Jaxom caught Sharra’s closed expression and realized that Mirrim’s presence would be as unwelcome to her as to himself.
“I don’t think that would work, Mirrim. Path would scare the Southern firelizards away!”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous, Jaxom,” Mirrim replied, brushing aside that argument.
“He’s right, Mirrim. Look out in the Cove right now. Not a single firelizard that isn’t banded,” Menolly said. “They all disappear the minute they see any Other dragon but Ruth.”
“It’s ridiculous. I have three of the best-trained firelizards in Pern…”
“I must agree with Jaxom,” the Harper said, smiling with sincere apology to the Benden dragongirl. “And, though I quite agree that yours are undoubtedly the best-trained firelizards in Pern, we don’t have time for the Southern ones to get used to Path.”
“Path needn’t be in evidence-”
“Mirrim, the decision has been made,” Robinton said firmly, with no trace of a smile now.
“Well, that’s plain enough. Since I’m not needed here .. .” She stalked out of the hall.
Jaxom noticed the Harper’s gaze following her, and he felt acutely embarrassed by her display of temperament. He could see that Menolly was also disturbed.
“Is her Path proddy today?” the Harper asked Menolly quietly.
“I don’t think so. Master Robinton.”
Zair chittered on the Harper’s shoulder and his expression changed to chagrin. “Brekke’s come back. I was supposed to rest.”
He half-ran out of the hall, turning briefly at the door to put his finger to his lips as he quickly ducked into his room. Piemur, his expression bland, took a step sideways to fill the space so precipitously vacated. Firelizards zipped into the room. Jaxom spotted Berd and Grall.
“Master Robinton really should have rested,” Menolly said, nervously twitching sketches across the table surface.
“He wasn’t exerting himself,” Piemur pointed out. “This sort of thing is bread and meat to him. He was going out of his skull with boredom and with Brekke fussing over him when you weren’t. It isn’t as if he was up on the Plateau, digging about…”
“I told you, Brekke,” F’nor said, his voice carrying from the porch as he and his weyrmate mounted the last step, “you worried for no reason at all.”
“Menolly, how long has Master Robinton been resting?” Brekke asked, coming right up to the table.
“Half a skinful,” Piemur replied, grinning as he pointed to the wine on the back of the chair, “and he went without a protest.”
Brekke gave the young harper a long and searching look. “I wouldn’t trust you for a moment, Harper Piemur.” Then she looked at Jaxom. “Have you been here all afternoon, too?”
“Me? No indeed. Ruth and I slept until Mirrim woke us.”
“Where is Mirrim?” F’nor asked, glancing about.
“She’s outside somewhere,” replied Menolly in a voice so devoid of tone that Brekke glanced at her apprehensively.
“Has Mirrim been …” Brekke pressed her lips in a thin, disapproving line. “Drat that girl!” She looked up at Berd, and he immediately darted from the hall.
F’nor was bending over the maps now, shaking his head with pleased surprise.
“You lot work like twenty, don’t you?” He grinned at all of them.
“Well, this part of the twenty has done quite enough work,” Piemur said, stretching his arms until his joints cracked. “I want a swim, to wash the sweat from my brow, and the ink from my fingers. Anyone coming?”
Jaxom’s acceptance was as enthusiastic as the two girls’ and, with F’nor’s jocular complaint about being deserted ringing in their ears, they all made for the beach. Jaxom managed to grab Menolly by the hand as Sharra and Piemur pelted around the bend.
“Menolly, how did Master Robinton know?”
She’d been laughing as they raced down the path, but now her eyes darkened.
“I didn’t tell him, Jaxom. I didn’t have to. I don’t know when he figured it out. But the facts all point to you.”
“How?”
She ticked off reasons on her fingers. “To start with, a dragon had to return the egg. Only way. Preferably a dragon who was totally familiar with Benden Hatching Ground. The dragon had to be ridden by someone who wanted earnestly to return that egg, and who could find it!” The last qualification seemed to be the most important. “More people will figure out it was you now.”