors have to do with the rock! The original Northern Holds were all positioned on rock that haven't experienced volcanic eruption or earthquake!

The map ALSO allowed Nicat and Piemur to deduce locations of ore deposits in the North and South. And while Toric's already found most of the ones in HIS territory, there are far more in dragonrider country.

And this tiny bit that tugs at the heartstrings a bit:

N’ton chuckled. “No more than he’s already discovered and produced. There’re far more to be worked in dragonrider country,” he said, tapping the southeast. “When this Pass is over, I think I’ll turn miner!”

“When this Pass is over ... ” F’lar echoed the words, his eyes catching the Harper’s, suddenly aware that neither of them were likely to see that moment.

Well, certainly not Robinton, who's of age with F'lar's father. But it's true that F'lar, by now, has to be about fifty. Even if we shave a little off, due to McCaffrey's dicey timeline. A Pass is about fifty years. They've got a long time to go.

No wonder F'lar sympathized so much with the Oldtimers.

And just to hammer the point in, as Jaxom and Sharra excitedly talk about what they can learn from the Plateau, and whether they might find a way to wipe out Thread forever:

F’lar gave a rueful laugh, brushing from his forehead the lock of hair, now gray-streaked, that fell across his eyes. “I once thought to reach the Red Star. Maybe you young people won’t find it so daunting a task once we’ve caught up on what men used to know.”

Robinton tells him not to belittle his accomplishments. I'm rather surprised to see Robinton get his head out of his ass and actually comfort a friend. Now do Lessa. She deserves it more. Though at the moment, she's busy being angry about F'lar's self-denigration. Aw.

The moment is interrupted by Lytol's bellow, as he informs them that everyone's gathered. We get another good F'lar and Lessa moment:

Laughing, Jaxom and Sharra strode out into the court, N’ton and Robinton behind them. F’lar presented his arm to Lessa but she had turned her eyes about the small kitchen courtyard and it wasn’t hard for the bronze rider to sense her thoughts.

“It’s your day, too, Lessa,” he said, taking her hand to his lips. “A day your determination and spirit made possible!” He turned her into his arms and made her look up at him. “Ruathan Blood Holds Ruatha lands today!”

...okay, fine McCaffrey. You've made me feel a little better about how this book ends with Jaxom getting everything, yet again, without doing anything to earn or deserve it.

So the book ends with them joining the others, while the dragons bugle, and the fire-lizards "executed dizzy patterns in the Thread-free sky.

...and the book is done. I'd best get to writing up the verdict. I can't expect it will surprise you.