immediately surrounded by Lessa, Piemur, and Jaxom.
“I’m all right, I’m all right,” he said testily, waving them off. “Have you all realized just what this source of knowledge can mean to us?” His voice was rough with emotion. “I’ve only now begun to absorb how profoundly this discovery could change our lives.
“I’ve been struggling to absorb that myself,” F’lar said with a grim smile. “If this Aivas knows something about Thread and the Red Star that would help us . . .” F’lar halted, his hope too precious to express aloud. Then he smiled wryly and held up his hand. “First, I believe it is extremely important to decide the question of who should be permitted into this room. As you pointed out, Robinton, Aivas cannot be accessible to everyone.”
“Definitely,” Master Robinton said. He took a long swig of the wine he had poured for himself. “Definitely. Considering that crowd in the hall, there’s no way we can censor the discovery of Aivas nor,” he added, holding up his hand at the protests, “do I think we should. However . . .” He grinned. “We can’t just have anyone who wants to popping up here and monopolizing—this—”
“Facility,” Piemur put in, his expression genuinely thoughtful. “When word of Aivas gets about, there’ll be any number of people who’ll want to talk to Aivas just to say that they had, because they don’t grasp its significance.”
“For once I agree with you, Piemur,” Lessa said. She looked around her. “I think there’s enough in this room right now with a real need to talk to Aivas and the common sense and courtesy to know when to stop.” She paused to cast a stern eye on Master Robinton, who grinned back amiably. “Certainly we are representative of the planet—Weyrleaders, Masters, and Lord Holders—so no one can say Aivas is being monopolized by one group. Or is that too many, Aivas?”
“No.” For some reason this easy acceptance made the Masterharper grin. Aivas went on. “The authority may be expanded or contracted as may be deemed necessary. To recapitulate, it is permitted for you . . .” And all those in the room were named in pleasant baritone tones.
“And Jaxom,” Piemur added quickly, since Jaxom had gone on Robinton’s errand and someone needed to speak up for the third party to the original discovery of Aivas.
“And Lord Jaxom of Ruatha Hold,” Aivas amended, “to command my services. Is that correct? Very good. The necessary voiceprints have been registered, including Lord Jaxom’s, whose voice I registered earlier, and this facility will respond to no others, or in the presence of others, until further notice.”
“As an added precaution,” Master Robinton said, “to change that roster, there must be one of the Weyrleaders, one Master, and one Lord Holder present in this room.” He glanced about to see if that precaution was acceptable.
Just then, Esselin bustled down the corridor to ask if there were any further orders for the night.
“Yes, Esselin, assign the most responsible and least curious of your men to guard the building’s entrance. Only Lord Jaxom and those who accompany him are to be permitted to enter the building tonight.”
By the time Esselin had assured F’lar of his total cooperation, a rather tense discussion had started between Fandarel and Larad as to which crafthalls should have precedence in learning from Aivas.
“If I may interject a suggestion,” Aivas said loudly, startling them all, “it is a relatively simple matter to expand this facility to accommodate many requirements.” When the silence lengthened, Aivas added in a milder, almost apologetic tone, “That is, if the contents of the Catherine Caves are still intact and undamaged?”
“Do you mean the caves at the southern side of the grid?” Piemur asked.
“Those would be the ones.” To the bewilderment of the watchers, images of a variety of items appeared on the screen. “And these are the
“I’m all right, I’m all right,” he said testily, waving them off. “Have you all realized just what this source of knowledge can mean to us?” His voice was rough with emotion. “I’ve only now begun to absorb how profoundly this discovery could change our lives.
“I’ve been struggling to absorb that myself,” F’lar said with a grim smile. “If this Aivas knows something about Thread and the Red Star that would help us . . .” F’lar halted, his hope too precious to express aloud. Then he smiled wryly and held up his hand. “First, I believe it is extremely important to decide the question of who should be permitted into this room. As you pointed out, Robinton, Aivas cannot be accessible to everyone.”
“Definitely,” Master Robinton said. He took a long swig of the wine he had poured for himself. “Definitely. Considering that crowd in the hall, there’s no way we can censor the discovery of Aivas nor,” he added, holding up his hand at the protests, “do I think we should. However . . .” He grinned. “We can’t just have anyone who wants to popping up here and monopolizing—this—”
“Facility,” Piemur put in, his expression genuinely thoughtful. “When word of Aivas gets about, there’ll be any number of people who’ll want to talk to Aivas just to say that they had, because they don’t grasp its significance.”
“For once I agree with you, Piemur,” Lessa said. She looked around her. “I think there’s enough in this room right now with a real need to talk to Aivas and the common sense and courtesy to know when to stop.” She paused to cast a stern eye on Master Robinton, who grinned back amiably. “Certainly we are representative of the planet—Weyrleaders, Masters, and Lord Holders—so no one can say Aivas is being monopolized by one group. Or is that too many, Aivas?”
“No.” For some reason this easy acceptance made the Masterharper grin. Aivas went on. “The authority may be expanded or contracted as may be deemed necessary. To recapitulate, it is permitted for you . . .” And all those in the room were named in pleasant baritone tones.
“And Jaxom,” Piemur added quickly, since Jaxom had gone on Robinton’s errand and someone needed to speak up for the third party to the original discovery of Aivas.
“And Lord Jaxom of Ruatha Hold,” Aivas amended, “to command my services. Is that correct? Very good. The necessary voiceprints have been registered, including Lord Jaxom’s, whose voice I registered earlier, and this facility will respond to no others, or in the presence of others, until further notice.”
“As an added precaution,” Master Robinton said, “to change that roster, there must be one of the Weyrleaders, one Master, and one Lord Holder present in this room.” He glanced about to see if that precaution was acceptable.
Just then, Esselin bustled down the corridor to ask if there were any further orders for the night.
“Yes, Esselin, assign the most responsible and least curious of your men to guard the building’s entrance. Only Lord Jaxom and those who accompany him are to be permitted to enter the building tonight.”
By the time Esselin had assured F’lar of his total cooperation, a rather tense discussion had started between Fandarel and Larad as to which crafthalls should have precedence in learning from Aivas.
“If I may interject a suggestion,” Aivas said loudly, startling them all, “it is a relatively simple matter to expand this facility to accommodate many requirements.” When the silence lengthened, Aivas added in a milder, almost apologetic tone, “That is, if the contents of the Catherine Caves are still intact and undamaged?”
“Do you mean the caves at the southern side of the grid?” Piemur asked.
“Those would be the ones.” To the bewilderment of the watchers, images of a variety of items appeared on the screen. “And these are the
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