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conceived a tune. The children didn’t seem to notice fortunately, and then it was time to peel tubers for the evening meal
It was difficult to subdue that little tune as she worked. Really it had exactly the cadence of her running stride…
“Ohl”
“Did you cut yourself?” asked Sanra from the other side of the table.
“No,” replied Menolly, and she grinned with great good humor. She had just realized something very important She wasn’t in the Sea Hold any longer. And no one here knew about her harpering. Likewise no one would know if it were her own songs she hummed when she felt like humming. So she began to hum her running song, and was doubly pleased with herself because the tune matched her paring strokes, too.
“Ifs a relief to hear someone happy,” remarked Sanra, smiling encouragingly at Menolly.
Menolly realized then that she’d been vaguely aware all day of the fact that the atmosphere in the living cavern reminded her of those times when the fishing fleet was overdue in a storm and everyone was “waiting.” Mirrim was very worried about Brekke but she wouldn’t say why, and Menolly was reluctant to broach the girl’s sad reserve.
“I’m happy because my feet are healing,” she told Sanra and then hurried on, “but I wish someone would tell me whaf s wrong with Brekke. I know Minim’s worried sick about her…”
Sanra stared at Menolly for a moment “You mean, you haven’t heard about…” she lowered her voice and glanced about to make sure they weren’t overheard, “… about the queens?”
“No. No one tells girls anything in the Sea Hold.”
Sanra looked surprised but accepted the explanation. “Well, Brekke used to be at Southern, you did know that? Good. And when FTar banished all the rebellious Oldtimers to Southern, the Southerners had to go
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somewhere. Tbor became Weyrleader at Fort Hold, Kylara …” and Sanra’s usually gentle voice became hard, “Kylara was Weyrwoman for Prideth, with Brekke and Wirenth …” Sanra was having enough trouble telling the tale so Menolly was very glad she hadn’t asked Mirrim. “Wirenth rose to mate, but Kylara …” and the name was spoken with intense hatred, “Kylara hadn’t taken Prideth far enough away. She was close to mating, too, and when Wirenth flew the bronzes, she rose, and…”
TTiere were tears in Sanra’s eyes, and she shook her head, unable to continue.
“Both queens… died?”
Sanra nodded.
“Brekke’s alive, though… Isn’t she?”
“Kylara lost her mind, and we’re desperately afraid that Brekke will lose hers …” Sanra mopped the tears from her face, sniffing back her sorrow.
“Poor Mirrim. And she’s been so good to mel”
Sanra sniffed again, this time from pique.
“Mirrim likes to think she’s got the cares of the Weyr on her shoulders.”
“Well, I’ve a lot more respect for her the way she keeps on going when she’s worried sick than if she crept off someplace and just felt sorry ion herself.”
Sanra stared at Menolly. “No need to bristle at me, girl, and if you keep on stabbing your knife that way, you will cut yourself.”
44WilI Brekke be all right?” asked Menolly after a few minutes’ strict attention to her peeling.
“We hope so,” but Sanra didn’t sound confident. “No, we do. You see, Ramoth’s clutch is about to hatch, and Lessa is certain that Brekke could Impress the queen. You see, she can speak to any of the dragons, the way Lessa can, and GraH and Berd are always with her… Here comes Mirrim.”
Menolly had to admit that Mirrim, who only numbered the same Turns as she did, did assume an officious manner. She could understand that an older
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woman like Sanra might not take kindly to it Yet Menolly had no fault to find with Minim’s ministrations. And she let the girl bustle her off to her cubicle to change the bandages.
“You’ve been on them all day, and I want to be sure no dirf s in the scabs,” she said, briskly.
Menolly obediently lay on her stomach in the bed and then tentatively suggested that perhaps tomorrow she could change her own bandages and save Minim some work,