Menolly shushed him, not wanting either to alarm or distract Silvinas helpers. She put down her mug and bowl and reached for the meat.
Pretty small dragon Beauty, Camo said, ignoring her as she pulled the bowl so firmly clutched in his huge, thick-fingered hands.
You go to Silvina, Camo. You go to Silvina.
Camo stood where he was, bobbing his head up and down, his mouth set in a wet, wide grimace of childish delight, too entranced by Beauty to be distracted.
Beauty now creeled imperiously, and Menolly grabbed a handful of meat to quiet her. But her cries had alerted the others. They came, some of them from the open windows of the dining hall above Menollys head, others, judging by the shrieks of dismay, through the kitchen and out the door by the steps.
Pretty, pretty. All pretty! Camo exclaimed, turning his head from side to side, trying to see all the fitting fire lizards at once.
He didnt move a muscle as Auntie One and Two perched on his forearms, snatching gobblets of meat directly from the bowl. Uncle secured his talons to the fabric of Camos tunic, his right wingtip jabbing the man in the neck and chin as the littlest fire lizard fought for his fair share of the meat. Brownie, Mimic, and Lazybones ranged from Camos shoulders to Menollys as she tried to distribute the meat evenly.
Alternating between embarrassment at her friends bad manners and gratitude for Camos stolid assistance, Menolly was acutely aware that all activity had ceased in the kitchen to watch the spectacle. Momentarily, she expected to hear an irate Silvina order Camo back to his ordinary duties, but all she heard was the buzz of whispered gossiping.
How many does she have? she heard one clear whisper out of the general mumble.
Nine, Silvina answered, imperturbable. When the two the Harper was given have hatched, the Harper Hall will have eleven. Silvina sounded smugly superior. The buzz increased in volume. That breads risen enough now Abuna. You and Kayla shape it.
The fire lizards had cleared the bowl of meat, and Camo stared into its hollow, his face contorted by an expression of dismay.
All gone? Pretties hungry?
No, Camo. Theyve had more than enough. Theyre not hungry anymore. In fact, their bellies were distended, theyd gorged so. You go to Silvina. Silvina wants you, Camo, and Menolly followed Silvinas example: she took him by the shoulders, turned him down the steps, and gave him a gentle shove.
Menolly sipped the good hot klah, beginning to think that Silvinas marked attentions and kindness were deliberate. Or was that foolish? Silvina was just a kind, thoughtful person: look how she treated dull-witted Camo. She was patience itself with his inadequacy. Nonetheless, Silvina was obviously the headwoman at the Harper Craft Hall and, like serene Manora at Benden Weyr, undoubtedly wielded a good deal of authority. If Silvina was friendly, others would follow her lead.
Menolly began to relax in the warm sun. Her dreams last night had been troubled though she couldnt remember details. now in the bright morning, only a sense of uneasiness and helplessness. Silvina had done much to dissipate the lingering misgivings. Nothing to fear from harpers. Tgellan had repeatedly told her.
Across the courtyard, young voices broke into a lusty rendition of the Saga previously chanted. The fire lizards rose at the eruption of sound, settling again as Menolly laughingly reassured them.
Then a pure sweet trill from Beauty soared in delicate descant above the apprentices male voices. Rocky and Diver joined her, wings half-spread as they expanded their lungs for breath. Mimic and Brownie dropped from the window ledge to add their voices. Lazy would not put himself to any such effort, and the two Aunties and blue Uncle were at best indifferent singers, but they listened, heads cocked, jeweled eyes whirling. The five singers rose to their haunches now, their throats thickening, their cheeks swelling as their jaws relaxed to emit the sweet pure notes. Their eyes were half-lidded as they concentrated, as good singers will, to produce the fluting descant.
They were happy then, Menolly thought with relief, and picked up the melody of the Saga, not that the fire lizards needed her voice with the apprentices supplying the tune and harmony.
They were on the last two measures of the chorus when Menolly suddenly realized that it was only herself and the fire lizards singing, that the male voices had ceased. Startled, she looked up and saw that almost every window about the courtyard was filled with faces. The exceptions were the windows of the hall from which the voices had come.
Who has been singing? demanded an irate tenor, and a mans head appeared at one of the empty windows.
Why, thats a grand way to wake up, Brudegan, said the clear baritone of the Masterharper from some point above Menolly and to her left. Craning her head up, she saw him leaning out of his window on the upper story.
Good morning to you, Masterharper, said Brudegan courteously, but his tone indicated that he was disgruntled by the intervention.
Menolly tried to sit small, heartily wishing herself between: she was certainly frozen motionless.
I didnt know your fire lizards could sing, Silvina said, appearing on Menollys right and absently retrieving mug and bowl from the steps. A nice compliment to your chorus, eh, Brudegan, she added, raising her voice to carry across the courtyard. Youd be wanting your klah now, Robinton?
It would be welcome, Silvina. He stretched, leaned further out to peer down at Menolly. Enter a fair of fire lizards singing! A lovely way to be wakened, Menolly; and a good morning to you, too. Before Menolly could respond, a look of dismay crossed his face. My fire lizard, My egg! and he disappeared from sight.
Silvina chuckled and she regarded Menolly. Hell be of no use to anyone until its hatched and hes got one of his own.
At that point, Brudegans singers renewed their song. Beauty chirruped questioningly at Menolly.
No, no, Beauty. No more singing, not now.
They need the practice, and Silvina gestured at the hall. Now Ive the Harpers meal to see to and you to settle She paused, glancing about at the fire lizards. But what to do with them?
They usually sleep when theyre as full as they are right now.
All to the goodbut where? Mercy!
Menolly tried not to laugh at Silvinas astonishment, because all but Beauty, who took her usual perch on Menollys shoulder, had disappeared. Menolly pointed to the roof opposite and the small bodies landing there, apparently out of thin air.
They do go between, dont they? Silvina said more than asked. Harper says theyre much like dragons? That was a question.
I dont know that much about dragons, but fire lizards can go between. They followed me last night from Benden Weyr.
And theyre obedient. I could wish the apprentices were half so willing. Then Silvina motioned Menolly to follow her back into the kitchen. Camo, turn the spit. Camo, now turn the spit. I suppose the rest of you have been watching the yard instead of the food, she said, scowling indiscriminately about the kitchen. The cooks and drudges alike pretended industry, clanging, banging, splashing or bending with assiduous care over quieter tasks of paring and scraping. Better yet, Menolly, you take the Harper his klah, and check that egg of his. Hell be roaring for you soon enough, so we might as well anticipate. Then I shall want Master Oldive to see your feet, not that Manora hasnt all but healed them anyway. And Silvina caught Menollys left hand and scowled at the red mark. Wherever did you get such a fierce wound? And who bungled the healing of it? There now, can you grip with that hand? Silvina had been assembling on a small tray the various items of the Harpers breakfast, the last of which was a heavy pot of klah. Now she gave the tray to Menolly. There now. His room is the second door on the right from yours, Menolly. Turn the spit, Camo, dont just hold on to it. Menollys fire lizards are fed and sleeping. Youll have another gawk at them later. Turn the spit now!
As briskly as Menolly could move on her stiff feet, she made her way out of the kitchen and up the broad steps to the second level. Beauty hummed softly in her ear, a gently disobedient descant to the Saga that Brudegans pupils were singing lustily.
Master Robinton hadnt sounded annoyed about the fire lizards singing, Menolly thought. Shed apologize to Journeyman Brudegan when she got the chance. She simply hadnt realized shed cause a distraction. Shed been so pleased that her friends were relaxed enough to want to sing.
Second door on her right. Menolly tapped. Then rapped, then knocked, hard enough to make her knuckles sting.
Come. Come. And, Silvinaoh, Menolly, youre just the person I wanted to see, the Harper said, throwing open the door. And good morning to you, proud Beauty, he added, grinning at the little queen who chirped an acknowledgement as he took the tray from Menolly. Silvinas forever anticipating me Would you please check my egg? Its in the other room, by the hearth. It feels harder to me He sounded anxious as he pointed to the farther door.
Menolly obediently entered the room, and he walked with her, setting the tray down as he passed the sandtable by the window and pouring himself a mug of klah before he joined her by the hearth in the next room where a small fire burned gently. The earthen pot had been set at the edge of the hearth apron.
Menolly opened it, carefully brushing aside the warm sand that covered the precious fire lizard egg. It was harder, but not much more so than when she had given it to the Masterharper at Benden Weyr the previous evening.
Its fine, Master Robinton, just fine. And the pot is warm enough, too, she said, running her hands down the sides. She replaced the sand and the top and rose. When we brought the clutch back to Benden Weyr two days ago, Weyrwoman Lessa said it would take a sevenday for them to hatch, so weve five days more.
The Harper sighed with exaggerated relief. You slept well, Menolly? Youre rested? Awake long?
Long enough.
The Harper burst out laughing as she realized how much chagrin shed put into her tone.
Long enough to set a few people by the ears, huh? My dear child, did you not notice the difference in the chorus the second time? Your fire lizards have challenged them. Brudegan was only gruff with surprise. Tell me, can your fire lizards improvise descants to any tune?
I dont really know, Master Robinton.
Still not sure, are you, young Menolly? He didnt mean the fire lizards abilities. There was such kindness in his voice and eyes that Menolly felt unexpected tears behind her eyes.
I dont want to be a nuisance
Allow me to differ both to statement and content, Menolly Then he sighed. Youre overyoung to appreciate the value of nuisance, although the improvement in that chorus is a point in my argument. However, its much too early in the morning for me to expound philosophy. He guided her back into the other room, quite the most cluttered place she had ever seen and in direct contrast to the neatness of his bedchamber. While musical instruments were carefully stored on hook and shelf in cases, piles of record skins, drawings, slateswax and stonelittered every surface and were heaped in corners and against the walls of the room. On one wall was a finely drawn map of the Pern continent, with smaller detailed drawings of all the major Holds and Crafthalls pinned here and there on the borders. The long sandtable by the window was covered with musical notations, some of them carefully shielded by glass to prevent erasure. The Harper had set the tray on the center island, which separated the sandtable into two halves. Now he pulled a square of wood to protect the sand and positioned the tray so he could eat comfortably. He smeared a thick slice of bread with soft cheese and picked up his spoon to eat his cereal, motioning with the spoon for Menolly to seat herself on a stool.
Were in a period of change and readjustment, Menolly, he said, managing to speak and eat simultaneously without choking on food or garbling his words. And you are likely to be a vital part of that change. Yesterday I exerted an unfair pressure on you to join the Harper Hall Oh yes, I did, but you belong here! His forefinger stabbed downward at the floor and then waggled out at the courtyard. First, and he paused to swallow klah, washing down bread and cereal, we must discover just how well Petiron taught you the fundamentals of our craft and what you need to further your gifts. And he pointed now to her left hand, what can be done to correct that scar damage. Id still like to hear you play the songs you wrote. His eyes fell to her hands in her lap so that she was aware of her absentminded kneading of her left palm. Master Oldive will set that right if anyone can.
Silvina said I was to see him today.
Well have you playing again, more than just those pipes. We need you, when you can craft songs like those Petiron sent me and the ones Elgion found stuck away at the back of the harpers shelves in Half-Circle. Yes, and thats a matter Id better explain he went on, smoothing the hair at the back of his neck and, to Menollys amazement, appearing to be embarrassed.
Explain?
Yes, well, you obviously hadnt finished writing that song about the fire lizard queen
No, I hadnt actually Menolly felt that she was not hearing his words properly. For one thing, why did the Masterharper have to explain anything to her? And shed only jotted down the little tune about the fire lizard queen, yet last night Now she remembered that hed mentioned the song, as if all the harpers knew about it. You mean, Harper Elgion sent it to you?
How else would I have got it? We couldnt find you! Robinton sounded annoyed. When I think of you, living in a cave, with a damaged hand, and you hadnt been allowed to finish that charming song So I did.
He got up, rummaged among the piles of waxed slates under the window, extracted one and handed it to her. She looked at the notations obediently but, although they were familiar, she couldnt make her mind read the melody.