Talmor gave them another set of scales and then brought out a large copy of a piece of occasional music. Menolly was delighted because the score was completely new to her. Petiron had been, as he phrased it, a teaching Harper, not an entertainer, and though she had learned the one or two occasional pieces of music he had in his possession, he had never acquired more. The Sea Holder, Menolly knew, had preferred to sing, not listen; and most occasional music was instrumental. In the bigger Holds, Petiron had told her, the Lord Holders liked music during the dinner hour and at night when they entertained guests in conversation rather than song.
This was not a difficult piece, Menolly realized, scanning it and silently fingering the one or two transitional chords that might be troublesome.
All right, Audiva, lets see what you can make of it today, Talmor said, smiling at the girl with encouragement.
Audiva gulped, exhibiting a nervousness that puzzled Menolly. As Audiva began to pick out the chords, nodding her head and tapping one foot at a much slower rhythm than the musical notation required, perplexity grew. Well, she thought, charitably, maybe Audiva was a new student. If she was, she was far more competent than Briala, who apparently had trouble just reading the music.
Talmor dismissed Briala to the table to copy the score for later practice. Pona was no improvement on the other two. The sly-faced, fair-haired girl played with great banging against the gitar belly, at time, but with many inaccuracies. When it was finally her own turn, Menollys stomach was roiled by frustrated listening.
Menolly, said Talmor at the end of a sigh that expressed his own frustration and boredom.
It was such a relief to play the music as it should be that Menolly found herself increasing the time and emphasizing the chords with a variation of her own in the strum.
Talmor just looked at her. Then he blinked and exhaled heavily, pursing his lips together. Well, yes. Youve seen it before?
Oh, no. We had very little occasional music in Half-Circle. This is lovely!
You played that cold?
Only then did Menolly realize what shed done: made the other girls look inadequate. She was aware of their cold, chill silence, their hostile stares. But not to play ones best seemed a dishonesty that she had never practiced and could not. Belatedly she recognized that she could have hedged: with her scarred hand she could have faltered, missed some of the chording. Yet it had been such a relief, after their limping renditions, to play the music as it was meant to be played.
I was the last to go, she said in a lame effort to retrieve matters, Id more time to study it, and see Shed started to say, see where they went wrong.
Yes, well, so you did, Talmor said, so hastily that Menolly wondered if hed also realized what a break shed made. Then he added in a rush of impatience and irritation, Who told you to join this class? Id rather thought A snigger interrupted his query, and he turned to glare at the girls. Well? he asked Menolly.
A journeyman
Who?
I dont know. I was in the courtyard, and he asked me why wasnt I in class. Then he told me to come here.
Talmor rubbed the side of his jaw. Too late now, I suppose, but Ill inquire. He turned to the other girls.
Lets play it in The girls were staring pointedly at the doorway, and he looked about. Yes, Sebell?
Menolly turned, too, to see the man to whom the other coveted fire lizard egg had gone. Sebell was a slender man, a hand or so taller than herself: a brown man, tanned skin, light brown hair and eyes, dressed in brown with a faded Harper apprentice badge half-hidden in the shoulder fold of his tunic.
Ive been looking for Menolly, he said, gazing steadily at her.
I thought someone ought to be. She was misdirected here. Talmor sounded irritated, and he gestured sharply for Menolly to go to Sebell.
Menolly slipped from the stool, but she was uncertain what to do about the gitar and glanced questioningly at Sebell.
You wont need it now, he said so she quietly put it away on the shelf.
She felt the girls staring at her, knew that Talmor was watching and would not continue the lesson until she had gone, so it was with intense relief that she heard the door close behind her and the quiet brown man.
Where was I supposed to be? she asked, but he motioned her down the steps.
You got no message? His eyes searched her face although his expression gave no hint of his thoughts.
No.
You did breakfast at Duncas?
Yes Menolly couldnt suppress her distaste for that painful meal. Then she caught her breath and stared at Sebell, comprehension awakening. Oh, she wouldnt have
Sebell was nodding, his brown eyes registering an understanding of the matter. And you wouldnt have known yet to come to me for instructions
You Hadnt Piemur said something about Sebell walking the tables, to become a journeyman? sir? she added. A slow smile spread across the mans round face.
I suppose I do rate a sir from a mere apprentice, but the Harper is not as strict about such observances as other masters. The tradition here is that the oldest journeyman under the same master is responsible for the newest apprentice. So you are my responsibility. At least while Im in the Hall and Im enjoying a respite from my journeyings. I didnt have the chance to meet you and this morningyou didnt arrive as planned at Master Domicks
Oh, no. Menolly swallowed the hard knot of dismay. Not Master Domick! Even Piemur was careful not to annoy him. Was Master Domick veryupset?
In a manner of speaking, yes. But dont worry, Menolly, I shall use the incident to your advantage. It doesnt do to antagonize Domick unnecessarily.
Not when he doesnt like me anyhow. Menolly closed her eyes against a vision of Master Domicks cynical face contorted with anger.
How do you construe that? Menolly shrugged. I had to play for him yesterday. I know he doesnt like me.
Master Domick doesnt like anyone, replied Sebell with a wry laugh, including himself. So youre no exception. But, as far as studying with him is concerned
I'm to study with him?
Dont panic. As a teacher, hes top rank. I know. In some ways I think Master Domick is superior, instrumentally, to the Harper. He doesnt have Master Robintons flare and vitality, nor his keen perception in matters outside the Craft. Although Sebell was speaking in his customary impersonal way, Menolly sensed his complete loyalty and devotion to the Masterharper. You, and there was a slight emphasis on the pronoun, will learn a great deal from Domick. Just dont let his manner fuss you. Hes agreed to teach you, and thats quite a concession.
But I didnt come this morning
The magnitude of that truancy appalled Menolly.
Sebell gave her a quick reassuring grin. I said that I can turn that to your advantage. Domick doesn't like people to ignore his instructions. It is not yourworry. Now, come on. Enough of the morning has been lost.
He had directed her up the steps into the Hall, and to her surprise opened the door into the Great Hall. It was twice the size of the dining hall, three times the size of the Great Hall at Half-Circle. Across the far end was fitted a raised and curtained platform that jutted into the floor space. Tables and benches were piled haphazardly against the inner walls and under windows. Immediately to her right were a collection of more comfortable chairs arranged in an informal grouping about a small round table. To this area Sebell motioned her and seated himself opposite her.
Ive some questions to put to you, and I cant explain why I need to have this information. It is Harper business, and if youre told that, youll be wise to ask no further. I need your help
My help?
Strange as that might seem, yes, and his brown eyes laughed at her. I need to know how to sail a boat, how to gut a fish, how to act like a seaman
He was ticking off the points on his fingers, and she stared at his hands.
With those, no one would ever believe you had sailed
He examined his hands impersonally. Why?
Seamens hands get gnarled quickly from popping the joints, rough from salt water and fish oil, much browner than yours from weathering
Would anyone but a seaman know that?
Well, I know it.
Fair enough. Can you teach me to act, from a distance, and his grin teased her, like a seaman? Is it hard to learn to sail a boat? Or bait a hook? Or gut a fish?
Her left palm itched, and so did her curiosity. Harper business? Why would a journeyman harper need to know such things?
Sailing, baiting, guttingthose are a question of practicing
Could you teach me?
With a boat and a place to sail, yeswith hook and bait, and a few fish. Then she laughed.
Whats funny?
Just thatI thought when I came here, that Id never need to gut a fish again.
Sebell regarded her sardonically for a long moment, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Yes, I can appreciate that, Menolly. I was landbred and thought Id done with walking about. Just dont be surprised at anything youre asked to do here. The Harper requires us to play many tunes for our Craftnot always on gitar or pipe. Now, and he went on more briskly, Ill arrange for the boat, the water and the fish. But when? At this requisite, he whistled softly through the slight gap between his two front teeth. Time will be the problem, for you have lessons, and there are the two eggs He looked her squarely in the eye then, and grinned. Speaking of which, have you any idea what color mine might be?
She smiled back. I dont think you can really be as sure with fire lizard eggs as you can with the dragon's, but I kept the two largest ones for Master Robinton. One ought to be a queen, and the other should turn out to be a bronze at least.
A bronze fire lizard?
The rapt expression on Sebell's face alarmed her. What if both eggs produced browns? Or greens? As if he sensed her apprehension, Sebell smiled.
I dont really care so long as I have one. The Harper says they can be trained to carry messages. And sing! He was a great teaser, this Sebell, thought Menolly, for all his quiet manner and solemn expressions, but she felt completely at ease with him. The Harper says they can get as attached to their friends as dragons do to their riders.
She nodded. Would you like to meet mine?
I would, but not now, he replied, shaking his head ruefully. I must pick your brains about the seamans craft. So, tell me how goes a day at a Sea Hold?
Amused to find herself explaining such a thing in the Harper Hall, Menolly gave the brown journeyman a dryly factual account of the routine that was all shed known for so many Turns. He was an attentive listener, occasionally repeating cogent points, or asking her to elaborate others. She was giving him a list of the various types of fish that inhabited the oceans of Pern when the tocsin rang again and her explanation was drowned by shouts as apprentices erupted into the courtyard on their way to the dining hall.
Well wait until the stampede has settled, Menolly, Sebell said, raising his voice above the commotion outside, just give me that rundown on deep water fishes again.
When Sebell escorted her to her place, the girls treated her with a stony silence, emphasized by pursed lips, averted eyes and then sniggers to each other. Buoyed by Sebells reassurances, Menolly ignored them. She concentrated on eating the roast wherry and the crusty brown tubers, bigger than shed ever seen and so fluffy inside their crust that she ate more of them than bread.
Since the girls were so pointedly snubbing her, Menolly looked about the room. She couldnt spot Piemur, and she wanted him to come help her feed the fire lizards in the evening. Shed better strengthen what friendships she could within the Harper Hall.
The gong again called their attention to announcements; and to her surprise, Menolly heard her own name called to report to Master Oldive. Immediately the girls fell to whispering among themselves, as if such a summons was untoward, though she couldnt imagine why, unless they were doing it to frighten her. She continued to ignore them. And then the gong released the diners.
The girls remained where they were, pointedly not looking in her direction, and she was forced to struggle from the bench.
And where in the name of the first shell were you this morning? asked Master Domick, his face set with anger, his eyes slitted, his voice low but projected so that the girls all cowered away from him.
I was told to go to
So Talmor me, and he brushed aside her explanation, but I had left word with Dunca for you to report to me.
Dunca told me nothing, Master Domick, Menolly flicked a glance beyond him to the girls and saw in their smug expression the knowledge that they, too, had known thered been a message for her, which Dunca had deliberately neglected to pass on.
She said she did, said Master Domick. Menolly stared back at him, bereft of any response and heartily wishing for Sebell to produce his assistance.
I realize, Domick went on sarcastically, that youve been living holdless and without authority for some time, but while you are an apprentice here, you will obey the masters. In the face of his wrath, Menolly bowed her head. The next moment, Beauty came diving into the room, with two bronze and two brown shapes right behind her.
Beauty! Rocky! Diver! Stop it!
Menolly jumped in front of Domick, arms outstretched, protecting him from the onslaught of winged retaliation.
What do you mean, disobeying me? Attacking Master Domick? Hes a Harper! Behave yourselves.
Menolly had to shout because the girls, seeing the fire lizards swooping down, screamed and tried variously to get under the table or off the benches, overturning them; anywhere away from the fire lizards.
Domick had sense enough to stand still, incredulous as he was at the attack. Despite the girls shriek, Menolly had the lungs to be heard when she wished to.
Twittering, Beauty circled once and then came to Menollys shoulder, glaring balefully at Domick from behind her mistress. The others lined up on the mantel, wings still spread, hissing, their jeweled eyes whirling, looking ready and quite willing to pounce again. As Menolly stroked Beauty to calmness, she struggled with an apology to Domick.
Back to work, you! The rest of you, along to your sections, Domick said, raising his own voice to energize the stragglers in the dining hall who had observed the strange attack, and the boys who were clearing the tables. Id forgot about your loyal defenders, he told Menolly in a tight but controlled voice.
Master Domick, will you ever forgive
Master Domick, said another voice near the floor, and Audiva crawled from under the table. Domick extended a hand to help the girl to her feet. She glanced toward the entrance, then gave Menolly a brief nod. Master Domick, Dunca told Menolly nothing about your message, but we all knew about it. Fairs fair. With one more glance at Menolly, she hurried across the dining hall to catch up with the girls in the courtyard.
How did you contrive to alienate Dunca? asked Domick, his expression sullen but less fierce.
Menolly gulped and glanced at the fire lizards.
Oh, them! Yes! I can quite see her point. There was no flexibility in Master Domicks attitude. They do not, however, intimidate me.
Master Domick
Thats enough, girl, Since you havent the native intelligence to be tactful, I shall have to
Master Domick Master Sebell came hurrying up.
I know, I know, and the Master cut off the journeymans explanation. You do seem to acquire some champions at any rate. Lets hope the end result is worth the effort. Ill see you tomorrow morning, promptly after breakfast, in my study, which is on the second level to the right, fourth door on the outside. You will take your pipes this afternoon to Master Jerint for the first hour. Im told you made the pipes yourself in that cave of yours? Good! Then the second hour youre to see Master Shonagar. Now, get yourself off to Master Oldive. His office is at the top of the steps on the inside, to your right. No, Sebell, you do not need to hover about her so protectingly. Im not so lost to common sense as to punish her for being the victim of envy. He gestured imperatively at the journeyman to accompany him and then strode out of the hall. Sebell gave her a quick nod and followed.
Pssst! Attracted by the sound, Menolly looked down and saw Piemur crouched under the table.
Is it safe to come out?
Arent you supposed to be in chore section?
Yeah, but never mind. Ive got a few seconds leeway. Hey, those fribbles have it in for you, dont they? Or maybe Dunca made them not tell you?
How much did you overhear?
All of it. Piemur grinned, getting to his feet. I dont miss much around here.
Piemur!
Menolly, can I help you feed the fire lizards tonight? he asked, eyeing Beauty warily.
I was going to ask you.
Great! He beamed with pleasure. And dont worry about them, he added, jerking his head toward the door, meaning the girls. Youre much nicern them.
You just want to make friends with my fire lizards
Too right! His grin was impudence itself, but Menolly felt that hed have been her friend without Beauty and the others. Gotta scamper, or Ill be put on. See you!
She made her way to Master Oldives office. He had the hard-gum ball for her and showed her how to exercise her hand around it.
Not, he said, giving her the grimace of his smile, that your hand will lack exercise of other sorts around here. How much does it ache?
She mumbled something, so he gave her a stern look and laid a small pot in her hand.
There is only one excuse on this planet for the existence of that odorous plant known as numbweed, which is to ease pain. Use it when needed. The salve is mild enough to give you relief without loss of sensitivity.
Beauty, whod observed everything from her perch on Menollys shoulder, gave an admonitory chirp, as if agreeing with Master Oldive. The man chuckled, eyeing the little queen.
Things are lively with you lot about, arent they? he said, addressing the fire lizard directly. She chittered in response, turning her head this way and that as if looking him over. How much larger will she grow? he asked Menolly. I understand yours are not long out of the shell.
Menolly coaxed Beauty from her shoulder to her forearm so that Master Oldive could examine her closely.
Whats this? Whats this? he asked, glancing from Beauty to Menolly. Patchy skin?
Menolly was horrified. Shed been so engrossed in her own problems that she hadnt been taking proper care of her fire lizards. And here was Beauty, her back flaking. Probably the others were in trouble, too.
Oil, they need to be oiled
Dont panic, child. The matter is easily taken care of, and with one long arm, he reached to the shelving above his head, and without seeming to look, brought down a large pot.
I make this for the ladies of the Hold, so if your creatures dont mind smelling like females fair
Shaking her head, Menolly grinned with relief, remembering the stinking fish oil shed used first for the fire lizards at the Dragon Stones cave. Master Oldive scooped up a fingertip of the ointment and gestured toward Beautys back. At Menollys encouraging nod, he gently smoothed the stuff on the patchy skin. Beauty arched her back appreciatively, crooning with relief, and then she stroked her head against his hand in gratitude.
Most responsive little creature, isnt she? Master Oldive said, pleased.
Very, but Menolly was thinking of Beautys deplorable attack on Master Domick.
Now, Ill have a look at your feet. Youve been on them too much; theres quite a bit of swelling, he said sternly. I want you off your feet as much as possible. Did I not make that clear?
Beauty squeaked angrily.
Is she agreeing with me or defending you? asked the Master.
Possibly both, sir, because I had to stand a lot yesterday
I suppose you did, he said, more kindly, but do try to keep off your feet as much as possible. Most of the masters will be understanding. He dismissed her then, giving her the extra jars and reminding her to return the next day after dinner.
Menolly was glad the Master had an inside office, or hed have seen her trudging across the courtyard after her pipes; but there was no other way, if she was to report with them to Master Jerint. And she didnt wish to offend another master today.
The chore sections were at work in the courtyard, sweeping, cleaning, raking and doing the general heavy drudgery to keep the Harper Hall in order. She was aware of furtive glances in her direction but affected not to notice them.
The door to the cot was half-closed when she reached it, but Menolly clearly heard the voices raised inside. Shes an apprentice, Pona was shouting in strident and argumentative tones. He said she was an apprentice. She doesnt belong with us. Were not apprentices! Weve rank to uphold. She doesnt belong in here with us! Let her go where she does belongwith the apprentices! There was a vicious, hateful edge to Ponas voice.
Menolly drew back from the doorway, trembling. She lay flat against the wall, wishing she were anywhere but here. Beauty chirped questioningly in her ear and then stroked her head against Menollys cheek, the perfumed salve a sweetness in Menollys nostrils.
One thing was certain: Menolly did not want to go into the cottage for her pipes. But what would happen if she went to Master Jerint without them? She couldnt go into the cot. Not now. Her fair swirled about, deprived of their customary landing spot by the closed shutters of Menollys disputed room, and she wished with all her heart that she could consolidate her nine fire lizards into one dragon and be born aloft, and between, back to her quiet cave by the Dragon Stones. She did belong there because shed made it her place. Hers alone! And really, what place was there for her in the Harper Hall, much less the cot? She might be called an apprentice, but she wasnt part of their group either. Ranly had made that plain at the dining table.
And Master Morshal didnt want her to presume to be a harper. Master Domick would as soon she disappeared, for all hed been willing to teach her. She had played well for him, scarred hand and all. She was certain of that. And she was clearly a far better musician than the girls. No false modesty prompted that evaluation.
If her only use at the Harper Hall was to instruct people on being bogus seamen or turning fire lizard eggs, someone else could as easily perform those services. Shed managed to alienate more people than shed made friends, and the few friends shed acquired were far more interested in her fire lizards than they were in her. Briefly she wondered what welcome she would have received if she hadnt brought the fire lizards or the two eggs with her. Then there would have been no fire lizard song for the Masterharper to rewrite. And hed apologized to her for that. The Masterharper of Pern had apologized to her, Menolly of Half-Circle Sea Hold, for improving on her song. Her songs were what he needed, he said. Menolly took in a deep breath and expelled it slowly.
She did have music in the Harper Hall, and that was important! There might not be girl harpers, but no one had ever said there couldnt be girl song-crafters and that mightnt be a bad future.
Not to think of that now, Menolly, she chided herself. Think what youre going to do when you appear before Master Jerint with no pipes. He might seem absent-minded, but she doubted very much if he really was. The pipes were in her room, on the little press, and nothing, not even obedience to, and love of, the Masterharper would force her into the cot while those girls were raging on about her.
Beauty took off from her shoulder, calling to the other fire lizards, and when they were all midair above her, they disappeared. Menolly pushed herself away from the cots wall and started back to the Harper Hall. Shed think of something to say to Master Jerint about the pipes.
The fire lizards exploded into the air above her, squealing so shrilly that she looked up in alarm. They were grouped in a tight cluster, hovered just a split second while her eye took in their unusual formation, and then they parted. Something dropped. Automatically she held out her hands, and the multiple pipes smacked into her palms.
Oh, you darlings. I didnt know you could do that! She clutched the pipes to her, ignoring the sting of her hands. Only the stiffness in her feet prevented her from dancing with the joy of relief and the discovery of this unexpected ability of her friends. How clever, clever they were, going to her room and bringing her the pipes. No one could ever again say in her presence that they were just pets and nuisances, good for nothing but trouble!
The worst storm throws up some wood on the beach, her mother used to say; mostly to soothe her father caught holdbound during a storm.
Why, if she hadnt needed the pipes so badly, and if the girls hadnt been so nasty, shed never have discovered how very clever her fire lizards could be!
It was with a considerably lightened heart that she entered Master Jerints workshop. The place was unexpectedly empty. Master Jerint, bent over a vise attached to his wide and cluttered worktable, was the only occupant of the big room. As she could see that he was meticulously gluing veneer to a harp shaft, she waited and waited. And waited until, bored, she sighed.
Yes? Oh, the girl! And where have you been this long time? Oh, waiting, I see. You brought your pipes with you? He held out his hand, and she surrendered them.
She was a bit startled by the sudden intensity of his examination. He weighed the pipes in his hand, peered closely at the way she had joined the sections of reed with braided seaplant; he poked a tool into the blow and finger holes. Muttering under his breath, he brought the pipes over to the rank of windows and examined them minutely in the bright afternoon sun. Glancing at her for permission, he arranged his long fingers appropriately and blew on the pipes, his eyebrows arching at the pure clear tone.
Sea reeds? Not fresh water?
Fresh water, but I cured them in the sea.
Howd you get this dark shine?
Mixed fish oil with sea grass and rubbed it in, warm
Makes an interesting hint of purple in the wood. Could you duplicate the compound again?
I think so.
Any particular type of sea grass? Or fish oil?
Packtail, and despite herself, Menolly winced at having to mention the fish name. Her hand twitched. And shallow-water sea grass, the sort that clings to sandy bottoms rather than rock.
Very good. He handed her back the pipes, gesturing for her to follow him to another table where drum rings and skins of varying sizes had been laid out, as well as a reel of the oiled cord necessary to secure drum hides to frame. Can you assemble a drum?
I can try.
He sniffed, not criticallyreflectively, Menolly thoughtand then motioned for her to begin. He turned back to his patient woodworking on the harp.
Knowing that this was likely another test, Menolly examined each of the nine drum frames carefully for hidden flaws, for the dryness and hardness of the wood. Only one did she feel worth the trouble, and the drum would be a thin, sharp-sounding instrument. She preferred a drum with deep full notes, one that would cut through male voices in a chorus and keep them on the beat. Then she reminded herself that here she would scarcely have to worry about keeping singers in time. She set to work, putting the metal clips on the frame edge to hold the skin. Most of the hides were well cured and stretched, so that it was a matter of finding one the proper size and thinness for her drum frame. She softened the chosen hide in the tub of water, working the skin in her hands until it was flexible enough to draw across the frame. Carefully, she made slits and skewered the hide to the clips, symmetrically, so that one side wasnt pulled tighter than another lest it make an uneven tone along the outside of the drum and a sour one in the center. When she was sure she had the hide evenly placed, she lashed it around the frame, two fingers from the edge of the surface. When the hide dried, shed have a taut drum.