See if Piemur remembers how to go on, she said to Banak.
The man smiled and handed Piemur the gear. With a degree of assurance he didnt feel, Piemur made the clucking sound it was wise to use to announce human presence to a runner beast. They werent intelligent creatures, responding to a narrow set of noises and nudges, but, within that limited scope, quite useful. They werent even pretty, being thin necked, heavy headed, long backed, lean bodied, with spindly legs. Their hide was covered in a coarse fur and ranged in color from a dirty white to a dark brown. They were more graceful than herdbeasts but by no stretch of the imagination as beautiful as dragons or fire lizards.
The creature Piemur was to ride was a dirty brown. He threw the mouth rope over its neck, and by pinching its nose holes, forced it to open its mouth to receive the metal mouthpiece. Quickly grabbing its ear, Piemur managed to get the headstall in place. It snorted as if mildly surprised. Not half as surprised as Piemur that hed remembered that little trick. He heard Banak grunt. He slapped the pad in place and tightened the midstrap, wondering if this thing would give him any trouble once he was astride it.
Untying its halter, he backed it out and found Menolly as the aisle, holding her larger beast. She examined the gear on his.
Oh, he did it right, said Banak, nodding approval and waving them to go on as he turned to the rear of the cavern on his own affairs.
It had been a long time since Piemur had been bestride a runner. Fortunately, this creature was docile, and its pacing stride smooth as Menolly set off briskly down the eastern roadway.
There was a knack of easing yourself on a runners pad. Piemur found himself almost unconsciously assuming the position; sitting on one buttock, extending his left leg as far as the toe-hold strap would go, while cocking the knee of his right leg firmly against the runners side. A rider would change sides often in trip. For a girl seahold bred, Menolly rode with the ease of much practice, Piemur noted.
All the way down to the sea hold, Piemur kept his mouth shut. Hed be scorched if hed ask her why they were going there. He doubted that the sole purpose of this excursion was to see if he could ride runners or keep his mouth shut. And what had she meant by easier to have a second runner ridden than led? This reticent, assured Menolly on Harper business was quite different from the girl who let him feed her fire lizards, and a long stride from his recollections of the shy and self-effacing newcomer to the Harper Hall three Turns back.
Once they reached Fort Sea Hold, Menolly tossed him her beasts mouth rope, told him to take them to the holds beastmaster, ease the backpads, water them and see if they could have some feed. As Piemur led the creatures away, he noticed that she went to the harbor wall, shading one hand as she peered at the eastern horizon. Why was she waiting for a ship? Or had that something to do with the drum message from Ista Hold the other morning? The beastmaster greeted him cheerfully enough and helped him attend the runners.
Youll be likely heading back to the Hall as soon as the ship docks, said the man. Ill pad up Sebells beast, so hes ready. Soons we got these comfortable, you just pop into my hold there, and my womanll fix you a bite to eat. Boy your age could always do with a bit, Im sure. One thing about seaholding, youve always the extra to feed, even in Threadfall.
His hospitality included Menolly when she came in; after Piemur too had seen the speck far out on the sea. He knew that hed have a chance to rest his weary bones as well as exercise his jaw.
Sebell had a runner stabled here, huh? Sebell borne by a westbound ship. Which suggested that Sebell had also sailed from this seahold. Piemur tried to remember how long it had been since hed seen Sebell about the Hall, and couldnt.
Fort Sea Hold possessed a natural deep harbor so that the incoming ship sailed right up to the stone-lined side. Seamen on shore as well as on the ship neatly tied her thick lines to the bollards on the wall. Sebell was not immediately visible, though as Menollys fire lizards did a welcoming display above the ships rigging, the westering sun glinted off two golden bodies, Sebells queen, Kimi, as well as Menollys Beauty. Piemur didnt spot Sebell in the bustle of people unloading the ship until suddenly he appeared right in front of them, heavy bags draped across his shoulders and arms. A seaman carefully laid two more filled sacks at his feet. Enough to load down a runner beast, all right.
Good trip, Sebell? asked Menolly, picking up one of the sacks and slinging it with a deft twist of her wrist to her back. Give Piemur at least one yoke of those, she added, and Piemur sprang quickly to relieve Sebell of some of his burden, fingering the bulges to see if he could identify the contents. And dont maul it, Piemur. The herbs will be crushed soon enough!
Herbs?
Piemur? Whatre you doing here? Shouldnt you be rehearsing? began Sebell. His smile was pleasant and the whiteness of his teeth stood out against dark tanned skin. Herbs and a tan? Piemur would bet every mark he had that Sebell had just returned from the Southern Continent.
Piemurs voice has broken.
It has? There was no doubting Sebells pleasure at the news. And Master Robintons agreeable?
Menolly grinned. With a slight variation, according to the wisdom of our good Master!
Oh? Sebell glanced first at Piemur and then back to Menolly for explanation.
Hes been told off as apprentice to Master Olodkey.
Sebell began to chuckle then. Shrewd of Master Robinton, very shrewd! Right, Piemur?
I guess so. At such a sour rejoinder, Sebell threw his head back and laughed, startling his queen whod been about to land on his shoulder. She flew about his head, scolding, joined by Beauty and the two bronzes. Sebell threw an arm across Piemurs shoulders, telling him to cheer up, and draped his other arm about Menolly. Then he guided them toward the holdstables.
There was a look on Sebells face that suggested to Piemur that the companionable arm about his shoulders had been an excuse for the one about Menollys. The observation cheered Piemur for he knew something no other apprentice did. Maybe not even Master Robinton. Or did he?
Variations on that notion contented Piemur on the initial leg of their hallward trip. The last three hours were spent in increasing physical discomfort. For one thing, he had sacks strapped front and back of his pad and another slung over his shoulder. It was difficult to adjust his rear end and find a spot not already beaten to a pulp by the runner beasts action. Rather unfair of Menolly, Piemur thought with some rancor, to include him on an eight-hour ride his first time on a runner in Turns.
He was immensely relieved that he wasnt expected to tend the mounts, too, as they handed mouth ropes to Banak. Then, Piemur wished hed been able to dismount in the Harper Hall courtyard, for his stiff and seemingly reshaped legs made the short walk from beasthold to Hall an unexpected torture. Sourly he listened to Menolly and Sebell chatting as they preceded him. They talked of inconsequentialities so that Piemur couldnt even ignore his aches by concentrating on their comments.
Well, Piemur, said Menolly as they climbed the steps to the Hall, you havent forgotten how to pace a beast. Shells, whats the matter with you?
Its been five bloody Turns since Ive ridden one, he said, trying to straighten his sorely afflicted back.
Menolly! Thats plain cruel, cried Sebell, trying to keep a straight face. Into the hot baths with you, lad, before you harden in that posture.
Menolly was instantly contrite, with protests of dismay and apology. Sebell guided him to the bathing room, and when Menolly brought a tray of hot food for them all, she served Piemur as he floated in the soothing water. To Piemurs utter embarrassment, Silvina appeared as he was patting his sore spots dry. She proceeded to slather him with numbweed salve and, making him lie down, massaged his back and legs. Just when he thought hed never move again, Silvina made him get to his feet. Strangely enough, he could walk more normally. At least the numbweed deadened the muscular aches enough for him to make his own way across the court and up to three flights to the drumheights.
He slept through three drum messages the next morning, the fire lizards feeding and half the chorus rehearsal with instruments. When he woke, Dirzan gave him time for a cup of klah and a meatroll, then quizzed him on the drum measures assigned him the day before.
To Dirzans amazement, Piemur beat them out time-perfect. Hed had plenty of hours in which to memorize them on that runner ride. As a reward, Dirzan gave him another column of measures to learn.
The numbweed salve had worn off, and Piemur found sitting on the stool during his lesson agonizing. He had rubbed his seat bones raw, a combination of the stiffness of his new trousers and the riding. This affliction provided him with an opportunity to visit Master Oldive after lunch. Although Sebells sacks were in evidence in Master Oldives quarters, even to some herbs piled on the work-table, Piemur pried no new snippets of information from the Master Healer. Not even if this had been the first shipment of such medicines. He did learn that galls hurt more when treated than when sat on. Then the numbweed took over. Master Oldive said he was to use a cushion for sitting for a few days, wear older, softened pants, and ask Silvina for a conditioner to soften his wherhide.
No sooner had he returned to the drumheights, than he was sent with a message for Lord Groghe to Fort Hold, and when he came back, set to stand a listening watch.
He saw Menolly and Sebell the next morning when he fed his trio of fire lizards but, apart from solicitous inquiry about his stiffness, the two harpers were not talkative. The next day Sebell was gone, and Piemur didnt know when or how. He was able, however, to observe, from the drumheights, the comings and goings, in and out of Fort Hold, of riders on runners, of two dragons and an incredible number of fire lizards. It occurred to him that while he had been congratulating himself on knowing most of what went on in the Harper Hall, the drumheights let him observe the larger world which, up till that day, had been unremarked by himself.
Several messages came in that afternoon, two from the north and one from the south. Three went out; one in answer to Tilleks question from the north; an originating message to Igen Tanner Hall; and the third to Master-Briaret, the Masterherdsman. To tantalize him, all the messages were too quickly delivered for him to recognize more than a few phrases. Infuriated to be in a position to know more and unable to exercise the advantage to the full, Piemur memorized two columns of drum measures. If his zeal surprised Dirzan, it irritated his fellow apprentices. They presented him with several all too forceful arguments against too much application on his part. Piemur had always relied on being able to outrun any would-be adversaries, but he discovered that there was no place to run to in the drumheights. While nursing his bruises, he stubbornly learned off three more columns, though he kept this private, tempering his recitations to Dirzan. Discretion, he was learning, is required on many different levels.
He was not sorry six days later to be told to take a message to a minehold situated on an awkward ridge in the Fort Hold Range. With a signed, Harper-sealed tube of record hide, he mounted the same stolid runner beast Banak had given him for the previous trip.
Gingerly settling the seat of his now well-softened wherhide pants onto the pad, Piemur was relieved to feel no discomfort from his tail bones as the creature moved off. The journey should take him two to three hours, Banak said, as hed pointed out to him the correct southwestern track. Three hours was probably correct, Piemur thought as his efforts to increase the pace of his runner failed. By the time the wide track had narrowed to a thinner trace, winding against a stony hillside, with deep gorges on the outside, Piemur was quite willing to let his runner go at that steady, careful pace. As he figured it would have taken the Fort Hold watchdragon only a few moments to make the trip, and the watchdragons rider was quite willing to oblige the Masterharper of Pern, he wondered why hed been sent. Until he delivered his message tube to the taciturn mineholder.
Youre from the Harper Hall? The man scowled at him dubiously.
Apprentice to Master Olodkey, the Drummaster! This could be some sort of test of his prudence.
Wouldnt have thought theyd send a boy on this errand, he said with a skeptical grunt.
Ive fourteen Turns, sir, Piemur replied, trying to deepen his tone without notable success.
No offense meant, lad.
None taken. Piemur was pleased that his voice remained steady.
The Miner paused, his gaze drawn upward. Not, Piemur noticed, in the direction of the sun. When the Miner began to scowl, Piemur also looked up. Though why the Miner should register displeasure at the sight of three dragons in the sky, Piemur couldnt guess. True, Thread had fallen only three days before, but youd think dragons would be a reassuring sight at any time.
Theres feed and water in the shed, said the Miner, still watching the dragons. He gestured absently over his left shoulder.
Obediently Piemur started to lead the runner around, hoping that there would be something for himself as well when hed tended the beast. Suddenly, the Miner let out a startled oath and retreated into his holdcot. Piemur had only reached the shed when the Miner came striding after him, thrust a small bulging sack at him.
This is what you were sent for. Tend your beast while I tend these unexpected arrivals.
Piemurs trained ear did not miss the apprehension in the Miners tone nor the implicit command that Piemur was to remain out of sight. He made no comment, stuffing the small sack in his belt pouch while the Miner watched. The man left as Piemur vigorously pumped water into the trough for his thirsty beast. As soon as the Miner reached his cot, Piemur changed his position so that he had a clear view of the one reasonably level area of the minehold where dragons could land.
Only the bronze did. The two blues settled on the ridge above the mine opening. Sight of the great beast that backwinged to the ground told Piemur all he needed to know to understand the Miners grimness. Before their exile south, the Oldtimers from Fort Weyr had made few appearances, but Piemur recognized Fidranth by the long sear scar on his rump and Tron by the arrogant swagger as he strode up to the minecot. Piemur didnt need to hear the conversation to know that Trons manner had not altered in his Turns south. With a very stiff bow, the Miner stepped aside as Tron, slapping his flying gloves against his thigh, strode disdainfully into the cothold. As the Miner followed, he glanced toward the shed. Piemur ducked behind the runner.
It needed little wit now to realize why the Miner had thrust the sack at him. Piemur investigated the contents: only four of the blue stones that spilled into his hand had been cut and polished. The others, ranging from one the size of his thumbnail to small uneven crystals, were rough. The blue sapphires were much prized by the Harper Hall, and stones as large as the four cut ones were mounted as badges for Masters of the Craft. Four cut stones? Four new masters walking the tables? Would Sebell be one of them, Piemur wondered.
Piemur thought a moment and then slipped the cut stones carefully, two and two, into his boots. He wiggled his feet until the stones settled, sharp lumps against his ankles but theyd not slip out. He hesitated as he was about to stow the sack in his pouch. He doubted Tron would stoop to searching a lowly apprentice, but the stones made a suspicious bulge, Checking the leather to make sure it bore no miners mark, he wrapped the thong on the backpad ring beside his drinking flask. Then he took off his jacket, folding the harper badge inside before he slung it over the pump handle. Trail dust had turned his blue pants to a nondescript gray.
A clink of boot nails on the ridge stone warned him and, whistling tunelessly, he picked up the beasts feet in turn, checking for stones in the cleft hooves.
You there! The peremptory tone irritated Piemur. Nton never spoke like that, even to a kitchen drudge.
Sor? Piemur unbent and stared around at the Oldtimer, hoping his anxious expression masked the anger he really felt. Then he glanced apprehensively at the Miner, saw a harsh wariness in the mans eyes and added in his best hillhold mumble, Sor, he was that sweated, Ive had a time cleaning him up.
Youve other work to do, said the Miner in a cold voice, jerking his head toward the cothold.
A day too late, am I, Miner? Well, theres been yesterdays work and this mornings. The Oldtimer superciliously gestured the Miner to precede him toward the open shaft.
Piemur watched, keeping a dull expression on his face as the two men disappeared from sight. Inwardly he was right pleased with his dissembling and was positive hed seen an approving glint in the Miners eyes.
By the time he had finished grooming the runner from nose to dock, Tron and the Miner had not yet reappeared. What other work would he have to do if he were a genuine miners apprentice? It would be logical for him to stay far away from the shaft at the moment, for hed be scared of the dragonrider if not of his master. Ah, but the Miner had indicated the cothold.
Piemur pumped water into a spare pail and lugged it back to the cothold, ogling with what he hoped was appropriate fear the blue dragons ensconced on the ridge, the riders hunkered between them.
The minecot was divided into two large rooms, one for sleeping, the other for relaxing and eating, with a small portion curtained off for the Miners privacy. The curtain was open, and plainly the disgruntled dragonrider had searched the press, locker and bedding. In the kitchen area, every drawer was open and every door was ajar. A large cooking pot on the hearth was boiling so hard its contents frothed from under its cover. Not wishing what might be his meal in the ashes, Piemur quickly swung the pot away from the full heat of the fire. Then he began to tidy the kitchen area. No lowly apprentice would enter the Masters quarters, however humble, without direct permission. He heard voices again, the Miners low comments and Trons angry reproaches. Then he heard the sounds of hammers against stone and ventured to look cautiously through the open window.
Six miners were squatting or kneeling, carefully chipping rough dark stone and dirt from the blue crystals possibly within. As Piemur watched, one of the miners rose, extending the palm of his hand toward the Miner. Tron intercepted the gesture and held the small object up to the sun. Then he gave an oath, clenching his fist. For a moment, Piemur thought that the Oldtimer was going to throw the stone away.
Is this all youre finding here now? This mine produced sapphires the size of a mans eye
Four hundred Turns ago it did indeed, Dragonrider, said the Miner in an expressionless voice that could not be construed either as insolent or courteous. We find fewer stones nowadays. The coarse dust is still good for grinding and polishing other gems, he added as the Oldtimer stared at the man carefully brushing what seemed like glistening sand into a small scoop, which he then emptied in a small lidded tub.
Im not interested in dust, Miner, or flawed crystals. He held up his clenched fist. I want good, sizable sapphires.
He continued to stand there, glaring at each of the miners in turn as they tapped cautiously away. Piemur, hoping that no larger sapphires would be discovered, made himself busy in the kitchen.
By the time the sun was westering behind the highest of the ridges, only six medium to small sapphires had rewarded Trons afternoon vigil. Piemur was not the only one to watch, half-holding his breath, as the Oldtimer stalked to Fidranth and mounted. The old bronze showed no faltering as he neatly lifted in the air, joined by the two blues. Only when the three had winked out between did the miners break into angry talk, crowding up to the Miner, who brushed them aside in his urgency, to get to the minecot.
I see why youre a messenger, young Piemur, said the Miner. Youve all your wits about you. Grinning, he extended his hand.
Piemur grinned back and pointed toward his backpad and the sack with its precious contents, looped in plain sight to the ring. He heard the Miners astonished oath, which turned into a roar of laughter.
You mean, he spent all afternoon facing what he wanted? cried the Miner. I did put the cut gems in my boots, Piemur said with a grimace for one of the stones had rubbed his ankle raw.
As the Miner retrieved the sack, the others began to cheer, for theyd had no chance to learn that the Miner had managed to save the product of several sevendays labor. Piemur found himself much admired for his quick thinking as well as his timely arrival.
Did you read my mind, lad, asked the Miner, to know that Id told the old grasper Id sent the gems off yesterday?
It seemed only logical, Piemur replied. Hed taken his boots off just then, examining the scratches the sapphires had made. It wouldve been a crying shame to let old Tron get away with these beauties!
And what are we going to do, Master, asked the oldest journeyman, when those Oldtimers come back again in a few sevendays and take what weve mined? That placers not played out yet.
Were closing up here tomorrow, said the Miner.
Why? Weve just found more
The Miner signaled silence abruptly.
Each craft has its privacies, said Piemur, grinning broadly. If the Miner felt an apprentice required no apology for such curtness, he would not be admonished for impertinence for repeating a well-known rule. But I shall have to mention this to Master Robinton, if only to explain why Im so late returning.
You must tell the Masterharper, lad. Hes got to know if no one else. Ill tell Masterminer Nicat. Then he swung about the room with a warning look at each of his own craftsmen. You all understand that this matter goes no further? Well and good. Tron got only a few flawed stonesyou were all very clever with your hammers today, though I deplore cracking good sapphires. The Miner sighed heavily for that necessity. Master Nicat will know which other miners to warn. Let the Oldtimers seek if it amuses them. When the older journeyman laughed derisively, the Miner went on, raising an admonishing finger at him. Enough! They are dragonmen, and they did help Benden Weyr and Pern when aid was badly needed! Then he turned to Piemur. Did you save any of our stew, lad? Ive the appetite of a queen dragon after clutching.
Chapter 4
That day held one more event! At sunset, as Piemur was helping the apprentice bring in the miners runners from the pasture, he heard the shrill cry of a fire lizard. Glancing up, he saw a slender body, wings back, drop with unnerving speed in his direction. The apprentice dropped to the ground, covering his head with his arms. Piemur braced his legs, but the bronze fire lizard did not come to his shoulder. Instead, Rocky spun round his head, berating him, his jewel-faceted eyes spinning violently red and orange in anger.
It took Piemur a few minutes to talk Rocky into landing on his shoulder and even more time to soothe the little creature until his eyes calmed into tones of greeny blue. All the time the miner apprentice watched, eyes bugged out.
There now, Rocky. Im all right, but I have to stay the night here. Im all right. You can tell Menolly that youve found me, cant you? That Im all right?
Rocky gave a half-chirp that sounded so skeptical Piemur had to laugh. Is that fire lizard yours? asked the Miner curiously as he approached Piemur, eyeing Rocky all the time.
No, sir, said Piemur with such chagrin the Miner smiled. This is one of Menollys, Master Robintons journeywoman. His name is Rocky. I help Menolly feed him mornings, because shes got the nine and theyre a right handful, so he knows me pretty well.
I didnt think the creatures had enough sense to find people!
Well, sir, I have to say its the first time its happened to me, and Piemur couldnt suppress the smug satisfaction he was feeling that Rocky had been able to find him.
Now that hes found you, what good will that do? asked the Miner with a revival of his skepticism.
Well, sir, he could go back to Menolly and make her understand that hes seen me. But it would be much more useful if youd let me have a bit of hide for a message. Tied on his leg, hell take it back, and theyll know exactly
The Miner held up his hand admonishingly. Id rather nothing in script about the Oldtimers visit.
Of course not, sir, replied Piemur, offended that he needed to be cautioned.
A terse message was all he could scribe on the scrap of hide the Miner grudgingly produced for him. The hide was so old, had been scraped so often for messages, that the ink blurred as he wrote. Safe! Delayed! Then it occurred to him to add in drum measures, Errand completed. Emergency. Old Dragon.
Youve a way with the little things, havent you? said the Miner with reluctant respect as he watched Piemur tying the message on Rockys leg, an operation the fire lizard oversaw as carefully as the Miner.
He knows he can trust me, said Piemur.
Id say there were not many, replied the Miner in such a dry tone that Piemur stared at him in surprise. No offense meant!
Piemur had to concentrate just then on imagining Menolly as strongly as he could in his mind. Then, lifting his hand high, he gave a practiced flick to send Rocky into flight.
Go to Menolly, Rocky! Go to Menolly!
He and the Miner watched until the little fire lizard seemed to disappear in the dimming light to the east. Then the apprentice called them to their meal.
As he ate, Piemur wondered what the Miner had meant by that remark. Not many that fire lizards could trust? Not many people that trusted Piemur? Why would the Miner say a thing like that? Hadnt he saved the miners sapphires for them? It wasnt as if hed told any lies to do so. Further hed never taken any real advantage of his friends in bargaining at a Gather or failing to keep a promise. All of his friends came to him for help. And, Shells, wasnt the Masterharper entrusting him with this errand? And knowing about Harper Hall secrets? What had the Miner meant?
Piemur! Someone shook him by the shoulder.
Abruptly the young harper realized that hed been addressed several times.
Youre a harper! Can you not give us a song?
The eagerness of the request from men isolated for long periods of time in a lonely hold gave Piemur a genuine pang of regret.
Sirs, the reason Im messenger is that my voice is changing and Im not allowed to sing just now. But, he added seeing the intense disappointment on every face, that doesnt mean I cant talk them to you. If youve something I can drum to give the rhythm.
After several attempts, he found a saucepan that did not sound too flat, and while the men stomped their heavy boots in time, he talked the newest songs from the Harper Hall, even giving them Domicks new song about Lessa. The Shell knew when theyd hear it sung, though no one was supposed to hear it until Lord Groghes feast. If the performance of the spoken song lacked much in Piemurs estimation, Master Shonagar couldnt hear, Domick would never know, and the men were so grateful that he felt completely justified.
He left the minehold with the first rays of the sun and made the trip back to the Harper Hall at a downhill pace that all but forced his voice back up to the treble range. At times his runner slithered unnervingly down tracks that they had laboriously climbed the day before. Piemur closed his eyes, held tightly to the saddle pad, and fervently hoped not to go sailing off the track into the deep gorges. When he returned the stolid runner to Banak, it was barely sweated under the midstrap while Piemur knew that his armpits and back were damp with perspiration.
Safe back, I see, was Banaks only remark. He may be slow, but hes sure-footed, said Piemur with such exaggerated relief that Banak laughed.