Menolly shook her head, denying his suggestion and trying to forestall Felena, but she was already ordering one of the lads to bring klah, a basket of breads, and a dish of sliced meats. When she was served, just as if she were one of the Weyrwomen, she kept her head bent over her cup, blowing to cool the contents.
“Do you think there’s enough here for a starving man?” asked Masterharper Robinton, his voice so plaintive and faint with his pretended hunger that Menolly was startled into glancing up at him. His expression was at once so wistful, appealing and kind that, despite her deep chagrin, she smiled in response to his foolishness. “I’ll need strength for this evening’s work, and a base for my drinking,” he added in a very quiet, worried voice.
She had the feeling that he had let her share his responsibilities, but she wondered at the sadness and anxiety. Surely everyone in the Weyr was happy today?
“A few slices of meat on a slab of that good bread,” and Robinton made his voice quaver like a peevish old uncle’s. “And …” his voice returned to his normal baritone range, “a cup of good Benden wine to wash it down…”
To her consternation, he rose then, bread and meat in one hand, the wine mug in the other. He bowed to her with great dignity and, with a smile, was off.
“But, Masterharper, your fire lizard eggs…”
“later, Menolly. I’ll come back later for them.”
His tall figure, his head visible above the bustling activity, retreated across the cavern, away from her. She watched until he was out of sight amid the visitors, be—
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wfldered, and all too keenly aware that there was no way in which she would be able to ask Masterharper Robinton about her songs. Twiddles they were, as Yanus and Mavi had always said: too insignificant to be presented for serious consideration to such a man as Masterharper Robinton.
Beauty crooned softly and headstroked Menoll/s cheek. Rocky hopped down from his wall perch to her shoulder. He nuzzled her ear, humming in a consoling tone.
Minim found her that way, and she roused from her apathy to rejoice with her friend.
“Oh, I’m so very happy for you, Minim. You see it did come rightl” If Mirrim, with all her worries, had been able to keep a good face, surely Menolly, with much to be grateful for, could manage to follow her example.
“Did you see it? You were in the Hatching Ground? I was so terrified that I didn’t dare watch/’ Mirrim said, no trace of terror now in her radiant face. “I made Brekke eat, the first food she’s taken in fust days. And she smiled at me, Menolly. She smiled at me, and she knew me. She’s going to be perfectly all right And Fnor ate every speck of the roast wherry I brought him.” She giggled, all mischievous girl, not Mirrim-Felena, or Mirrim-Manora. *1 snitched the best slices of the spiced wherry breast, too. And you know, he ate every bit of itl He’ll probably eat himself sick at the Feast as well. Then I told him to take poor Canth down to feed because that dragon’s just about transparent with hunger.” Her voice dropped in awe. “Canth tried to protect Wirenth from Prideth, you know. Can you imagine that? A brown protecting a queenl If s because F’nor loves Brekke so. And now if s all right. Ifs well and truly all right So tell me.”
‘TeH you? What?”
Irritation flashed across Minim’s face. ‘Tell me exactly what happened when Brekke got on the Hatching Ground. I told you I didn’t dare look myself.”
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So Menolly told her. And told her again untfl she ran out of answers to all the detailed questions Mirrim found to ask her.
“Now you tell me why everyone’s so upset about this Jaxom Impressing the little white dragon. He saved his life, you know. The dragon would have died if Jaxom hadn’t broken the shell and cut the sac.”
“Jaxom Impressed a dragon? I didn’t know!” Minim’s eyes widened with consternation. “Ohl Now why would that kid do such a dreadful thing?”