Nerilka's Story by Anne McCaffrey Page B

excused only because the boy had worked so hard. I’d wager that Fergal was as knowledgeable about such restricted treats as anyone else here. Fergal’s sort is born knowing. In spite of his impudence and suspicious nature, I did like the boy.
    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.

    Then Alessan leaned against me deliberately, touching my forearm with his fingertips. My skin tingled.
    “What’s your opinion of the Benden, Rill?”
    “It’s made me giddy,” I replied quickly so that if he noticed my unusual behavior, he would know the reason, even though I wished to do nothing to lower myself in his good opinion.
    “We all need to relax tonight. We all deserve it.”
    “You more than anyone else, Alessan.”
    He shrugged and looked down at his cup, his fingers idly twisting it around by the stem. “I do what I must,” he said, speaking in a low voice. The others were involved in an argument.
    “For Ruatha,” I murmured.
    He looked at me, mildly surprised at my rejoinder, his strange green-flecked eyes for once candid. “That’s perceptive of you, Rill. Have I been such a hard taskmaster?”
    “Not for Ruatha’s sake.”
    “This—” he waved his hand at the cartwheels and empty jars “—has not been for Ruatha’s sake.”
    “Oh, but it has. You said so yourself. Ruatha can do this much for Pern.”
    He gave a slightly embarrassed laugh. But his smile was kind, and I think he was pleased.
    “Ruatha will be herself again! I know it!” It was safer to talk about Ruatha’s future.
    There was an odd expression in his eyes. “Then Oklina spoke to you? You’ll consider staying on with us?”
    “I would like to very much. The plague left me holdless.”
    His warm strong hand closed on mine, squeezing lightly in gratitude. “And do you have any special requirements, Rill, to cement our relationship?” There was a real gleam in his eye now as he tilted his head toward Tuero.
    His question had come up so unexpectedly that I’d had no time to think about anything beyond the fact that my wish to remain in Ruatha had been granted. I stammered a bit, and then Alessan once again gripped my arm.
    “Think about it, Rill, and tell me later. You’ll find that I hold fair with my people.”
    “I’d be surprised to find aught else.”
    He grinned at my vehemence, poured more wine into my cup and his, and so we sealed the agreement in the traditional manner, though I had trouble swallowing past the lump of joy in my throat. Companionably, we finished bread and cheese, listening to the other conversations at the table and to the music outside.
    “I wasn’t so taken with that Master Balfor, Lord Alessan,” Dag was saying, his eyes on the wine in his cup. He was speaking of the man presently designated to become Beastmaster at Keroon.
    “He’s not confirmed in the honor,” Alessan said. I could see that he didn’t wish to argue the matter right now, especially not in front of Fergal, who was always listening to matters he ought not hear.
    “I’d worry who else might have the rank, for Master Balfor certainly hasn’t the experience.”
    “He has done all that Master Capiam asked,” Tuero said with an eye on Desdra.
    “Ah, it’s sad to realize how many good men and women have died.” Dag lifted his cup in a silent toast, which we all drank. “And sadder to think of the fine bloodlines just wiped out. When I think of the races