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Benden. Although Iantine had taken no lasting harm, M'shall
recognized yet another instance of Chalkin taking unfair
advantage. Irene had already sent in a substantial list of
abuses and irregularities in Chalkin's dealings - generally with
folk who had no recourse against his dictates. He held no
court in which difficulties could be aired, and had no impartial
arbiters to make decisions.
The big traders, who could be counted on for impartial
comment, bypassed Bitra and could cite many examples of
unfair dealings since Chalkin had assumed the Holding fifteen
132
years before. The few small traders who ventured in Bitra
rarely returned.
Following that Gather and its decision to consider deposing
Chalkin, M'shall had his sweep riders check in every minor
hold to learn if Chalkin had duly informed his people of the
imminence of Thread. None had, although Lord Chalkin had
increased his tithe on every household. The manner in which
he was conducting this extra tithe suggested that he was
amassing supplies for his own good, not that of the Hold.
Those in more isolated situations would certainly have a hard
time obtaining even basic food supplies. That constituted a
flagrant abuse of his position as Lord Holder.
When Paulin read M'shall's report, he asked if Chalkin's
holders would speak out against him. M'shall had to report
that his initial survey of the minor holders indicated a severe
lack of civic duty. Chalkin had his folk so cowed, none would
accuse him - especially this close to a Pass, for he had still
had the power to turn objectors out of their holds.
'They may change their minds once Thread has started,'
K'vin remarked to Zulaya.
'Too late, I'd say, for any decent preparations to be made.'
K'vin shrugged. 'He's really not our concern - for which I,
for one, am thankful. At least we rescued Iantine.'
Zulaya gave a wry chuckle. 'That poor lad! Starting his
professional career at Bitra? Not the best place.'
'Maybe that's all he could aspire to,' K'vin suggested.
'Not if he's from Hall Domaize,' Zulaya said tartly. 'Wonder
how long it'll take his hands to recover?'
'Thinking of a new portrait?' K'vin asked, amused.
'Well, he's down an eighth of what he needs,' she said.
K'vin gave her a wide-eyed look. 'You wouldn't...'
'Of course ! wouldn't,' she said with an edge to her voice.
'He needs something in his pocket of his own. I admire a lad
who'd endure Bitra for any reason. And Iantine's was an
honourable one in wanting to pay the transfer fee.'
'Wear that red Hatching dress when you sit for him,' K'vin
said. Then he rubbed his chin. 'You know, I might have my
portrait done, too.'
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Zulaya gave him a long look. 'The boy may find it as hard
to leave Telgar Weyr as it was Bitra.'
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'With a much fuller pouch and no maintenance sub-
tracted...'
'And soap and hot water and decent food,' Zulaya said.
'According to Tisha, he'll need feeding up. He's skin and
bones.'
When the singing woke Iantine, he was totally disoriented.
No-one had sung a note at Bitra Hold. And he was warm!
The air was redolent of good eating odours, too. He sat up.
Hands, feet and face were stiff, but the tingling was gone. And
he was exceedingly hungry.
The curtain across the cubicle rustled and a boy's head
popped through.
'You're awake, Artist Iantine?' the lad asked.
'Indeed, I am,' and Iantine looked around for his clothes.
Someone had undressed him and he didn't see his own
clothes.
'I'm to help you if you need it,' the boy said, pushing
half-way through the curtains. 'Tisha laid out clean clothes.'
He wrinkled a snub nose. 'Yours were pretty ripe, she said.'
Iantine chuckled. 'They probably were. I ran out of soap
for washing three weeks ago.'
'You wuz at Bitra. They charge for everything there,' and
the boy threw up both arms in disgust. 'I'm Leopol,' he added.
Then be lifted the soft slippers from the pile on the stool.
'Tisha said you'd better wear these, not your boots. And
you're to use the salve first . . .' He held up the lidded jar.
'Dinner's ready.' Leopol then licked his lips.
'And you must wait your meal until I'm ready, huh?'
Leopol nodded solemnly and then grinned. 'I don't mind.
I'll get more because I waited.'
'Is food in short supply at this Weyr?' Iantine asked jokingly
as he began to dress in the clean gear. Odd how important
simple things, like freshly laundered clothing, assumed the
level of luxury when you've had to do without.
Leopol helped him spread the salve on his feet. They were
still tender to the touch and even the act of applying the salve
134
made them suddenly itchy. Fortunately the numbweed, or
whatever it was, reduced that sensation.
When he had relieved himself again and gingerly washed
face and hands, he and Leopol made their way to the Lower
Cavern where the evening meal was in progress.
The lad led him to a side table near the hearth which had
been set for two. Instantly cooks descended with plates
overflowing with food, wine for him and klah for Leopol.
'There now, Artist man,' the cook said, nodding apprecia-
tion as Iantine attacked the roast meat, 'eat first and then the
Weyrleaders would like a few words with you, if you're not
too tired.'
Iantine murmured thanks and understanding and addressed
himself single-mindedly to his food. How long had it been
since he'd eaten a decent meal?
He would have had additional servings of the main course,
but his stomach felt uneasy: too much good food after several
days of semi-fasting, probably. Leopol brought him a large
serving of the sweet course, but he couldn't finish it all because
the back of his throat felt raw and sore. He would have gone
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