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added their antics, which were of no help to anyone.
"Here's my arm, girl. Were you too long on the hot sands? Ah now, wait. You're
a long child, but there's no meat on your bones."
Before Menolly could protest, he'd swung her up into his arms and was carrying
her across the Bowl.
TeH that queen of yours I'm helping you," he asked when Beauty disordered his
silvering hair, diving at him. "After sober reflection, be sure you give me
green eggs."
Beauty was too excited to harken to Menolly, so she had to wave her arms about
his head and face to protect him. It was not astonishing then that their
approach to the kitchen caverns attracted attention; but people made way so
politely, bowing to them with such deference, that Menolly began to wonder who
the man was. His tunic was a gray cloth with just a band of blue, so he must
be a harper of some sort; probably weyrbound to Fort Weyr to judge by the
yellow arm device.
"Menolly, did you hurt your feet?" Felena appeared before them, curious at the
flurry of excitement "Didn't Tgellan remember you? He's got no memory, drat
the man. How good of you to rescue her, sir!"
"Think nothing of it, Felena. I discovered she was custodian of the fire
lizard eggs. However, if you happened to have a cup of wine ... This is
thirsty work."
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1 can stand, really I can, sir," Menolly protested, for something in Felena's
manner told her that this man was too-important to be toting sore-footed
girls. "Felena, I couldn't stop him."
Tm only being my usual ingratiating self," the man told her, "and do stop
struggling. You're too heavy!"
Felena was laughing at his exaggeration as she led the way to Menoll/s table
above the egg basket.
You're a terrible fellow, Master Robinton, indeed you are. But you'll have
your wine while Menolly picks out the best of the clutch. Have you spotted the
queen egg, Menolly?"
"After the way Menofl/s queen has been attacking me, I'd be safer with any
other color, Felena. Now do get that wine for me, there's a good woman. I'm
utterly parched."
As he gently settled her into her chair, Menolly heard Felena's teasing
remark, . . . terrible fellow, Master Robinton . . . terrible fellow, Master
Robin-ton ..." She stared at him, disbelieving.
"Now, whaf s the matter, Menolly? Did my exercise bring out spots on my face?"
He mopped at his cheeks and brow and examined his hand. "Ah, thank you,
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Felena. You've saved my life. My tongue was quite stuck to the roof of my
mouth. And here's to you, young queen, and thank you for your courtesy." He
raised his cup to Beauty, who was perched on Menoll/s shoulder, her tail
firmly entwined as she glared at him. "Well?" he asked kindly of Menolly.
"You're the Masterharper?"
"Yes, I'm Robinton." He sounded quite casual about it "And I think you need
some wine, too."
"No, I couldn't" Menolly held up her hands in refusal. 1 get hiccups. And go
to sleep." She hadn't meant to say that either, but she had to explain why she
was discourteous enough to refuse his cup. She was also acutely aware now of
her stained overshirt, her sandy clothes and slippers, her complete disarray.
This
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wasn't how she imagined her first meeting with the Masterharper of Pern, and
she hung her head in em-barassment.
"I always advise eating before drinking," remarked Master Robinton in the
nicest possible way. "I shouldn't wonder but that's half the problem right
now/' he added and then raised his voice. "This child is faint with hunger,
Felena."
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 [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]