The Dragonriders of Pern - Anne McCaffrey [430]
“Remember, he’s been very worried about Master Robinton,” Sharra said slowly.
“We’ve all been worried about Master Robinton,” Menolly said, “but that’s no reason to change one’s temperament!”
There was an awkward silence. Sharra unfolded her legs and rose abruptly.
“I wonder if anyone remembered to feed Stupid this evening!” She walked off, not quite in the same direction as Piemur.
Menolly looked after her for a long moment. Her eyes were dark with concern as she turned back to Jaxom and then a wicked gleam changed them to their normal sea-blue.
“While they’re out of earshot, Jaxom,” she glanced about to be sure no one had come up behind her, “I’d better mention that it’s been pretty well established now that no one at Southern Weyr returned Ramoth’s egg.”
“Oh? Really?”
“Oh! Really!”
She rose then, cup in hand, and strode across to the wineskin hanging from a tree branch.
Was she warning him? Not that it made any difference. His adventure had served a purpose at the time. Now that the Southern Weyr was being integrated into the others, there was less need than ever to admit his part in the affair.
Menolly wandered over to collect her gitar from the table and then seated herself at the bench, strumming softly to herself. A new song, about dream eyes? Jaxom wondered. Then he looked off in the direction Sharra had gone. Had he any legitimate reason for following her? He sighed. He liked Piemur, despite his acid tongue. He’d been glad to see the young Harper, grateful for his company and assistance. He just wished that Piemur had taken a day longer, even half a day longer, to reach the Cove. Since his arrival, Jaxom had had no time at all alone with Sharra. Was she avoiding him? Or was it just the circumstances of the building and getting Cove Hold ready for Master Robinton? He must figure out some way to separate Sharra from the others! Or else visit Corana!
CHAPTER XIX
Morning at the Cove Hold, Star-gazing in
Late Evening, Next Morning, Discovery
at the Mountain, 15.10.15–15.10.16
By the time Jaxom and Piemur had reluctantly struggled from their furs the next morning, Sharra told them that the Harper had risen at the first light of day, taken a bracing swim, made himself a breakfast and been long in his study, muttering over the charts and making copious notes. He now wished to have a few words with Jaxom and Piemur, if they didn’t mind.
Master Robinton acknowledged their entry with a sympathetic grin for their deliberate and slow movements, the aftereffects of a very convivial evening. He then began asking for explanations of their latest additions to the main chart. When he had satisfied himself on that point, he asked how they had arrived at their conclusions. When they’d told him, he leaned back from the desk, fiddling with his drawing stick with such an unreadable expression on his face that Jaxom began to worry about what the Harper might be planning.
“Have either of you happened to notice the trio of stars we have been calling—erroneously, I might add—the Dawn Sisters?”
Jaxom and Piemur exchanged glances.
“Do you have a far-viewer with you, sir?” Jaxom asked.
The Harper nodded. “Master Idarolan has one aboard his ship. I construe that question to mean that you’ve noticed that they also appear at dusk?”
“And whenever there’s enough moonlight . . .” Piemur added.
“And always in the same place!”
“I see you did profit by your classes,” the Harper said, beaming at both of them. “Now, I’ve asked Master Fandarel if we could prevail on Master Wansor to visit here for a few days. Why, might I ask, are you two grinning as if you’d eaten all the bubbly pies at a gather?”
Piemur’s grin deepened at this reference to his apprentice pastime.
“I don’t think anyone on Pern would refuse to come here, given the whisper of an invitation,” he said.
“Does Master Wansor have his new far-viewer finished?” Jaxom asked.
“I certainly hope that he does . . .”
“Master Robinton . . .” Brekke stood in the doorway, a curious expression on her face.
“Brekke,