Dragon Song

by Anne McCaffrey

  "Well, my word," and his manner thawed visibly, "you're taking no chances, are you."

  He helped her move the table and watched anxiously as she brushed back the top layer of sand and exposed the first of the eggs.

  "Could I have a queen egg?" he asked.

  "Master Nicat, Lessa explained to you that there's no way of telling which is which among the fire lizard eggs," said Tgellan, joining them to Menolly's intense relief. "Of course, Menolly might have a way of telling..."

  "She might?" Masterminer Nicat regarded her with surprise.

  "She's Impressed nine, you know."

  "Nine?" Master Nicat frowned at her now, and she could practically read his mind: Nine for a child, and only two for the Masterminer?

  "Pick Master Nicat two of the best, Menolly! We don't want him to be disappointed." Although Tgellan's face was sober, Menolly caught the expression in his eyes.

  She managed to conduct herself with proper dignity and made a play of picking out just the right eggs for Masterminer Nicat, all the while being certain in her own mind that the queen egg was going to Master-harper Robinton only.

  "Here you are, sir," she said, handing Mastermind Nicat the furry pouch with its precious contents. "You'd best carry them in your riding jacket, against your skin, on the way home."

  "Then what do I do?" Master Nicat asked with humility as he held the sack in both hands against his chest.

  Menolly looked at Tgellan, but both men were looking at her. She gulped.

  "Well, I'd do exactly what we're doing here. Keep them near the hearth in a strong basket with either hot sand or furs. The Weyrwoman said they'd be hatching in about a sevenday. Feed them as soon as they break their shells, as much as they can eat, and talk to them all the time. It's important to . . ." She faltered; how could she tell this hard-faced man that you had to be affectionate and kind.,.

  "You must reassure them constantly. They're nervous when they're first hatched. You saw the dragons today. Touch them and stroke them . .." The Master-miner was nodding as he catalogued her instructions. "They must be bathed daily, and their skins must be oiled. You can always tell when a crack is developing from scaly patches on the hide. And they keep scratching themselves..."

  Master Nicat turned questioningly to Tgellan. "Oh, Menolly knows what to do. Why, she has her fire lizards singing tunes along with her and all..."

  Tgellan's airy assurance did not sit too well with the Masterminer.

  "Yes, but how do you get them to come to you?" he asked pointedly.

  "You make them want to come back to you," Menolly said so firmly that she rated one of the Miner's daunting frowns.

  "Kindness and affection, Master Nicat, are the essential ingredients," Tgellan said with equal force. "Now I see that T'gran is waiting to escort you, and your fire lizards, back to Crom." And he led the Masterminer Off.

  When Tgellan returned to Menolly, his eyes were dancing.

  "I'll wager you my new tunic that one won't keep a fire lizard. Cold clod, that's what he is. Numbwit!"

  "You shouldn't have said that about my fire lizards singing with me."

  "Why not?" Tgellan was Surprised at her criticism. "Mirrim hasn't done that much with her three, and she's had them longer. I told,.. Ah, yes, Craftmaster, Flar did indeed say that you're to have a fire lizard"

  And so the evening went, with lucky eager holders and craftsmen arriving to collect the precious fire lizard eggs. By the time only Masterharper Robinton's eggs remained in the warm sands of the basket, Menolly had become resigned to hearing Tgellan's wheeze that she had taught her fair of fire lizards to sing. Fortunately no one asked her to put it to the test, since her weary friends were curled up on their wall perches. They hadn't roused from sleep for all the singing and laughter at the merry tables in the Bowl.

  Harper Elgion was thoroughly enjoying the Impression Feast He hadn't realized how dour Half-Circle Hold was until this evening. Yanus was a good man, a fine Sea Holder to judge by the respect his holders accorded him, but he certainly knew how to take the joy out of living.

  When Elgion had sat in the Hatching Ground, watching the young boys Impress, he'd determined that he'd find a fire lizard clutch of his own. That would alleviate the gloom at Half-Circle. And he'd see that Alemi got an egg, too. He'd heard from his neighbours in the tiers that the clutch being distributed this evening to the fortunate had been found down the coast from Half-Circle Sea Hold by T'gellan. Elgion had promised himself a chat with the bronze dragon-rider; but T'gellan had had two passengers aboard Monarth when he'd collected Elgion at Half-Circle so there'd been no opportunity to talk. Elgion hadn't seen the man since the Hatching. But he'd bide his time.

  Meanwhile, Oharan, the Weyr Harper, had Elgion playing gitar with him to amuse the visitors.

  Elgion had just finished another tune with Oharan and some of the other visiting harpers when he caught sight of T'gellan, assisting a craftsman to mount a green dragon. It was then that Elgion noticed that the visitors were thinning out and this rare evening was drawing to a close. He'd speak with T'gellan, and then seek out the Masterharper, too.

  "Over here, man," he said, beckoning to the bronze rider.

  "Oh, Elgion, a cup of wine, please. I'm parched with talking. Not that it'll do those cold clods much good. They've no feeling for fire lizards at all."

  "I heard you found the clutch. It wasn't in that cave by the Dragon Stones, was it?"

  "By the Dragon Stones? No. Way down the coast in fact."

  "Then there wasn't anything there?" Elgion was so bitterly disappointed that Tgellan gave him a long look.

  "Depends on what you were expecting. Why? What did you think would be in that cave if it didn't hold fire lizard eggs?"

  Elgion wondered briefly if he would be betraying his confidence. But it had become a matter of his professional honor to know if the sounds he'd heard from that cave had been made by pipes.

  The day Alemi and I saw the cave from the boat, I could have sworn I heard pipes. Alemi insisted it was wind over blowholes in the cliff, but there wasn't that much wind that day."

  "No," T'gellan said, seeing a chance to tease the Harper, "you heard pipes. I saw 'em when I searched the place."

  "You found pipes? Where was the player?"

  "Sit down. Why're you so excited?"

  "Where's that player?"

  "Oh, here at Benden Weyr."

  Elgion sat down again, so deflated and disappointed that Tgellan forbore to tease him further.

  "Remember the day we rescued you from Thread? Tgran brought someone in as well."

  "The lad?"

  "That was no lad. That was a girl. Menolly. She'd been living in the cave... Now, what's the matter?"

  "Menolly? Here? Safe? Where's the Masterharper? I've got to find Master Robinton. Come, T'gellan, help me find him!"

  Elgion's excitement was contagious and though he was mystified, Tgellan joined the search. Taller than the young Harper, T'gellan spotted Master Robinton in deep conversation with Manora at a quiet table in the Bowl.

  "Sir, sir, I've found her," Elgion cried, dashing up to them, "Have you now? The love of your life?" asked Master Robinton amiably.

  "No, sir. I've found Petiron's apprentice."

  "Her? The old man's apprentice was a girl?"

  Elgion was gratified by the Masterharper's surprise and grabbed at his hand, quite prepared to drag the man after him to search.

  "She ran away from the Sea Hold, because they wouldn't let her make music, I think. She's Alemi's sister..."

  "What's this about Menolly?" asked Manora, obstructing Elgion's Sight with the Harper.

  "Menolly?" Robinton raised his hand to silence Elgion. "That lovely child with the nine fire lizards?"

  "What do you want of Menolly, Master Robinton?" Manora's voice was so stern that the Harper was brought up sharp.

  He took a deep breath. "My much respected Manora, old Petiron sent me two songs written by his 'apprentice'; two of the loveliest melodies I'v
e heard in all my Turns of harpering. He asked were they any good . . ." Robinton raised his eyes heavenward for patience, I sent word back immediately, but the old man had died. Elgion found my message unopened when he got to the Sea Hold, and then he couldn't find the apprentice. The Sea Holder gave him some folderol about a fosterling who'd returned to his own hold. What's distressing you, Manora?"

  "Menolly. I knew something had broken that girl's heart, but not what She may not be able to play, Master Robinton. Mirrim says there's a dreadful scar on her left hand."

  "She can, too, play," said Tgellan and Elgion together.

  "I heard the sound of multiple pipes coming from that cave," Elgion said hurriedly.

  "I saw her hide those pipes when we cleared out her cave," Tgellan added. "And furthermore, she's taught her fire lizards to sing, too."

  "She has!" Bright sparks lit the Masterharper's eyes, and he turned purposefully towards the kitchen cavern.

  "Not so fast, Masterharper," said Manora. "Go softly with that child."

  "Yes, I saw that, too, when we were chatting this evening, and now I understand what was inhibiting her.

  So how to proceed cautiously?" The Masterharper frowned and gazed at Tgellan so long that the bronze rider wondered what he'd done wrong. "How do you know she's taught her fire lizards to sing?"

  "Why, they were singing along with her and Oharan last night."

  "Hmmm, now that's very interesting. Here's what we shall do."

  Menolly was tired now, and most of the visitors had left. Still the Masterharper did not appear to collect his fire lizard eggs. She wouldn't leave until she'd seen him again. He'd been so kind; she hugged to herself the memory of their meeting. It was hard for her to believe that the Masterharper of Pern had carried her, Menolly of... Menolly of the Nine Fire Lizards. She propped her elbows up on the table and rested her head on her hands, feeling the rough scar against her left cheek and not even minding that at the moment.

  She didn't hear the music at first, it was soft, as if Oharan was playing to himself at a nearby table.

  "Would you sing along with me, Menolly?" asked Oharan softly, and she looked up to see him taking a place at the table.

  Well, no harm in singing. It would help keep her awake until the Masterharper arrived. So she joined in. Beauty and Rocky roused at the sound of her voice, but Rocky went back to sleep after a peevish complaint Beauty, however, dropped down to Menolly's shoulder, her sweet soprano trill blending with Menolly's voice.

  "Do sing another verse, Menolly," said Manora, emerging from the shadows of the darkened cavern.

  She took the chair opposite Menolly, looking weary, but sort of peaceful and pleased. Oharan struck the bridging chords and started the second verse.

  "My dear, you have such a restful voice," Manora said when the last chord died away, "Sing me another one and then I'm away."

  Menolly could scarcely refuse, and she glanced at Oharan to see what she should sing.

  "Sing this one along with me," the Weyr Harper said, his eyes intent on Menolly's as his fingers struck an opening chord. Menolly knew the song, which had such an infectious rhythm that she began to sing before she realized why it was so familiar. She was also tired and not expecting to be trapped, not by Oharan and certainly not by Manora. That's why she didn't realize at first what Oharan was playing. It was one of the two songs she'd jotted down for Petiron: the ones he'd said he'd sent to the Masterharper.

  She faltered.

  "Oh, don't stop singing, Menolly," Manora said, "it's such a lovely tune."

  "Maybe she should play her own song," said someone standing just behind Menolly in the shadow; and the Masterharper walked forward, holding out his own gitar to her.

  "No! NO!" Menolly, half-rose, snatching her hands behind her back. Beauty gave a startled squawk and twined her tail about Menolly's neck.

  "Won't you please play it ... for me?" asked the Harper, his eyes entreating her.

  Two more people emerged from the darkness: T'gellan, grinning fit to crack his face wide open, and Elgion! How did he know? From the gleam of his eyes and his smile, he was pleased and proud. Menolly was frightened and hid her face in confusion. How neatly she had been tricked!

  "Don't be afraid now, child" said Manora quickly, catching Menolly's arm and gently pressing her back into her chair. "There's nothing for you to fear now: for yourself or your rare gift of music."

  "But I can't play ..." She held up her hand. Robinton took it in both of his, gently fingering the scar, examining it "You can play, Menolly," he said quietly, his kind eyes on hers, as he continued to stroke her hand, much as she would have caressed her frightened Beauty. "Elgion heard you when you were playing the pipes in the cave."

  I'm a girl . . ." she said. "Yanus told me . . ."

  "As to that," replied the Masterharper somewhat impatiently, though he smiled as he spoke, "if Petiron had had sense enough to tell me that that was the problem, you might have been spared a great deal of anguish: and I certainly would have been spared a great deal of trouble searching all Pern for you. Don't you want to be a harper?" Robinton ended on such a wistful, distressed note that Menolly had to reassure him.

  "Oh yes, yes. I want music more than anything else in the world . . ." On her shoulder, Beauty trilled sweetly and Menolly caught her breath sharply in distress.

  "Now what's the matter?" asked Robinton.

  "I've got fire lizards. Lessa said I belong in the Weyr."

  "Lessa will not tolerate nine singing fire lizards in her Weyr," said the Harper in a voice that brooked no contradiction. "And they do belong in my Harperhall. You've a trick or two to teach me, my girl." He grinned down at her with such mischief dancing in his eyes that she smiled timorously back at him. "Now," and he waggled a finger at her, in mock seriousness, "before you can think of any more obstacles, arguments or distractions, will you kindly bundle up my fire lizard eggs, get whatever you have, and let us be off to the Harper-hall? This has been a day of many tiring impressions."

  His hand pressed hers reassuringly, and his kind eyes urged her acquiescence. All Menolly's doubts and fears dissolved in an instant.

  Beauty bugled, releasing the stranglehold of her tail about Menolly's neck. Beauty called again, rousing the rest of the fair, her voice echoing Menolly's joy. She rose slowly to her feet, her hand clinging to the Harper's for support and confidence.

  "Oh, gladly will I come, Master Robinton," she said, her eyes blurred by happy tears.

  And nine fire lizards bugled a harmonious chorus of accord!