"A child has fewer inhibitions in learning new languages, Holder Jayge."

Jayge's eyes bulged in surprise. "But he's only five!"

"A most receptive age. This facility would take great pleasure in instructing young Readis."

"I'd really thought you all were embellishing your accounts of that Aivas of yours," Jayge said in a low voice to the grinning pair who escorted him out of the room, "but you were harpertrue this time."

"Aivas doesn't need embellishments," Piemur assured him smugly.

"You will bring Readis, won't you?" Jancis asked. "Tell Ara that I'd take very good care of him while he's here." She giggled. "I think it's the best thing I've heard yet. Shipfish are smarter than us humans!"

"I think we better keep quiet on that score," Piemur said, his expression solemn. "We've got enough trouble as it is. That opinion'd really start a snake hunt. Even with folks who've got a lot of common sense."

"I think it's marvelous," Jancis repeated, grinning in broad malice. "It's perfect. Alemi'll be over the moons."

Jayge looked chagrined. "Ara'll beat him there. She swore blind that the dolphins talked to her when they saved us from drowning."

"Then bring Ara, too," Piemur suggested. "There ought to be more than just two to learn dolphin talk. Say, you know it might be smart to teach more kids than just Readis. Not meaning to detract from him, Jayge, but if, say, we put it about that Aivas was teaching mainly kids, no adults would get suspicious. Because I'm serious, people. I don't think we ought to spread this intelligence thing about."

"I agree," Jancis said.

Jayge shrugged. "I'll accept that judgment. And I'll bring Readis, Alemi, and whoever else he thinks we should include. Talking to shipfish! Wow! That's a real stunner." And he shook his head slowly as his friends escorted him back to where V'line and bronze Clarmath waited to convey him back to Paradise River Hold.

The day before the Lord Holders Conference, the Benden Weydeaders held a short meeting at Cove Hold to decide whether to bring up the matter of the attempt to disable Aivas.

By then all eight men had recovered from the sonic coma: two would never be of use to anyone; none had recovered their hearing. Three wrote messages asking for relief from unbearable head pains, which finally abated after considerable dosing with fellis juice. Since none of them were willing to divulge any information about those who had hired them to attack Aivas, his guardians had no recourse but to have them all transported to the mines of Crom to work underground with other incorrigibles.

"Why do we have to bring the subject up at all? Let's just let rumor work for us," Master Robinton suggested with a devious smile. "Let them ask us for explanations. That is, if any are required."

"Seeing it my way for a change?" Lytol asked sardonically.

"The rumors are alive and exploding with inventiveness," Jaxom said, grinning at Piemur.

"I'm not sure that's altogether the wisest course," Lessa said, scowling.

"Who has ever controlled rumor?" Robinton demanded.

"You!" Lessa retorted promptly, her scowl disappearing into a wide smile for the person who had so often deliberately spread rumors.

"Not really," Robinton replied smugly. "Not after I sent off the original version."

"Well, then, what's being bruited about right now?" F'lar asked.

"That Aivas perceives the motives of anyone approaching him and has withered the unworthy," Piemur answered eagerly, ticking off the variations of his fingers. "That he horribly maimed some innocent petitioners who had the audacity to approach him early one morning because they overheard him plotting with Lord Jaxom." Jaxom had apparently heard that variation and only snorted. "That we installed a squadron of Gather champions to defend the place and they'll beat up anyone they didn't like the look of; that there is a full wing of dragons constantly on guard and that they are somehow under Aivas's complete control; that fire-lizards are afraid of their lives to come near Landing anymore; that the Aivas has deadly and powerful weapons that can paralyze anyone not totally committed to his intentions for Pern's future. That Aivas has control of all Weyrleaders and Lord Holders-" Piemur had to wait until the indignation of the attending Weydeaders subsided. "-and was going to take over the running of the planet, and that all too soon the three Dawn Sisters were going to come crashing down on Pern, causing irreparable damage to any Hold or Hall that won't support Aivas. And if the Dawn Sisters lose their position in the sky, all the other stars will go out of control, so that's how Aivas will prevent any further Threadfall, because Pern will be totally destroyed and not even Thread will find it hospitable." Piemur took a deep breath and, his eyes glinting with amusement, asked, "Heard enough?"

"All I care to, certainly," Lessa said with considerable asperity. "Absolute twaddle!"

"Is anyone taking any of it seriously?" F'lar asked, leaning forward.

Lytol sucked in his breath. "Some of that foolishness would account for the extreme tenseness of that delegation from Nerat, that group who applied for advice on how to counteract a blight. Masterfarmer Losacot had to chivvy them to enter the room. I mentioned the fact in my day report."

"Did Aivas notice their reluctance?" Lessa asked.

"I certainly wouldn't ask Aivas a question like that. Totally irrelevant," Lytol said, somewhat surprised and indignant. He gave Lessa a sharp look. "The important point is that they apparently received a positive answer, for they were discussing the ways to implement his advice when they left. Master Losacot stopped to thank me for slotting them in so promptly. I thought the matter quite urgent."

"I still maintain that the more people who encounter Aivas," Robinton said, "the more support any plan of his will receive."

"Not always," Lytol disagreed in a low voice.

Then he smiled at the Harper. "But you and I have agreed to differ on that score, haven't we?"

"We have," the Harper replied affably, but there was a sad shadow in his eyes as he gazed on the old warder.

"So, what attitude do we take at the Conference tomorrow?" Lessa demanded. "Presuming, of course, the Weyrleaders will be allowed into the meeting."

"Oh, you will be," Jaxom said. "Larad, Groghe, Asgenar, Toronas, and Deckter wouldn't permit exclusion of Benden and High Reaches Weyrleaders!" He grinned. "I think we ought to wait until they bring up the subject."

"Tomorrow's a solemn occasion, Jaxom," Lytol said, favoring his former charge with a stern look.

"Not all of it, and I really can keep countenance when I need to, old friend." Jaxom grinned engagingly at Lytol and ignored Piemur's snort. "Since so many of us should be in attendance, T'gellan and K'van have doubled the dragon guard here."

"D'ram's in charge," Robinton added. "Insisted, since both Lytol and myself ought to attend the Conference." "As if you'd miss it," Lessa replied, her eyebrows raised. "This one least of all," Robinton remarked affably.