And if? Master Robinton urged him to continue.
Well, Ive had to copy that map Fnor made of the Southern Hold and Weyr, and its small. No biggern Crom or Nabol, but Ive heard from weyrfolk at High Reaches who were in the south before Flar exiled the worst of the Oldtimers, and they said they were sure the Southern Continent must be pretty big. Piemur gestured broadly.
And? The Harpers encouragement was firm.
Well, sir, if it were me, Id want to know, cause sure as eggs hatch, theres going to be trouble with those Oldtimers south he jerked his thumb in that direction and trouble with the holdless men in the north, he turned his thumb back. So when Menolly talks about sailing, I know how Sebell got south without being taken by a dragon. Which Benden Weyr wouldnt permit cause they promised that northern dragons wouldnt go south, and I dont think Sebell could swim that far. If he can swim.
Master Robinton began to laugh, a soft chuckle, and he slowly swung his head from side to side.
I wonder how many more people have put the same pieces together, Menolly? he asked, frowning. When his journeywoman shrugged, he added to Piemur. Youve kept such notions to yourself, young man?
Piemur gave a snort, realized he must be more circumspect with the Master of his Craft and said quickly, Who pays any attention to what apprentices think or say?
Have you mentioned these notions to anyone? The Harper was insistent.
Of course not, sir. Piemur tried to keep indignation from his tone. Its Bendens business, or Hold business, or Harper business. Not mine.
A chance spoken word, even by an apprentice, can sift through a mans thoughts till he forgets the source and remembers the intent. And repeats it inadvisedly.
I know my loyalty to my Crafthall, Master Robinton, said Piemur.
Im sure of your loyalty, the Harper said, nodding his head slowly, his eyes still holding Piemurs. I want to be certain of your discretion.
Menollyll tell you; Im not a babblemouth. He looked at Menolly for her support.
Not normally, Im sure. But you might be tempted to speak when taunted by others.
Me, sir? Piemurs imagination was genuine. Not me, sir! I may be small, but Im not stupid.
No, one could not accuse you of that, my young friend, but as youve already pointed out, we are living in an uncertain Turn. I think
The Harper broke off, staring out the window, frowning absently. Abruptly he made a decision and regarded Piemur for a long moment. Menolly told me you were quick-witted. Lets see if you comprehend the reason behind this: you will not be known as my apprentice and Master Robinton smiled understandingly at Piemurs sharp intake of breath. Then he nodded with approval as Piemur promptly schooled his expression to polite acceptance. You will be told off as apprentice to the Drummaster, Olodkey, who will know that you are under my orders as well. Yes and the crispness of Master Robintons tone told Piemur that he was pleased by this solution, and Piemur had better be that will serve. The drummers must, of course, keep irregular hours. No one would note your absences or think anything of your taking messages.
Master Robinton put his hand on Piemurs shoulder and gave him a little shake, smiling kindly.
No one will miss your boyish treble more than I, lad, except possibly Domick, but here in the Harper Hall, some of us listen to other tunes and drum a different beat. He gave Piemur another shake, then cuffed him on the shoulder encouragingly. I dont want you to stop listening, Piemur, not if you can take isolated facts and put them together as well as you just did. But I also want you to notice the way things are said, the tone and inflection, the emphasis.
Piemur mustered a grin. What a harper hears is for the Harpers ears, sir?
Master Robinton laughed. Good lad! Now, take this tray back to Silvina and ask her to fit you out with wherhide. A drummer has to be at his post in all weathers!
You dont need wherhide on the drumheight! exclaimed Piemur. Then he grinned as he cocked his head at his master. You do need it if youre riding a dragonback, though.
I told you he was quick, said Menolly, grinning at the Harpers consternation.
Scamp! Rascal! Impertinent snip! cried the Harper, dismissing him with a vigorous wave of his hand that set Zair squawking. Do as youre told and keep your notions to yourself!
Then I will be riding dragons! said Piemur, and when he saw Master Robinton rise half out of his chair, he quickly slipped out of the room.
What did I tell you, Master, said Menolly, laughing. Hes quick enough to be very useful.
Though the glint of amusement remained in his eyes, the Harper stared thoughtfully at the closed door, his fingers tapping idly on his chair arm.
Quick yes, but a shade young
Young? Piemur? He was never young, that one. Dont let that innocent, wide-eyed stare of his fool you. Besides, hed got fourteen Turns, almost as old as I was when I left Half-Circle Sea Hold to live in the Dragon Stones cave with my fire lizards. And what else can be done with all his energy and mischief? Hes simply not suited for any other section of this Craft. Master Shonagar was the only person who had half a chance of keeping him out of trouble. Old Arnor couldnt, nor Jerint. Its got to be Olodkey and the drums.
I could almost see the merit of the Oldtimers attitudes, said the Harper on the end of a heavy sigh.
Sir? Menolly stared at him, startled as much by the abrupt change of subject as the sense of what he said.
I wish we hadnt changed so in this last long Interval.
But, sir, youve been supporting all the changes Flar and Lessa have advocated. And Bendens been right to make those changes. Theyre united Hall and Hold behind the Weyrs. Furthermore, and Menolly took a deep breath, Sebell told me not so long ago that before this Pass of the Red Star began, harpers were nearly as discredited as dragon riders. Youve made this Hall into the most prestigious craft on Pern. Everyone respects Masterharper Robinton. Even Piemur, she added with a laugh trembling in her voice as she struggled to relieve her masters melancholy.
Ah, now, theres the real accomplishment!
Indeed it is, she said, ignoring his facetiousness. For hes very hard to impress, I assure you. Believe me, too, that he wont be in the least distressed to do for you what he does naturally for himself. Hes always heard the gossip at Gathers and told me, knowing Id tell you. What a harper hears is for the Harpers ears.She laughed to find Piemurs saucy quip so applicable.
It was easier during the Interval Robinton said, with another long sigh. Zair, whod been cleaning himself, chirped in a querying way, tilting his head and peering with earnestly whirling eyes at his friend. The Harper smiled as he stroked the little creature. Boring, too, to be completely candid. Still, it wont be that long an assignment for Piemur, will it? His voice ought to settle within the Turn, and he can resume his place as a soloist. If his adult voice is half as good as his treble, hell be a better singer than Tagetarl.
Seeing that that prospect cheered her Master, Menolly smiled.
The drum message was from Ista Hold. Sebells on his way back with those herbal medicines Master Oldive wanted. Hell be at Fort Sea Hold by late afternoon tomorrow if the wind holds.
Indeed? Ill be very interested to hear what our good Sebell has for his Harpers ears.
Chapter 2
The tray Piemur was carrying was all that restrained him from jumping into the air and kicking his heels together in his jubilation. Working for Master Robinton, no matter how indirectly, and being apprenticed to Master Olodkey, was no loss of prestige and much more than he had dared contemplate. Not, Piemur admitted to himself, that hed given much thought to his future.
Of course, one never saw much of Master Olodkey about the Hall. He kept to the drum height, a lean, slightly stooped figure of a man with a big head and coarse bristling brown hair that seemed to stand out from his skull to give him the appearance, the irreverent said, of one of his own bass drumsticks. Others insisted that he was deaf from years of pounding the great message-drums for the Harper Hall. Except for drumbeats, they hastily amended, which he didnt need to hear: he felt the vibrations in the air.
Piemur considered his new apprenticeship and found it good: there were only four other apprentices, seniors all, and five journeymen serving Master Olodkey. Granted that Piemur had been Master Shonagars special, but Master Shonagar was responsible for every singer in the Hall, whereas Master Olodkey rarely had more than ten harpers looking to him. Piemur again was in a select group. Even more select if hed been permitted to announce the full truth.
He skittered down the steps, balancing the tray deftly. Maybe, once hed proved to the Masterharper that he could keep his mouth sealedAnd Master Robinton was wrong to think that any could extract information from Piemur that Piemur didnt care to divulge. Nothing pleased Piemur more than knowing. He didnt necessarily have to show off to other people how much he knew. The fact that he, Piemur, an insignificant herdsmans son from Crom, knew, was sufficient.
He wished he hadnt been so brash, mentioning the Southern Continent, but the reactions had proved that his guess was accurate. They had been down to the south: at least Sebell had, and probably Menolly. If theyd gone, then the Harper neednt risk the trip with such eyes and ears to do the hard work.
Piemur hadnt had much to do with the Oldtimers before Flar had ordered them exiled to the Southern Continent. For this he was fervently grateful as hed heard enough about their arrogance and greed. But if he, Piemur, had been exiled, he wouldnt have just stayed put. He couldnt understand why the Oldtimers had quietly accepted their humiliating dismissal. Piemur calculated that some two hundred and forty-eight Oldtimers and their women had gone to the Southern Continent, including the two dissatisfied Weyrleaders, Tron of Fort and Tkul of the High Reaches. Seventeen Oldtimers had returned north, accepting Benden as their leader or so Piemur had heard. Most of the exiled men and dragons had been well on in Turns, so they were no real loss to the dragon strength of Pern. Old age and sickness had claimed almost forty dragons in the first Turn, and almost as many had gone between this Turn. Somehow that struck Piemur as being rather careless of dragons, even Oldtimer ones.
He stopped abruptly, aware of a tantalizing aroma wafting from the kitchens. Bubbly berry pies? And just when he needed a real treat! His mouth began to water in anticipation. The pies must be just out of the bake oven or surely he would have discerned that fragrance before.
He heard Silvinas voice rising above the working noises and grimaced. He couldve gotten a few pies out of Abuna with no trouble. But Silvina wasnt often taken in by his starts and schemes. Still
He let his shoulders sag, dropped his head and began to shuffle down the last few steps into the kitchen level.
Piemur? What are you doing here at this hour? Why do you have the Harpers tray? You should be rehearsing Silvina took the tray from his hands and stared at him accusingly.
You didnt hear? Piemur asked in a low, dejected voice.
Hear? Hear what? How could anyone hear anything in this babble? Ill She slipped the tray onto the nearest work surface and, putting her finger under his chin, forced his head up.
Piemur was rather pleased to be able to squeeze moisture from the corners of his eyes. He narrowed them quickly for Silvina wasnt easily fooled. Though, he told himself hastily, he was very sorry he wouldnt be singing Domicks music. And he was sorrier that Tilgin was!
Your voice? Your voice is changing?
Piemur heard the regret and dismay in Silvinas hushed tone. It occurred to him that womens voices never did change, and that she couldnt possibly imagine his feelings of total loss and crushing disappointment. More tears followed the first.
There, lad. The worlds not lost. In a half-Turn or less your rangell settle again.
Master Domicks music was just right for me Piemur did not need to fake the ragged tones.
To be sure, since he wrote it with you in mind, scamp. Well, wouldnt you know? Though I cant for the life of me believe you could contrive to change your voice to spite Domick
Spite Master Domick? Piemur widened his eyes with indignation. I wouldnt do such a thing, Silvina.
Only because you couldnt, rascal. I know how you hate singing female parts. Her voice was acerbic, but her hand under his chin was gentle. She took a clean corner of her apron and blotted the tears on his cheeks. As luck would have it, I seem to be prepared with an easement for your tragedy. She propelled him before her, motioning toward the trays of cooling pies. Piemur rapidly wondered if he ought to dissemble. You can have two, one for each hand, and then away with you! Have you seen Master Shonagar yet? Watch those pies! Theyre just out of the oven.
Hmmmm, he replied, biting into the first pie despite her admonition. Its the only way to eat em, he mumbled through a mouthful so hot that he had to suck in cool air to ease the burning of his gums. ButIm to get wherhide clothes.
You? In wherhide? Why would you need wherhide? She frowned suspiciously at him now.
Im to study drum with Master Olodkey, and Menolly asked me could I ride runners, and Master Robinton said I was to ask you for wherhide.
All three of them in it? Hmmm. And youd be apprenticed to Master Olodkey? Silvina considered the matter and then eyed him shrewdly. He wondered should he tell Menolly that Silvina hadnt been taken in by their stratagem of making him a drummer. Well, I suppose youll be kept out of mischief. Though I, for one, doubt its possible. Come on then. I do have a wherhide jacket that might fit. She cast him a calculating look as they moved toward the storage section of the kitchen level. Lets hope itll fit for a while because sure as eggs hatch, I shant be able to pass it on to anyone else the way you mangle your clothes.