“Yes, if you must know,” began Hittet, still glaring at the indiscreet healer. “Lord Meron was recently given a clutch of fire lizard eggs, one of which was thought to be
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a queen egg. He naturally took the best care of such prizes, kept them on his own hearth. He has had a lot of experience with fire lizards, you see. He was to distribute the eggs to deserving people as the high point of the Gather Feast. When his rooms were being freshened, one of the kitchen drudges had the audacity to steal the queen egg. How, we can’t yet understand. But it’s gone, and that wicked lad is somewhere in the Hold.” Hittet’s tone au-gured ill for Piemur when he was found.
None of the Nabolese noticed Beauty, Zair and Kind peeling off from airy escort and darting out an open win-dow as the group traversed the Main HalL Sebell gave Menolly’s hand a reassuring squeeze. She didn’t look at him, but her lips curved slightly in a smile of relief.
“You can appreciate how upset Lord Meron was when the theft was discovered, and I fear this, and our pressing him to name an heir, resulted in his collapse,” Hittet was saying to Master Robinton.
“Collapse?” Master Oldive looked sternly at Berdine, who immediately got his tongue twisted, trying to vindicate himself to his craft’s Master. Master Oldive now brushed past Hittet and Master Robinton and, with the still apologetic Berdine on his heels, ran up the steps with no regard to his physical handicap or dignity.
Master Robinton also quickened his pace until the fat Hittet was forced to run to keep up. Sebell and Menolly deliberately slowed, to give their fire lizards a chance to range through the Hold and locate Piemur.
“If you could know how good it is to see a friendly face,” said Candler, quite willing to match their laggard advance to the Lord’s apartments. “If anyone can make that dreadful man see reason, it’s Master Robinton. Lord Meron won’t name an heir. That’s why he collapsed, to avoid it. He was furious about the egg theft, to be sure, but while they were searching, he was more like himself totally disagreeable and planning all kinds of fiendish punishments when they caught the drudge. Frankly, Sebell, he wants the Hold in contention. You know how he hates Benden. And now,” and Candler laughed sourly, “none of the relatives who’ve been badgering him to name one of them wants to be the heir. I don’t know why. They
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changed their tune abruptly this morning. Just as well.” Candler snorted with disgust. “Any one of the lot would create disorder in next to no time.”
“Changed their minds early this morning, did they?” said Sebell, grinning at Menolly.
“Yes, and I can’t figure out why. Every single one of them has done all he could to secure the nomination. Now …”
“I’d heard that Deckter was an honest man.”
“Deckter?” Candler swung toward Sebell in surprise. “Oh, the carter.” He gave a mirthless laugh. “I suppose he could be considered an heir, couldn’t he? Grand-nephew, isn’t he? Forgot about him. “Which is probably Deckter’s doing. Said he could make more money carting than he could holding. He’s probably right. How’d you know about him?”
“Looked up the Nabol bloodline.”
Beauty flitted back, skimming so close to Candler that he ducked. Rocky, Zair and Kimi followed her, all chitter-ing in some distress. All had the same message: Piemur was not in the Hold. Sebell and Menolly exchanged glances.
“Would he have hidden somewhere outside?” Menolly asked.
Sebell gave a quick shake of his head. “Kimi couldn’t Łnd him.”
“Rocky and Beauty have been much closer to Piemur than Kimi.”
“Can’t hurt to try!”
“Piemur?” asked Candler, mystified by this cryptic exchange.
“I’ve reason to believe that-the theft was accomplished by Piemur,” said Sebell. He and Menolly gave their fire lizards new instructions and watched them dart out the Hold door.
“Piemur? But I remember Piemur. The boy with the fine soprano. I didn’t see him anywhere” Candler broke off and pointed at Sebell. “You were there when Lord Meron walked the Gather. The very drunken herdsman. I thought there was something familiar about him. It -was you! Well. And Piemur here, too? On harper business? I thought it odd for one of Meron’s drudges to have so much initiative.