The Masterharper of Pern

CHAPTER SIX

His mother never did explain to Robinton exactly why she came to his classroom that morning, to speak quietly and briefly to Kubisa, whose face gave away nothing.She just gave him his heavy jacket to put on, while she cleared the contents of his desk into a carisak, adding the roll of things which Kubisa handed her.

There was something about his mother's attitude that warned Robinton not to ask questions.The rest of the children in the classroom were whispering excitedly; two had even left their seats and were peering out of the window.

That was when Robinton saw the wing claws of a bronze dragon in the courtyard.

"I don't think you'll mind riding a dragon today, dear," his mother said, as she carefully closed the classroom door behind her.

She had the half-full carisak clutched under her arm and took his hand to guide him down the steep steps.

"Ride a dragon?" He stumbled in surprise, and was glad of the tight hold she had on his hand.

"Yes, we're going to Benden Hold.Lord Maidir sent a dragon for us."

"He sent a dragon for us?"

Robinton was floored.Yet there were Betrice and Masters Bosler and Washell handing up carisaks to the bronze rider, who was securing them to the dragon's harness.As his mother briskly rushed him across the courtyard to the dragon, he looked about for his father.

"Your father's not coming with us," his mother said with an odd catch to her voice.Before he could protest, she had swung him off his feet and up to the bronze rider's waiting arms.Then she mounted and sat behind him.

I am Spakinth and my rider is C'rob.Cortath and Kilminth say do not fear us.

"I'm going to get to ride you?" Robinton asked, his voice nearly a squeak in his excitement.

"You're certainly getting to ride my dragon," the rider said.

Robinton tried to crane his head around and look up at C'rob.

"Yes, I am," he said.Then he realized he was holding on to the neck ridge in front of him in a fierce grip, and instantly relaxed."Oh, I beg your pardon!I didn't hurt you, did I?"

Of course not, the ridge is there to hold on to, Spakinth said in the same instant that C'rob laughed and said: "You won't hurt a dragon that way, lad." And then he leaned to one side and regarded Robinton with raised eyebrows."But then Spakinth is telling you, too, isn't he?" The rider seemed surprised.

Robinton grinned back, flexing his fingers around the ridge just for the feel of it."Cortath and Kilminth have spoken to me, too."

"Have they…" And then C'rob's attention was taken by Merelan's arrival behind him."Just hang on to my belt there,

MasterSinger," the rider said."I've your son safely tucked forward."

"Then may we leave?"

Robinton thought his mother must be as excited as he was to be mounted on a dragon, because her voice, when she answered, was quavery.

In the next instant, his head was thrown back against C'rob's chest as Spakinth sprang upwards.Robinton barely heard himself let out a whoosh of "Ohhhhhh' over the noise the wings made… like all the sheets in the Harper Hall flapping in the wind on the laundry line.

He squealed again as Spakinth circled eastward, spiralling higher, the tall roofs of the Harper Hall buildings diminishing so fast he hadn't breath for a second cry of amazement as the spiral took them high over Fort Hold's massive precipice.Briefly he saw white faces turned skywards and wondered if they could recognize him perched in front of the dragonrider on bronze Spakinth.

"Don't be afraid, now, Robinton," C'roh said, almost shouting in his ear."We're going between…"

And then they were!Robinton held his breath, far more terrified of the awful cold nothingness around him than of the worst of his childish nightmares.

I am here.You ride me with C'rob and the woman.I will keep you safe, young Robinton.

And before a scream of fear could rise in Robinton's throat, they were out of the cold and the black and wheeling above another Hold cliff.

"That's Benden below you, lad." C'rob patted his shoulder."And not a peep out of you.Nor did you wet your breeches."

Robinton was stunned by such a shocking suggestion and stiffened under C'rob's hand.Very quietly, so that not even Spakinth could hear and think badly of him, Robinton knew that just a moment longer in frigid between and he might well have disgraced himself.

Many do, young Robinton, but never you.

And young Robinton sat up straighter and loosened the vice-like grip he found he had taken on the neck ridge.He hoped dragons didn't bruise, and he smoothed the places where his fingers actually had made an imprint.Spakinth said nothing as he was busy landing, which required powerful back-winging to set himself down just in front of the steps up to the smaller outer court of Benden Hold.

"They're here!Spakinth and C'rob brought them.She's come!" And out of the wide-open front door spilled a crowd of children.

Spakinth curved his neck and lowered his head towards those racing down the steps.

Always noisy, always noisy, the dragon said, more to himself than to either his rider or Robinton.Robinton was later to learn that C'rob had fathered five children at Benden Weyr, and consequently his dragon was well able to handle the swarm which converged on him, stroking his hide and his eye ridges when he lowered them enough.

Then Lord Maidir and Lady Hayara, who was carrying one child and obviously pregnant with another, came out to welcome the MasterSinger and her son.As Merelan slid down Spakinth's side, C'rob settled Robinton between the next two ridges up so that he could stand on Spakinth's lifted foreleg and assist the boy to the ground.Holder children swarmed up the dragon's side, momentarily stunning Robinton with what seemed like rudeness to him, to untie the carisaks.They weren't the least bit afraid, as Libby and Lexey had been, but then, Robie thought, they'd be used to dragons at Benden Hold since Benden Weyr was still inhabited.Each grinned at Robinton, identifying themselves politely, but he was so confused by the onslaught of new impressions and their enthusiasm that he couldn't remember who was who.Then his mother took him by the hand and led him to be formally introduced to the Holders.

He bowed before he shook hands, just as he'd been taught, and was rewarded with smiles.

"We want you to be happy here at Benden Hold," Lady Hayara said.

Robinton thought she looked very young, not much older than Halanna, and Lord Maidir looked older than even Master Gennell.

Lord Maidir gestured for the stocky lad standing just behind him to come forward.

"This is Raid, my eldest son, MasterSinger," the Lord Holder said with pride, laying an arm across the boy's shoulders.

A shaft of totally incomprehensible envy swept Robinton.His father had never done that.His father didn't even touch him, that he could remember.And then a girl, not as old as Raid, pushed through to Raid's other side, neatly pushing Lady Hayara aside.

And Robinton caught a quickly hidden flare of dismay on Lady Hayara's face and the indifferent look on the girl's.

"And this is my eldest daughter," Lord Maidir said, "Maizella."

"I'm so glad you've come, MasterSinger," Maizella began in a fervent tone, and she stepped forward to grab and cling to Merelan's hand, her eyes round with excitement and her voice coming out breathily.

"Our Maizella has a lovely voice," Maidir said proudly, "and Raid, if you can overcome his shyness, has an excellent baritone.Falloner there, the one with all the curls, still has a fine clear treble…"

As Falloner was just then standing close to Robinton, he gave him a "What can you do with adults?" shrug and grin and that was their first meeting.

"Oh, you!" said Lady Hayara, stepping closer to her spouse now that Maizella had moved.

Robinton sighed.He knew by the expression on Maizella's face and by her stance that his mother was going to have trouble with this one.He saw by the quirk of his mother's mouth that she realized it, too.But Merelan smiled soothingly and said that she'd be delighted to teach any and all who wanted to learn how to sing properly.

"Actually, she shrieks more than she sings," Falloner said in a low voice to Robinton, the merriment in his eyes conspiratorial.

"Did you like riding Spakinth?C'rob won the toss.He usually does." Then, when the lad saw that he had confused Robinton with his confidence, he added, "I'm weyrbred, but my father insisted that I get some teaching here.So here I am."

"You're weyrbred?" Robinton eyed the lad.

"I am, and I don't have a tail or fangs, nor will I, even if I Impress a bronze." The boy's thin face momentarily stiffened with determination before the careless grin replaced it."And I will.And be Weyrleader and save Pern from Threadfall."

"Really?Cortath said that dragons must fly when Thread is in the sky."

"You'd better believe it," Falloner said stoutly.Then he blinked in surprise."Cortath spoke to you?"

"Falloner."

Both boys turned at Lord Maidir's voice.

"You know the quarters made ready for the MasterSinger and young Robinton," Benden's Lord went on."Why don't you show him the way and take up his things?"

"Of course, Lord Maidir," Falloner said with quick courtesy.He turned to Robinton."Which are yours?"

Robie looked at the pile on the steps and wasn't quite sure.Their departure had certainly been swift; Mother had packed for him.

"The two with the red straps," Merelan said, pointing and giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze."And that small one there." Robinton did recognize that as the one in which she had put the contents of his desk and, while that wasn't very long ago, it seemed to him that a great deal had happened in a very short time.

Falloner threw the school sack at him and then hefted the other two, though Robinton tried to take one from him. quickly, Lady Hayara gestured for Merelan to precede her into the room.

"We even have a bathtub, Mother," Robinton exclaimed."Over my head, at least."

Merelan laughed at him, but behind her Maizella raised her eyebrows contemptuously.Robinton was about to bristle when Falloner winked at him, reminding him of what he'd said about the girl a few minutes before.

"More high than wide like ours at the Hall," he added defensively.

"We tap into the Weyr's heat source here at the Hold," Lady Hayara said, "which is such a blessing.So many holds have to heat bathing water.I do hope you'll be comfortable, Merelan," she added as she led the way to the larger bedroom."I think there's enough room for a small bed in here, if you'd rather your son sleeps? "

"Goodness me," Merelan said with a laugh, "Robinton's much too big a lad not to have his own room."

Robinton wanted to put his tongue out at Maizella for the haughty expression on her face, but he knew his mother wouldn't like him to.She reminded him of Halanna, and he really didn't need to deal with another Halanna disliking him.

"Well, we'll let you get settled in then.Come on, children, you can make friends at supper-time," said Lady Hayara, resettling the child she carried in her arms as she gestured for the others to clear out."Ah, I see there's a tray for you since I know you've missed your usual lunch-time coming here.We'll be eating in another two hours, you know, what with the time difference coming east and all."

Merelan smiled her gratitude and escorted her hostess to the door, the rest of the children following.When they were gone, she turned to Robie.

"Well!" she said with a big sigh, and then she smiled, a sad sort of smile, at her son."Let me see your room, love."

"It's a lot like mine at the Hall, Mother…" And Robinton trailed off, the sadness in her smile suggesting he'd better not ask why they had left so abruptly and with no warning.

Though he did not follow her, his mother did look into his room in a perfunctory fashion.

"Did you and Falloner make friends on your way up?" she asked, wandering about the living room and touching this and that.

"He's weyrbred," Robinton replied, still somewhat awed.

"Yes, he is.And I hope he's as eager to learn as the others.That's why I'm here." And then she sat down in a chair and burst into tears.

Robinton rushed to her side, patting her arm and stroking her hair.His mother rarely cried.She hugged him to her, her tears soaking his shirt, but he knew only to hold on to her and repeat that they'd be fine, they were together, and Benden Hold seemed nice and the Lord Holders were so friendly and wanted them here.

"Yes, they do want us here, don't they?" she said finally, giving herself a little shake and sitting up straight."I'm sorry to have sprung this on you so abruptly, Robie, but Lord Maidir's been after me to come and teach music to these very promising youngsters.

Suddenly, I thought it might be a good idea for both of us to take a break from the Hall.Master Gennell thought so too, and urged me to take the posting.And there was the dragon…"

"Spakinth is his name," Robinton said when she paused.

She smiled through the last of her tears."How do you know that?"

"He told me."

"C'rob told you?"

"No, Spakinth."

She tilted her head to one side."You can hear dragons?"

"Well, when they want me to, I do."

"Oh, Robie." She embraced him tightly."Not many do.It might even mean you'd Impress, and that would solve everything." She spoke the last over his shoulder as if more to herself than to him.

"But I could still be a harper, couldn't I?" He hadn't had a definitive answer to that question from the dragons.Maybe his mother would know.

"I think that depends on many things," she said, drying her eyes, and suddenly she seemed more like herself."Like if there's a clutch when you're the right age.Dragons don't have as many eggs during an Interval, you see, and you're only Impressionable until you're twenty, and the weyrbred have preference.At least you'll get to understand more about the Weyrs, and that's all to the good."

Again her remark was not meant for him, but he didn't mind because he'd like to know more about the Weyrs.The abandoned Fort Weyr was forbidden by order of Lord Grogellan.That might have been one reason why every boy had to go up there alone for a night when he turned twelve, or he'd be considered cowardly.

"Will I be able to visit the Weyr?" Robinton asked eagerly.That way, he'd know what a Weyr was like, and then an empty one wouldn't be as scary.

"I think that's likely.One of the reasons I'm here is to help C'gan, their current Weyrsinger.He desperately wants more training." His mother gave a little laugh."I'll be so busy I won't? " She broke off and stood up."Well, let's get ourselves settled in, shall we?Or are you hungry enough to sample what's here?"

Robinton had spotted the large selection of sweet biscuits and pointed.

"Well, just two of them, so as not to spoil your appetite.I'll have one, too, they smell so good.Fresh…every bit as good as Lorra makes." And she chattered on as she insisted on helping him put his things away."I didn't want to overload the dragon," she said, "so I didn't bring everything you own, love, but your newest drum and pipes…we've my gitar to practise on, and maybe we can get enough wood for you to start your own, because I know Master Bosler said you could start preparing the wood, which takes most of the time it takes to make a gitar, you know.I'm sure we can find gut for strings when the time comes to do that step.And your new Gather clothes, because they entertain quite a bit here at Benden, Lord Maidir and Lady Hayara being so popular on this coast.

There's a schoolroom, too, so we'll just leave these in the carisak now, shall we?Now, that's done and you can help me."

As he did, Robinton realized that his mother hadn't brought many of her own clothes.Only one Gather dress and one of the long, fine dresses she'd use when she gave concerts.And while she had lots of new musical scores, mainly the ones she'd teach from, there was nothing in his father's familiar broad script.That was odd.His stomach felt a little queasy suddenly, and it wasn't from eating the sweet biscuits.

"Mother, will Father come visit us?"

She paused, her back to him at that moment, then slowly turned, her expression unusually bleak.

"That will be up to your father, Robinton," she said, and turned back to fuss with the things in the top drawer of the chest."Likely he'll come to the Spring Gather here at Benden," she added in a totally different tone of voice, as if it made no difference to her at all."Now, let's wash up, shall we?I think that soon enough it'll be time to eat." She gestured towards the fading light and then pulled the heavy curtains across each of the narrow windows, as if shutting out more than the end of this day.

At dinner that night, Robinton had a place with the Hold children: it was a crowded table for his age group, he counted twenty-four, but Falloner had held a place for Robinton beside him.

"No, you got to take his things up," one of the Holder boys said, rushing to crowd into the space on Robinton's right."Mother said we've all got to make him feel at home, and you had your chance."

"Rob and I are friends," Falloner said loftily, "but you can sit on the other side, Hayon.He's Lady Hayara's oldest son," he added, and started naming everyone at their end of the table."Rasa's beside him, then there's Naprila, Anta, Jonno, and Drevalla on the other side."

Robinton had a moment to glance up at the head table where his mother sat beside Lord Maidir, with Raid on her other side and Maizella by her stepmother.

"They got graduated off the younglings' table last year," Falloner said with a sniff.He took the bread and board from the serving drudge and started cutting neat slices from the loaf, flipping them from the knife point up and down this end of the table until everyone had a piece."Stew, I betcha," he added.His bet was a fair one, because the next thing to come was a big pot.

"My turn," Anta said, standing up and grabbing the ladle before he could.

"Fair enough, only don't slop," he said, sitting down again and shoving a friendly elbow into Robinton's side as he grinned.

The upper table was not receiving stew, Robinton noted, but bowls of soup first and then slices of what looked like wherry, sauces, dishes of vegetables, and individual loaves of bread.He also noticed that his mother was mushing her food around her plate instead of eating, although she was talking to both father and son and seemed her usual self.Except she didn't smile as much as she usually did at the head table in the Harper Hall, and he didn't hear her laugh once.The stew was good, and so was the bread, and he was hungry.And the "afters” served at their table were small cakes and fruit which disappeared with amazing rapidity, though Robinton didn't see them all eaten at the table.Maybe his mother was getting special treatment what with her being MasterSinger, which he felt was only right and proper.Especially as he was getting specials, too.

His mother sang, too, after the head table finished eating.And there were good voices joining in the choruses, so he wondered why Benden Hold would need a MasterSinger of his mother's standing.A good journeyman would have done as well.No, she was also here to teach Maizella and help C'gan.Robinton wrinkled his nose: it was obvious from the loud way the girl was singing that she thought her voice was good.It wasn't bad, he had to admit, but she didn't need to shriek and she hadn't much breath control.

His mother sang only four songs, though, and smiled and nodded encouragingly when instruments appeared and she gestured for the musicians to come forward into a unit closer to the head table.

There were two gitarists, a tall, pale older man and a younger one who looked sufficiently like the older to be son or nephew; one violinist who played with his instrument held on his knee instead of under his chin, but his fingering was very good; a woman playing flute; two pipers, both young; and a drummer who had the sense to keep to a mute beat.Of course, when Merelan gestured encouragingly, the rest of the Hold sang the choruses to her first song.The harmonies weren't bad either, Robinton decided, though he didn't sing out as he would have done back in the Hall.Falloner sang lustily in a good strong alto treble, however, as did all the other younglings at the table, showing off to him, probably, but Robinton was used to how new-come apprentices to the Harper Hall acted, so he pretended not to notice.

"It doesn't cost any marks to be gracious, no matter where you are or what you're doing," his mother was always saying."No singer of a professional calibre would think of drowning out other singers," was another point she often made, especially when she had been having all that trouble with Halanna.He hoped Maizella wouldn't be as difficult.

Although he knew all the words, Robinton didn't sing along with Merelan in the new song she presented as her final one of this evening.Then she sweetly begged to be excused for such a short programme, but promised she would be more forthcoming when she'd caught up with Benden time.

She sat down to very enthusiastic applause and shouting.

Falloner then nudged Robinton and rose."Can you find your way back to your room, Rob?" he asked."That was the signal for us to get out of the Hall and let the adults have it to themselves."

Lady Hayara had risen too, and gestured towards the younglings so that they all obediently rose and started to leave the Hall.His mother caught his eye and motioned him to wait for her.

"I'll go up with Mother," Rob said, though he would have liked more time to ask Falloner questions.

"You're lucky," Falloner said under his breath."A room of your own.I have to sleep with a half a dozen.Oh, well, I did at the Weyr too," he added in a philosophical tone."I'll see you tomorrow, I "spect."

"Thanks, Falloner," Robinton said, a little shy but earnest in his thanks.Falloner grinned a response as he started herding some of the younger ones ahead of him towards the inner staircase.

Robinton never did find out from his mother the real reason for their precipitous departure from the Harper Hall, but he did learn that no one at Benden Hold had ever expected the famous MasterSinger to come there.And because she curbed the loudness of Maizella's rather good basic voice, she was very welcome indeed, not just by the girl's disenchanted half-brothers and sisters, but by many of the adults who resided in the Hold.Lord Maidir was a good man, and generally fair, but he adored his daughter Maizella, who at sixteen hadn't the wisdom or common sense that characterized her brother Raid.Robie found Raid a bit stuffy and prim, but he had inherited his father's sense of fair play and would take criticism from any of the more senior members of the large group of people who managed the big Holding.Unlike his sister, he was popular.And there was a discreet understanding that Hayon, Rasa and Naprila, the older of Lady Hayara's children, were to be protected from Maizella, who either teased them outrageously or ignored them as the fancy took her. Inured to such tactics as Robinton was, having survived Halanna's antics, he learned to smile and keep his tongue in his mouth.He had some sort of revenge a little later when his mother required Maizella to sing duets with him.He knew he had a good treble voice and had been more than adequately trained by Washell as well as his mother.In fact, he would have stepped into Londik's place as senior boy soprano when Londik's voice changed, but he'd also observed what happened to apprentices who flaunted their prowess.Besides which, his mother wouldn't have stood for such behaviour from him for one moment longer than it took to twist his ear to remind him to keep his place.

Dealing with Halanna had also taught Merelan a trick or two about overdeveloped conceits.

'Sing with a child?" The girl's tone was insulting.

"Singing with a well trained treble voice, which my son…" Merelan paused briefly "…has, will prove how much more he already knows about singing than you do.Shall we begin at "Now is the time"…?"

Merelan lowered her left eyelid just slightly at Robinton as she raised her arms to beat out the measure, and he was ready.He knew she meant that he should sing out now, something he had not done before since he knew better than to dominate in group singing.

Maizella almost missed her entrance, she was gawking so hard at him.Robinton enjoyed this moment of ascendancy and, from the susurrus of whispering from the rest of the class, so did the others.

Maizella naturally tried to drown him out, and his mother cancelled the beat and called her to order.

"In duet singing, the voices must balance for the best effect.We know you can sing the crawlers out of their webs, Maizella, but there are none in this room." Merelan regarded those who were tittering with a stern eye."From ‘Now is the time’… and sing with the treble, not against him."

This time Maizella modulated the volume, and even she could sense the effective difference though she did not, from the scowl on her face, appreciate it.

"That was much better, Maizella, much better.Let's see if we can blend in the third voice." And when the soprano line began, it was Merelan who sang it and showed, by her example, exactly what she had meant by balancing voices.

The rest of the children in the class clapped as the song ended.

"You didn't tell me you could sing like that," Falloner accused Robinton as they trotted out to the courtyard where they had a half-hour's respite from lessons.

"You didn't ask," Robinton said, grinning.

"You been waiting to show Maizella up?"

"Not waiting," Robinton said, bouncing the large goal ball.There was a hoop set on a pole, and the aim was to see how often one could get the ball through the hoop each go.Rob was pretty good at goal ball but, just as he was aiming, he saw the dragons flying in a distant formation and missed the hoop entirely.

Falloner intercepted the ball from Hayon's hopeful hand and lobbed it neatly through the hoop, catching it deftly and returning to the white line to toss again.

Robinton ignored all that, keeping his eyes on the rapidly disappearing V of dragons.

"Better get used to seeing "em in the sky, or you'll never get a turn at goal ball," Falloner said on their way back to the classroom after their recess.

"I suppose, you're used to it," Robinton said, "but to see them like that, the way the music says, well, that was special to me."

Falloner gave his friend an odd look."Yes, I guess it would be.

Just like you singing as good as any harper I've ever heard is a surprise for me.Say, let's scare the watchwher!" He grinned from ear to ear.

Robinton stared at him."But you're weyrbred."

"So what?They're not dragons, and it's good fun to see how loud you can make it so' Falloner never finished that sentence, because Robinton head-butted him to the dirt and then flopped down on his chest, holding a fist in readiness.

"I don't let watchwhers get teased, not at Fort, or the Hall, or here!" he said in a loud and forceful voice."Say you won't?" And he cocked his arm further, ready to strike.

"But it's not hurting them…"

"If they scream, they hurt.Promise?"

"Sure, whatever you say, Rob."

"You mean it?"

"On my hope of riding a dragon!" Falloner said fervently."Now let me up.I've a stone digging in my ribs."

Robinton gave his friend a hand up and then brushed him off.

"Just don't let me catch you breaking your word."

"I gave it to you!" Falloner said in a surly tone."Don't know what's got into you."

"I just don't like to hear them scream." Robinton gave a convulsive shake."Goes right through my ears and down to my heel-bones.Like chalk on a slate."

"It does?" Now Falloner gave himself a shake at the thought of that sound."Doesn't me, but…" He held up his hands defensively as Robinton made a fist again.I'll keep my word." He shook his head, though.Robinton's unexpected behaviour was beyond his comprehension.

There were, of course, other teachers at the Hold to cope with the basic reading, writing and figuring which all children were obliged to learn before their twelfth year.After that, they would take up apprenticeships to whatever Hall their inclination suited them, or go on in their family Hold's work.With a large Hold like Benden, there were enough pupils to be divided by age and ability.But all had their hour of daily musical training with the MasterSinger.

Without ever calling attention to the assignment, Merelan had her son teaching some of the younger children their scales and how to read music, since he was actually well ahead of whatever Falloner and Hayon had learned from the Hold's previous harper.

Robinton never minded such duties.He liked seeing the little ones learn more quickly because he knew exactly how to get them to do it, the way he had with Lexey.In the privacy of their own quarters, his mother tutored him at his own pace and encouraged him to use one of the instruments when he was composing.For he still wrote music.He couldn't not write.Tunes, especially when he saw dragons in the sky, just pushed against his temples until he had to put them down.And, accustomed as he had become to not mentioning this activity, no one, not even Falloner, knew that the songs Merelan was teaching them had been composed by Robinton.

"This isn't like the Harper Hall, Robie," she explained carefully the day before she introduced the first of his melodies, "where everyone knows you.I don't want to put you at a disadvantage.Do you understand what I mean?"

Robinton thought a moment."Yeah, Maizella would go all tissy about having to sing something I wrote." And he made his grin as understanding as he could."Can we tell her someday, though, Mother?" he added wistfully.

She ruffled his hair."I can promise you that, my love.When it seems auspicious."

"That means "favourable", doesn't it?"

She chuckled."It does…"

"Harpers use that word a lot."

"Harpering is not just knowing the words and melody to a lot of songs…

"And not just knowing when to sing them, either." He finished the saying for her.

She tilted his face up to her and regarded him with a very pensive expression on her face."I think, my darling son, that you are going to make a splendid harper."

"I plan to," he said, grinning impishly at her.

She gave him a quick hug and then asked to see the lessons she had set him in contrapuntal theory.

A few evenings later, Merelan asked Maizella to sing a new song after dinner. At first the conversations didn't abate, but gradually a respectful silence rewarded the noticeable improvement in both tone and volume.Maizella sat down flushed with achievement and didn't notice that the applause was more from relief than approval.

Then Merelan had her and Robinton sing the duet they had practised in class.

By now, Merelan had identified other good voices in the Hold, and gradually the evenings featured four-part harmonies and the addition of several more instruments, as well as more new songs and a far larger chorus.

Then, about six seven-days after their arrival at Benden, Falloner told Robinton that the Weyrleaders were coming to the Hold with some of the wingleaders and their women.

"They come often?" Robinton asked, awed.Would his mother ask him to sing for the dragonriders?There would surely be music after dinner.

Falloner shrugged."Often enough.S'loner and Lord Maidir get along really well because Benden believes in the dragonriders and Carola, who's Weyrwoman, is the daughter of Hayara's oldest sister.So they're kin."

"S'loner?" Robinton couldn't help gawking at his friend.He knew how weyrfolk named children, generally using some part of the father's as well as the mother's name."Your father's the Weyrleader?"

"Yeah." Falloner gave an indifferent shrug.Then he grinned at Robinton's startled expression."That's one reason why I'm sure to Impress a bronze, and why I'll get the chance to stand on the Hatching Ground as long as there're eggs clutched.There've been a lot of Weyrleaders in my lineage." He straightened up proudly.

"And I'm here because I'm supposed to learn more than I'd get taught at the Weyr since we don't have a Hall-trained harper.If I'm going to lead the Weyr in the next Fall, I've got to know more than the average bronze rider, haven't I?"

"I guess you have," Robinton murmured, still trying to cope with the status of his friend.

"Ah, don't go looking at me like that, will ya, Robie?" And Falloner gave his shoulder a friendly buffet.

When they were in their own quarters, Robinton had to tell his mother.

"I knew that, dear, and it's one reason I encourage your friendship with him.Falloner's a good-hearted lad and intelligent enough to want to learn.I feel that it's very important for you to have this chance to get to know something about how the Weyr operates.

Especially as we only have the one now." She looked off into the middle distance for a long moment.

"Isn't that what the Question Song is about?"

"I didn't know you knew about that one," she said almost sharply, staring at him."How did you come across it?"

"Oh, when I was copying out some of the worm-eaten music in the Archives.Master Ogolly says I write with a good, neat hand, you know." He preened slightly.

"Yes, I do know, love." She finger-stroked a parting into his thick dark hair."Do you know the music?"

"Of course I do, Mother," he said, mildly indignant.She, of all people, should know that he memorized music after one hearing or one reading.

"Yes, you would, wouldn't you, dear." She gave a final pat to his hair."Well, run over it in your mind.It might be suitable for tonight.And a treble voice would make it more poignant, I think.

Yes, rehearse it, Robie."

Falloner was not at the head table as Robinton had thought he might be, since S'loner was his father.Carola was not his mother and, as Falloner took his usual place next to Robinton, he muttered something about her disliking S'loner's weyrlings.

"Aren't weyrlings small dragons?"

"Yes," Falloner said with a little snort."Applied to us," he explained, sticking his thumb into his chest, "it's not a compliment.

All she can get is girls…when she has anything."

Robinton nodded and decided maybe now wasn't the time to ask more questions about the Weyr.Besides, the special dinner was being served: special even for those at the lower table, since Nerat had sent up fresh red-fruits and other delicacies, transported a-dragonback.

Robinton watched with awe as the great beasts, having deposited riders and burdens in the courtyard, rose to the top of Benden's cliff, spacing themselves along the fire heights.The golden queen, Feyrith, settled in the exact centre, the other ten dragons, including her weyrmate, settled on either side of her, like guardians.Which was silly, because there wasn't anything on the entire planet that would attack a queen, much less eleven dragons.

Robinton thought they were the most beautiful creatures he had ever seen as they peered down at the courtyard, their beautiful faceted eyes gleaming in the late spring evening.He hadn't thought "bronze” could come in so many different shadings.

Cortath?Kilminth?Spakinth?he thought daringly.

No one answered his tentative query.Well, maybe none of the bronzes he had spoken to before were on the heights.He could scarcely pick out individual features from this distance.Or maybe because they were guarding the queen, they couldn't talk to a little boy.

The evening entertainment was almost more splendid than the meal which had preceded it.Not only were there acrobats, but a man who made things disappear, and reappear from behind Raid's ear or Maizella's sleeve. or produced the world's smallest canine from his cloak or a tiny tunnel snake from under the cap on his head.

When everyone had settled down again after that diversion, Merelan signalled for the group of singers and players she had been practising with to take their places.Robinton hurried to join them.

The Duty Song, which was one of the first Teaching Ballads taught by any harper to a class, should be sung in honour of any dragonrider guests: Robinton had heard it practised prior to every Gather.From the quick look he shot at the Weyrleaders, they were expecting it, but they hadn't foreseen a proper instrumental accompaniment.

Nor the quality of the soloists.Robinton waited for his mother's signal and sang the first verse, noting the surprise on S'loner's face.So Robinton sang the words with all his heart for this special audience.

S'loner kept right on smiling and tapped out the rhythm as the chorus came to "from those dangers that are by the dragons braved'.The applause was suitably enthusiastic, his loud clapping leading the others.

Then Maizella stepped forward from her place in the chorus.

Robinton heard the rustle: dismay or annoyance.They were in for a surprise too, now that his mother had taken the girl in hand.

Instead of planting herself in a defiant way, as if to indicate that she was going to sing and everyone had better listen to her, she came to the front in a quiet and professional manner and then looked to Merelan, who was accompanying her on the gitar.

Robinton couldn't miss Weyrwoman Carola's expression, total Dismay, until Maizella started singing.Even S'loner regarded the girl with a pleased look and murmured something to Maidir, who nodded and smiled back.

Maizella sang harmony to the chorus of the song, which had three more verses.The hearty applause was certainly as much an improvement as her performance, and there was a nice rumble of remarks as she stepped back.

Merelan beckoned for the rest of the chorus to attend her signal, and they sang a ballad which was new in the Harper Hall and had such a beat to it that, before long, everyone was stamping or clapping to the rhythm.

The band played new music and although Robinton caught a few sour notes, he knew how hard they'd worked.A few more rehearsals and performances and they'd be as good as any Gather band.But he was glad he'd be singing with just his mother to accompany him.And he was next: at her gesture he came to her side.Flute in one hand, she put her other arm around his shoulders as she made her introductory remarks.

"This song is very old and, although it's supposed to be in every harper's repertoire, it has lately been sadly neglected.I don't find it even in the very comprehensive Benden Library, so it's about time I reintroduced it to you all." She smiled at the audience."You children will be learning it next week, so listen closely." With that she put the mouthpiece to her lips and nodded to her son.

Gone away, gone ahead,

Echoes roll unanswered.

Empty, open, dusty, dead.

Why have all the weyrfolk fled?

Where have dragons gone together?

Leaving Weyrs to wind and weather?

Setting herd-beasts free of tether?

Gone, our safeguards, gone but whither?

Have they flown to some new Weyr

When cruel Threads some others fear?

Are they worlds away from here?

Why, oh, why, the empty Weyr?

There was a stunned silence when Robinton let the last note die away and his mother lowered the flute.Almost an embarrassing silence, and yet he knew he had sung it well.Everyone looked at the pair of them as if they couldn't believe their ears.

Then there was the noise of a chair scraping and S'loner rose to his feet, his expression almost severe.

"I thank you, MasterSinger, for the beautiful rendition of the classic Question Song." And he inclined his body to them both with the greatest respect."It has haunted every Benden Weyrleader for generations.I learned it as a weyrling, but I haven't heard it in… oh, decades now.I think it needs to be heard more often.Maybe someone will find its answer."

"Then, S'loner, do you believe that Thread will return?" asked a man, rising from the far end of the head table.Robinton hadn't seen him before, but he must be a Benden holder of some prosperity to judge by his clothing and where he was seated.

Robinton was close enough to see Carola tug at S'loner's sleeve, her brows drawn together in a scowl.Rob glanced over to where Falloner still sat, and saw an eager expression on his friend's face.

The entire audience seemed to hold their breaths.

"We've another fifty turns to go before the Star Stones will tell us yea or nay, my friend.But the dragons are here and Benden keeps up its strength.That is the pledge we made to Hold and Hall when the first dragon cracked its shell.It is one that I, and every Weyrleader after me, will keep!" Then he bowed again to Merelan, caught Robinton's eyes briefly and sat down.

Quickly then, Merelan gestured for the instrumentalists to strike up a merry tune.That was also the signal for the drudges to come and clear the tables, to make space for dancing in the centre of the Hall.There was a lot more talking while the tables were cleared, dismantled and stored to one side, chairs rearranged and the younger children taken off to their beds.

Robinton was playing hand-drum for the early sessions of the dancing, so he didn't get a chance to speak to Falloner that evening.

But the next morning in music class, the moment he and his mother entered the room Falloner leaped on him, hauling him by his shirt to one side.

"Who told you to sing that?" he demanded in a harsh whisper, his expression intense, almost accusing.

"Mother," Robinton said, having hoped to hear something else from his best friend: like, "You sang that well."

"Shards, but it had Carola going!" Falloner grinned."S'loner must've been over the moons with delight.Our old harper, the one before C'gan, didn't know it and couldn't find it even when S'loner made him hunt through the Records for it.He only knew that he'd learned it.It's possible G'ranad, the Weyrleader before him, struck it out of our Teaching."

"It's back in Harper Hall Records," Robinton said."I had to copy it out several times for harpers going off on assignment."

"Well, one thing sure, you made my father very happy."

"Why?"

"Because he knows…' Falloner paused significantly, his expression oddly intense, "… that Thread will come again.And he's fighting to get others to believe it.That song is a warning, as well as a question." He clapped Robinton on the back."And I'll be following him, on a fighting bronze.Just you see if I'm not."

"But, even if Thread comes, it's not due for another fifty turns or more, and you and I will be old."

"Fifty isn't old when most dragonriders live to their tenth decade and better.Old M'odon's nearly one hundred and ten, and there's nothing decrepit about his brown Nigarth."

"Does he remember Threadfall?"

"Naw, he's too young for that, but his great-grandfather flew it." Just then Merelan called the class to order."We're going to learn the new song today, the Question Song.Weyrleader S'loner particularly asked me to teach it.Robinton, if you'll sing it again for us so we can start learning the melody, we will honour that request, as we should honour all dragons and their riders."

Five days later a green rider came with an invitation for the MasterSinger and her son to dine at the Weyr and, if she would be so kind, to bring some of the new music that had been heard in Benden Hold.

Robinton was never sure if it was because he had sung the Question Song or because the Weyrleaders wanted his mother to sing more for them.

"Of course it means I'm to sing, love," she said, grinning at her son, "so we'll take instruments with us.But I'm glad that you've been invited, too.I've wanted you to see Benden Weyr." She paused and then winked conspiratorially at him."Then, when you have to spend the night up at Fort Weyr, you won't be the least bit scared."

"How did you know about that?" The apprentices did not tell anyone, certainly not the girls.

Merelan chuckled."There's a lot that goes on in the Hall that is known but not talked about, lovey.Not that, for a single moment, I would think you'd be frightened of just an empty place."

Robinton puffed out his chest."But aren't all the Weyrs different?"

Merelan considered this."Yes, and in fact there are maps of the interiors lodged in the Archives…or should be.Another thing that I must check on when we get back."

"When are we going back, Mother?" Not that he really wanted to, if he was being honest with himself.He really, truly liked it here at Benden, and especially Falloner.He had never had a best friend before.

He felt his mother smoothing his hair."Do you miss the Hall?" she asked.

"Not when I get my lessons from you," he said, grinning up at her."You're harder on me than Master Washell or Kubisa."

"I am, am I?"

"And it's great to have you to myself," he added and felt her hand hesitate.

"But you don't, Robie," she said, and her voice sounded so funny that he looked up at her to see why.He caught the hint of her frown.

"You share me with Benden Hold and all its students."

He thought that over for a moment."Yes, but it's not the same."

"No, it isn't," she said very slowly."However, you and I must do some practising so we'll show them our mettle."

Later, Robinton told Falloner about the invitation."Will you be coming up too?" he asked, practically dancing in his delight.

"Me?No, why should I be?"

"But…but…but…"

Falloner dismissed the "but' with an indifferent hand and a wry grin."I'm lucky to be down here at the Hold.I lost my birth mother when I was born, and my foster-mother died of a fever the healer couldn't cool down, and there's no one up there I want to see."

"Not even your father?"

Falloner cocked his head at his friend."No more than you want to see yours."

"I never said anything like that…"

"But you never mention him, do you?So you don't miss him, do you?Besides, I prefer to stay out of Carola's way, and Lady Hayara's fairer to me than even Stolla…" His voice altered to a kinder tone."But she's nice, even being headwoman in the Lower Cavern and all.She the one who made S'loner send me down here until it cooled off…” He stopped short, making a horrible grimace as if he'd let his mouth run away with him.

"What cooled off?"

Falloner's expression turned to bland innocence."Cooled what off?"

"You just said…" And then Robinton stopped, shrugged and dropped the subject.

It was Lady Hayara's intervention that saw Falloner going with Robinton.

"For the company," she told Merelan."Falloner will show Robinton around without letting him go where he shouldn't." She fixed a stern look on Falloner, but let it turn into an understanding smile."But I expect you not to tease Lama so much any more."

"She follows me everywhere," Falloner complained, screwing his face up."Lama's Carola's daughter," he explained to Merelan, "and a real pain."

"Now, Falloner," Lady Hayara said, wiggling a warning finger at him, "I know that Rob will be asked to sing, but it's good for an upcoming harper to learn more about the Weyr than what is sung."

The brown dragon who collected the invited guests did not quibble about adding Falloner to his back.Nor did his rider, who greeted the boy with a wry grin.

"Allowed back, are you, weyrling?"

"It would seem so, C'vrel.Thanks, Falarth," Falloner added to the brown as he competently mounted and settled himself behind Robinton.

Robinton would have given anything to know exactly what that meant, but he suspected he'd never be told by Falloner.Before he could reflect further, he felt the brown launch himself off the ground with the usual neck-snapping lunge and Robinton braced himself for between.He was especially grateful when he felt Falloner's hands grip his arms and tighten the moment they went into that bone-searing cold.In between he could feel nothing, but he knew that Falloner still gripped him.It wasn't as bad, now he knew what to expect, and then, suddenly, he had the incredible good fortune to see a Weyr from on high.

Benden was unusual in that it was situated in an old double volcanic crater.As Falarth swung round, almost on wingtip, Robinton saw the watch dragon and his rider, just beyond the massive Star Stones which would bracket the Red Star on its next return at Solstice.He saw dragons lying on the western-facing ledges, asleep in the sun…and then the several black maws which gave into the Hatching Ground where a queen's clutch of eggs hardened until it was time for the weyrling dragons to Hatch and Impress their lifelong partners.As Falarth glided downward, Robinton saw the great golden bulk of Feyrith on her ledge, Chendith lying just above her, his eyes whirling in slow circles as he watched Falarth land lightly in front of the Lower Cavern.