I Read What?!

So last time, Piemur settled into his new apprenticeship and went on a couple of assignments, leading to a run in with our old friend T'ron of the Oldtimers!

I don't have a pithy comment about this. I'm just happy to read a Pern book where things are actually HAPPENING again.



We rejoin Piemur, who is still helping out at the mine. He's visited by Rocky, Menolly's bronze fire lizard, who seems weirdly agitated. Piemur coaxes him down to his shoulder and calms him. The Miner is pretty bemused by all of this, but Piemur takes the opportunity to send her a message that he's safe, but delayed. On mutual agreement, he doesn't mention the Oldtimer's visit.

Piemur also has a weird interaction with the miner that sticks with him:

“You've a way with the little things, haven't you?” said the Miner with reluctant respect as he watched Piemur tying the message on Rocky's leg, an operation the fire lizard oversaw as carefully as the Miner.

“He knows he can trust me,” said Piemur.

“I'd say there were not many,” replied the Miner in such a dry tone that Piemur stared at him in surprise. “No offense meant!”

What the hell is THAT supposed to mean? Piemur is as confused as I am:

As he ate, Piemur wondered what the Miner had meant by that remark. “Not many that fire lizards could trust?” “Not many people that trusted Piemur?” Why would the Miner say a thing like that? Hadn't he saved the miners' sapphires for them? It wasn't as if he'd told any lies to do so. Further he'd never taken any real advantage of his friends in bargaining at a Gather or failing to keep a promise. All of his friends came to him for help. And, Shells, wasn't the Masterharper entrusting him with this errand? And knowing about Harper Hall secrets? What had the Miner meant?

I don't blame Piemur for his confusion. I don't understand it either.

Anyway, the miners end up asking Piemur for a song. Because of his voice, Piemur can't sing, but with the help of a saucepan, he "talks" the newest songs to them. He even gives them Domick's song about Lessa, even though technically that won't be heard until Groghe's feast.

Piemur makes it back to Harper Hall to hear Tilgin singing. He's on key, but sounds tired. Piemur grins at that and then reports to Robinton. He explains what happened and hands over the sapphires. They banter about about them, and then:

Piemur nodded solemnly. “Of course, if I'd had a fire lizard of my own, you wouldn't have had to worry about me and the stones, and perhaps something could have been done about T'ron.”

The Harper's face altered and the flash in his eyes had nothing to do with amusement. Now Plemur couldn't imagine what had prompted him to say such a thing. He didn't even dare look away from the Harper's severe gaze, although he wanted more than anything else to creep away and hide from his Master's disapproval. He did stiffen, fully expecting a blow for such impertinence.

“When you can keep your wits about you as you did yesterday, Piemur,” said Master Robinton after an interminable interval, “you prove Menolly's good opinion of your potential. You have also just proved the main criticism that Hall masters have expressed. I do not disapprove of ambition, nor the ability to think independently, but,” and suddenly his voice lost the cold displeasure, “presumption is unforgiveable. Presuming to criticize a dragonrider is the most dangerous offense against discretion. Further,” and the Harper's finger was raised in warning, “you are rushing toward a privilege you have by no means earned. Now, off with you to Master Olodkey and learn the proper drum measure for 'Oldtimer'.”

...what the fuck, Robinton?

For the record, I've never liked how this series paints the desire for a fire lizard as completely okay for some characters, but a sign of overwhelming ambition in others. F'nor and Menolly found theirs by accident, but they also happily hunt for additional nests and make sure their friends get lizards. But Kylara's a bitch for being upset that no one bothered to call her. Robinton and Sebell are given eggs from the clutch that Menolly found, but Piemur is "presumptuous" for wanting one for himself.

And Piemur has every right to be concerned about what the Oldtimers are doing, damnit. He was the one in danger!

Anyway, Piemur's devastated at this, as one might imagine:

“Piemur!” Robinton's voice checked him as he fumbled for the latch. “You did handle yourself very well at the Minehold. Only do,” and the Harper sounded as resigned as Master Shonagar often had, “do please try to guard your quick tongue!”

“Oh, sir, I'll try as hard as I can, really I will!” His voice cracked ignominiously, and he spun around the door so that the Harper wouldn't see the tears of shame and relief in his eyes.

Fuck. You. Robinton.

Anyway, Piemur vows to himself to learn to watch his tongue more carefully, because apparently even lukewarm criticism of dragonriders is worth a beating in Harper Hall. (He'd've rated a right sound beating from any other Master. Domick wouldn't have hesitated a moment, nor even languid Master Shonagar, whose hand he'd felt many a time for his brashness. But how had he dared criticize dragonriders, even Oldtimers, to Master Robinton? Certainly that took the prize for impudence, even from him.).

Anyway, Piemur now has to figure out the drum code for Oldtimers, which is going to be tricky since he can't ask outright, without explaining why he needs to know. He then starts wondering why Robinton wants him to find out: is he expecting more incidents?

Piemur is also in a bit of trouble, because apparently Dirzan, his senior, thinks he deliberately protracted his errand to avoid his chores. Also, he has a new duty: listening for messages and writing them down. He's very good at it, but this also backfires, because those messages are confidential, and if "loose talk" happens in the Hall, Piemur is first to get the blame.

Piemur tries to compensate for this: the next time he has to deliver a confidential message (to Oldive, by the way), he has Oldive write a message, which Piemur carries directly to Dirzan "in its original folds". This leads Dirzan to accuse him of insolence.

“No, I'm trying to prove to you that I'm no babblemouth, even if I did understand that message. Lord Meron of Nabol is ill and requires Master Oldive urgently. But who'd care if he died after what he's done to Pern?”

Piemur knew he'd merited Dirzan's blow then and didn't duck.

“You'll learn to keep a civil tongue in your head, Piemur, or it's back to the runner hold for you.”

“I've a right to defend my honor! And I can!” Piemur caught himself just in time before he blurted out that Master Robinton could attest to his discretion. As rife with rumour as the Harper Hall generally was, there hadn't been a whisper about the Oldtimers' raid on the mine.

“How?” Dirzan's single derisive word told Piemur forcibly how very difficult that would be without being rightfully accused of indiscretion.

“I'll figure a way. You'll see!” Piemur glared impotently at the delighted grins of the other apprentices.

So Ms. McCaffrey DOES know how to write actual bullying! I'd wondered, given the bullshit in Dragonsinger (where Pona's efforts are weak and useless), or White Dragon (where we're supposed to believe a peasant kid can bully a prince). But in this case, we can see why Piemur has a genuine problem.

But I have to ask, what HAS Meron actually "done to Pern"?

He's a jerk, sure. But he didn't cause Thread to fall. He was part of Larad's initial rebellion, but that was stifled quickly. He was Kylara's lover and mouthed off at the wedding, but that's about it. As villains go, Meron barely ranks notice.

Anyway, Piemur's still thinking about his problem. Once, he might have been able to ask the help of his friends, but he really doesn't have the time or ability to go chatter with them anymore (and it definitely wouldn't help, given the accusations against him.) He doesn't want to bother Menolly or Sebell with such a "piffling problem" since they might decide he isn't the right person to help them.

He does end up with one idea though:

One possibility presented itself to his questioning mind: the apprentices, even Clell as the oldest, were still plodding through the medium hard drum measures. Therefore some parts of every long message reaching the Harper Hall were incomprehensible to them. Now, if Piemur learned drum language beat perfect, he'd understand the messages in full. Not that he'd let Dirzan know that when he wrote the message down for him. But he'd keep a private record of everything he translated. Then, the next time there was a rumour of a half-understood message, Piemur would prove to Dirzan that he had known all the message, not just the parts the other apprentices had understood.

...I'm not really sure how that works. You could still spread half of a rumor even if you know the full thing. But it does motivate Piemur to study harder, which is good. He also makes sure to stay in the sight of Dirzan, the Master, or the journeymen, since he can't be accused of gossiping if he isn't near the others. Sadly, nothing ends up leaking, so he ends up tearing up his record. Poor kid.

Anyway, Menolly comes to get Piemur for another mission. Dirzan tries to offer Clell in his place, but Menolly isn't interested. And I really like this:

“Menolly, I think you ought to mention to Master Robinton that we haven't found Piemur too reliable.”

“Piemur? Unreliable?”

Piemur had been about to whip around and defy Dirzan, but the amused condescension in Menolly's tone was a far better defense than any he could muster under his circumstances. In one mild question, Menolly had given Dirzan, not to mention Clell and the others, a lot to think about.

I like seeing Menolly defend Piemur. She didn't have a great showing in White Dragon, but she's great here.

One of the journeymen mockingly asks if Piemur had come "bleating" to her.

“In point of fact,” and now Menolly sounded puzzled, “he's not been talkative at all, apart from commenting on the weather and the condition of my fire lizards. Should he have reason to bleat, Dirzan?”

Piemur rejoins her and after they leave, she asks what he's been up to:

“I haven't been up to anything,” he replied with such vehemence that Menolly grinned at him. “That's the trouble.”

“Your reputation's caught up with you?”

“More than that. It's being used against me.” As much as Piemur wanted to expand, the less he said, he decided, even to Menolly, the stronger his position.

“The other apprentices against you? Yes, I saw their expressions. What did you do to set them so?”

“Learned drum measures too fast is all I can think of.”

“You sure?”

“I'm bloody sure, Menolly. D'you think I'd do anything to get in the Masterharper's bad record?”

Menolly admits that he wouldn't, and she says they'll sort it out when they get back. Meanwhile, there's a job at a Gather in Igen Hold. Menolly and Sebell are there as Harpers, and Piemur gets to play scruffy boy apprentice, and keep his ears open.

But hey, there are some perks! Piemur gets to ride a dragon! And understandably, he's pretty excited! N'ton is their ride, and he's great as always:

N'ton had always been Piemur's ideal of a dragonrider, tall, with a really broad set of shoulders, dark brown hair slightly curled from being confined under a riding helmet, an easy, confident air reflected by a direct gaze and a ready smile. The contrast between this present Fort Weyrleader and his disgruntled predecessor, T'ron, was more vividly apparent as N'ton smilingly greeted the harpers' apprentice.

“Sorry your voice changed, Piemur. I'd been looking forward to Lord Groghe's Gather and that new Saga I've heard so much about from Menolly. Have you ridden dragonback before, Piemur? No? Well, up with you, Menolly. Show Piemur the knack.”

There's a cute bit where Piemur worries that he'll hurt Lioth with his boots, and N'ton laughs and says he won't, but Lioth thanks him for worrying. And that's a pretty fucking big revelation right there! Dragons can read EVERYONE's minds, not just their riders'!

Sebell, Menolly, Piemur and N'ton all ride Lioth. Sebell gives Piemur the rundown of what between is like. And indeed, the trip sounds pretty scary!

Sebell gave Piemur's hands, clutching his belt, a warning squeeze. The next heartbeat and there was nothing but a cold so intense that it was painful. Except that Piemur couldn't feel pain with his body, only sense that his lack of tactile contact with reality included everything except the wild beating of his heart against his ribcage. Ruthlessly he clamped down on the instinct to scream. Then they were back in the world again, Lioth gliding effortlessly down to the right, a tremendous expanse of golden ground beneath his wings. Piemur shuddered again and kept his eyes fixed on Sebell's shoulders. Hard as Piemur wished he wouldn't, Lioth continued to glide downward, dipping sideways at unnerving angles. Suddenly Piemur could hear fire lizards cluttering, and despite his resolve not to look around, found himself watching them zip about the dragon.

Menolly commiserates with his fear, and doesn't laugh when his voice cracks, and Piemur "felt more kindly toward her than at any other time in their association" Agreed!

So they make it to the gather, and we get some nice description:

To the left was the river, a broad, muddy stream between red sandstone banks. Small sailing craft skimmed the surface on a current that must be swifter than the turgid surface suggested. To the right was the broad, clean-swept rock shelf that led up to Igen Hold, a safe distance above the highest flood marks left by the river on the sandstone banks. Behind Igen Hold rose curious, wind-fashioned cliffs, some of which made additional holds for Igen's people, for there were no rows of cotholds adjoining the main Hold here. Igen Hold also had no fire-heights, not needing any since there was nothing but sand and stone around the Hold proper, to which Thread could do no harm. The lands that supplied Igen Hold were around the next bend of the river, where the waters had been led inland by canals to supply watergrain fields. Piemur wasn't sure that he would like living in such a barren-looking Hold, even if no Thread could ever attack it. And it was hot!

Dragons apparently love the heat at Igen, which reinforces my opinion that dragons are basically cats. So they go off to their various duties.

So Piemur gets to experience his first Gather at Igen:

Almost immediately Piemur noticed one great difference between this and the Gathers he had attended in the west, people took their time. In order to separate himself from his craftmates, Piemur had deliberately lagged behind, but when he would have stepped out again at his customary pace, he hesitated. No one was moving briskly at all. Gestures and voices were languid, smiles slow, and even laughter had a lazy fall. A great many people carried long tubes from which they sipped. Stalls dispensing drinks, chilled water, as well as sliced fruits, were frequently placed and well-patronized. About every ten stalls or so, there were areas where people lounged, either on the sand or on benches placed about the edges. The tenting was raised in corners to catch breezes sweeping up from the river, cooling the lounge areas and the walkway.

The accent is different too, a softer drawl, and they only talk or barter when seated comfortably rather than strolling. Piemur finds a choice location, with some fruit juice, and listens. He hears a lot of irrelevant gossip initially and then starts to doze.

He wakes up in the evening and heads to the Hold for supper. The food sounds good, and the Harper Bantur, is very welcoming. He's invited to take part in the performance, and reports in to Sebell, who is not subtle:

“Heard anything of interest?”

“Who talks during the day's heat?” asked Piemur with heartfelt disgust. He suspected that Sebell had known about desert daytime indolence.

“You'll notice the change in them now, and you'll only need to do the dance turns. If I gauge the Gather right,” said Sebell, glancing ahead at Menolly's slender figure in harper blue, “they'll keep her singing until she's hoarse. They always do.”

Piemur glanced swiftly at Sebell, wondering if the journeyman was aware of showing his feelings for the harper girl so openly.

And indeed, after the dance turns, Piemur is able to eavesdrop to his heart's content. And this time, he gets some results! Oldtimer gossip!

“I don't say it was them, but since they've gone south, we've had no more unexpected demands,” said the smith. “G'narish may also be an Oldtimer, but he follows Benden's ways. So it had to have been Oldtimers.”

“Young Toric often sends his two-master north for trade,” said one of the seaholders, in a voice so confidential that Piemur had to strain to catch the words. “He always has, and my Holder sees no harm in it. Toric's no dragonman, and those that stayed south with him don't fall under Benden's order. So we trade. He may bargain close, but he pays well.”

“In marks?” asked the Igen holder, surprised.

“No. Barter! Gemstones, hides, fruit, such like. And once,” here Piemur held his breath for fear of missing the confidential whisper, “nine fire lizard eggs!”

The conversation dies down, and Menolly starts to sing her Fire Lizard song. And of course, she's amazing:

Her voice was richer now, Piemur noticed with a critical ear, the tone better sustained. He couldn't fault her musical phrasing. Nor should he be able to after three Turns of severe instruction by Master Shonagar. Her voice was so admirably suited to the songs she sang, he thought, and more expressive than many singers who had even better natural voices. As often as Piemur had heard the “Fire Lizard Song,” he found himself listening as intently as ever. When the song ended, he applauded as vigorously as everyone else, only then aware that he had been equally captivated. Putting words to music was not Menolly's only talent; she put her music in the hearts and minds of her listeners, too.

While her enrapt audience started shouting for their favourite tunes, she beckoned Sebell to the platform, and they sang a duet of an eastern sea hold song, their voices so well blended that Piemur's respect and admiration for his fellow harpers reached unprecedented heights. Now, if only his voice turned tenor, he might have the chance to sing with...

I like this though. This book has been a lot better about the "Menolly is the best bard ever!" stuff, so I don't mind this. Especially since it's as much about Piemur as Menolly. He observes that she is asked to sing a lot, but for every solo, she makes sure there's a group song and duet including the Igen harpers. He thinks it's clever, but sadly not something he can use with the drum apprentices.

Later, he sorts through what he's learned: the mine incident wasn't isolated. The Igen people respect G'narish, but would rather be beholden to Benden. And then he's roused from his thoughts by Rocky, who lures him away to a meeting with a dragon. But it's not Lioth! It's Canth!

And F'nor, who has scars on his face from his Red Star idiocy. He's there to take them to Benden Weyr! The clutch is hatching! Piemur is thrilled! But then he realizes that his co-apprentices will be mad enough that he'd gotten to go to a Gather, if they learn he'd gotten to go to a Hatching too, it will make a shit ton of trouble.

Menolly and Sebell notice his silence but misattribute it to sleepiness. He considers asking Menolly not to tell Olodkey or Dirzan about this, but then she'd ask why.

They go to Benden Weyr! And hey, Mirrim is here! Yay, a reunion between friends!

“Mirrim?” she called, and the girl at the hearth turned, her face lighting as she recognized the new arrivals.

“Menolly! You came! Sebell! How are you? What have you been up to recently to get so tanned? Who's this?” Her smile disappeared as she noticed Piemur bringing up the rear, as if such a scruffy apprentice shouldn't be in such good company.

Menolly introduces Piemur, and pleads for breakfast.

“Well, of course, you're hungry,” said Mirrim, breaking off her stern appraisal of Piemur to turn to the hearth. She filled cups and bowls and set them out on one of the small tables with such alacrity that Piemur changed his first, unflattering impression of her. “I can't stop long with you. You know how things are at the Weyr when there's a Hatching; so much to do. The important details you really have to see to yourself to be sure they're done right.” She flopped gracelessly into a chair with an exaggerated sigh of relief to underscore the weight of responsibility on her shoulders. Then she ran both hands through the fringe of brown hair on her forehead, ending the gesture with pats at the near plaits that hung down her back.

I'm never really sure what McCaffrey is intending to say with Mirrim. But I like her. I think it's pretty clear that she IS hard-working (we saw as much in Dragonsong) and while I understand why characters like Piemur or Sebell may be less impressed with her abrasiveness, she reminds me a lot of Lessa. I suppose I should credit McCaffrey with a bit of nuance here. Mirrim is a good person and there's never really any doubt of that, even if she is disagreeable at times.

“Is she a good friend of yours?” Piemur asked when the first edge of fire lizard hunger had been eased.

Sebell laughed, and Menolly made a rueful grimace.

“She's very good-hearted. Don't let her ways put you off.”

Piemur grunted. “They have.”

Sebell laughed again, offering Kimi a large chunk of meat so he could get a swallow of his klah while she struggled to chew. “Mirrim does take a bit of getting used to but, as Menolly says, she'll give you the shirt from her back...”

“Complaining all the time, I'll wager,” Piemur said.

Menolly actually defends Mirrim here:

Menolly's expression was solemn. “She was fosterling to Brekke, and Manora's always said that it was Mirrim's devoted nursing that helped Brekke live after her queen was killed.”

“Really?” That did impress Piemur, and he looked for Mirrim among the knot of women by the hearth as if this disclosure had caused her to change visibly.

“Don't, please don't judge her too quickly, Piemur,” said Menolly, touching his arm to emphasize her request.

“Well, of course, if you say so...”

It helps that I like Piemur a lot more than Jaxom. And it especially helps that, unlike in White Dragon, Menolly actually is being a good friend.

And indeed, when Menolly and Sebell (and Piemur, via Sebell volunteering him) offer to help, Mirrim changes completely:

“Oh, would you?” Suddenly the affected manners dropped, and Mirrim's scowl gave way to an incredulous smile of relief, illuminating her face and making her a very pretty girl. “If you would just set up those tables,” and she pointed to stacks of trestles and tops, “that'd be the greatest help!”

She was again summoned across the cavern and dashed off with a smile of such unaffected gratitude that Piemur stared after her in astonishment. Why did the girl act oddly? She was much nicer when she was just herself.

You know, this explains so much about Mirrim and Jaxom's relationship. When does Jaxom ever genuinely offer to help anyone?

Anyway, there's big news today: Felessan is on the Hatching Ground! Menolly wonders if he'll impress. T'gellan, who arrives suddenly, is absolutely certain he will.

Meanwhile, as a Mirrim fan, I am gratified by this:

Because Menolly had so stoutly championed Mirrim, Piemur kept an eye out for the girl as he and Sebell arranged the additional tables. He spotted Mirrim dashing from one hearth to another, called to assist in trussing wherries for roasting, herdbeasts for the spit. He watched her organize one group of youngsters to peel roots and tubers and another to laying the tables with utensils and platters. He decided that Mirrim had not been puffing up her responsibilities.

Thank you, Piemur.

So anyway, they go to the Hatching!

The Weyr Harper had kept them places in the tiers above the Hatching Ground, though, he informed them, his life had been threatened by Holders and Craftmasters. Piemur could see why as he settled down, for this was a. splendid position, in the second tier, close to the entrance so that the view of the entire Ground was clear. There was no queen egg for Ramoth to guard, so the Benden queen dragon was standing to one side of the ground, Lessa and F'lar on the ledge above her. Occasionally the enormous golden dragon looked up at her weyrmate, as if seeking assurance or, Piemur thought, consolation, since the eggs she had clutched were shortly to be taken from her care. The notion amused Piemur, for he'd never have ascribed maternal emotions to Benden's preeminent queen dragon. Certainly Ramoth with her yellow flashing eyes and restless foot-shifting, wing-rustling, was a far picture from the gentle concern female herdbeast or runners showed their offspring.

Aw, poor Ramoth. I'm reminded again of the theft of the Queen Egg in White Dragon and how NO ONE gave Lessa the sympathy she deserved. Hmph.

The hatching starts, and Piemur finds himself thinking about Menolly's promise to him, and hoping for a fire lizard one day. I really hate that there is any doubt about Menolly's ability to keep her promise. They're her damn eggs!

Anyway, they spot Felessan ("a leggy figure with such a luxuriant growth of dark curling hair that his head seemed oversized.") And honestly, I'm not completely sure how old Felessan is supposed to be. IIRC, Jaxom was eleven and Felessan was six in Dragonquest. If Piemur is fourteen, then Jaxom should be fifteen or sixteen. Which means Felessan should be ten or eleven.

THAT'S TOO YOUNG FOR THIS.

Ahem. Piemur notes that Felessan doesn't even look nervous. And eventually:

“Watch Felessan, Piemur! There's a bronze near him...” cried Mirrim, grabbing Piemur's arm in her excitement.

“And two browns and a blue,” added Menolly, scarcely less excited as she canted her body in a mental effort to direct the little bronze toward Felessan. “He deserves a bronze! He deserves one!”

“Only if the dragon wants him,” said Mirrim sententiously. “Just because he's the Weyrleader's son, “

“Shut up, Mirrim,” said Piemur, exasperated, clenching his fists, urging the Impression to occur.

I still resent that the smaller dragons are so unvalued. I'd be thrilled to get a blue dragon! (well, if mating flights weren't a thing.)

But anyway, Felessan unsurprisingly does get his bronze dragon. F'lar and Lessa are thrilled, of course. And then something that would be far more surprising if I hadn't read White Dragon happens. One little green hasn't impressed!

“Whatever is the matter with those boys?” demanded Mirrim, frowning with anxiety over the little green's pathetic wandering. She stood up, gesturing peremptorily to the candidates to close around the little green.

Just then the creature began to croon urgently and made directly for the steps that led up to the tiers.

“What is possessing her?” Mirrim asked no one in particular. She looked behind her accusingly, as if somehow a candidate might be hiding among the guests.

“She wants someone not on the Ground,” rang a voice from the crowd.

“She's going to hurt herself,” said Mirrim in an agitated mutter and pushed past the three people seated between her and the stairs. “She'll bruise her wings on the walls.”

The little green did hurt herself, slipping off the first step and banging her muzzle so sharply on the stone that she let out a cry of pain, echoed by a fierce bugle from Ramoth who began to move across the sands.

“Now, listen here, you silly thing, the boys you want are out there on the Ground. Turn yourself around and go back to them,” Mirrim was saying as she made her way down the steps to the little green. Her fire lizards, calling out in wildly ecstatic buglings, halted her. She stared for a long moment at the antics of her friends, and then, her expression incredulous, she looked down at the green hatchling determinedly attacking the obstacle of steps. “I can't!” Mirrim cried, so panic-stricken that she slipped on the steps herself and slid down three before her flailing hands found support. “I can't!” Mirrim glanced about her for confirmation. “I'm not supposed to Impress. I'm not a candidate. She can't want me!” Awe washed over the consternation on her face and in her voice.

“If it's you she wants, Mirrim, get down there before she hurts herself!” said F'lar, who had by now reached the scene, Lessa beside him.

“But I'm not, “

“It would seem that you are, Mirrim,” said Lessa, her face reflecting amusement and resignation. “The dragon's never wrong! Come! Be quick about it, girl. She's scraping her chin raw to get to you!

Aww. And I love how no-nonsense F'lar and Lessa are about it. The dragon wants her, the dragon gets her.

For his part, Piemur is having a spot of envy.

For one brief moment, Piemur had entertained the bizarre notion that maybe the little green dragon had been looking for him. A deep sigh fluttered through his lips, and a hand was laid gently on his shoulder. Schooling his expression, he turned to see Menolly watching him, a deep pity and understanding in her eyes.

“I promised you Turns ago that you'd have a fire lizard, Piemur. I haven't forgotten. I will keep that promise!”

I like this. It's a small moment, but it's a human one. And I really appreciate how Piemur is allowed to be childish, petty, or envious.

Anyway, Sebell thinks this might be a problem. Piemur asks why.

“Greens are fighting dragons,” began Sebell.

“In that case, Mirrim's well paired, isn't she?” asked Piemur with droll amusement.

“Piemur!”

Heheh.

So, endearingly, Piemur's still not sure what the problem is:

“Why?” asked Piemur again. “Just because she's a girl?”

“There won't be as much shock as there might be,” Sebell went on. “Jaxom's Impression of Ruth set a precedent.”

“It's not quite the same thing, Sebell,” Menolly replied. “Jaxom is a Lord Holder and has to remain so. And then the weyrmen did think the little white dragon mightn't live. And now he has, it's obvious he's never going to be a full-sized dragon. Not that he's needed in the Weyrs, but Mirrim is!”

“Exactly! And not in the capacity of green rider.”

“I think she'd make a good fighting rider,” said Pienmr, keeping the comment carefully under his breath.

a) Jaxom's case is completely different, and I dislike that he's given any implicit credit here. That little bastard gets to go back to his fucking kingdom, with his fucking dragon. A rich kid getting handed anything he could ever want is not remotely the same as being the first woman in centuries to bond with a fighting dragon.

b) I still don't think Jaxom needed to stay a Lord Holder. Give Lessa her fucking kingdom, damnit.

c) It's probably a measure of my hypocrisy that I'm not nearly as bothered by Piemur's dislike of Mirrim as I am by Jaxom's. But Piemur thinking she'd make a good fighting rider is FUNNY. Because it's true!

So anyway, Robinton happens to be there too, and he's discussing the matter with Oharan. He's also enthusiastically drinking Benden wine, because of course he is. (Hahah, alcoholism is funny!)

Anyway, the most interesting discussion topic among everyone is Mirrim's Impression:

There was, to be sure, considerable surprise that Mirrim had done so, but most of those queried found it to be no large affair. After all, they said, Mirrim was weyrbred, a fosterling of Brekke's, had Impressed three of the first fire lizards to be found at Southern, so her unexpected rise to dragonrider was at least consistent. Now Jaxom, who had to remain Lord of Ruatha, was a different case entirely. Piemur noticed that everyone was a good deal interested in the health of the little white dragon and, while they wished him the best, were just as pleased that he'd never make a full-sized beast. Evidently that made it easier for people to accept the fact that Ruth was being raised in a Hold instead of a weyr.

Hmph. I am annoyed that Jaxom gets to upstage Mirrim at her own milestone event. And I'm still boggled that Mirrim never got a book of her own.

Conversation then runs to Holdlessness, which is a major issue apparently, since many lads won't be able to find holdings of their own. I still feel like this can't be a new problem. Pern's been settled for millennia, but okay, whatever. Piemur also overhears one lord, Oterel, bitterly complaining: “Meron gets more than his share; we go without. Girls impress fighting dragons, and our lad stands on the Ground. Ridiculous!”

I'm playing the smallest violin for you.

So Piemur ends up falling asleep, and he's taken back to Harper Hall. When he wakes up, he finds himself sleeping on a rush bag in Sebell's room. Um, really? You guys couldn't take him to his own bed?

Anyway, he gets up, cleaned and dressed, and gets an unpleasant greeting from the other apprentices who grab him roughly and demand to know where he's been.

Menolly steps in:

“Why should he get it from Dirzan, Clell?” asked Menolly, quietly coming up behind the drum apprentices. “He's been on Harper business.”

“He's always getting off on Harper business,” replied Clell with unexpected anger, “and always with you!”

Menolly gives him "water rations" for insolence to a journeyman. She tells the others that they'll get the same if she hears that they've committed mischief against Piemur because of this. When they leave, she asks about the trouble he's been having but Piemur downplays it, contemplating how to get back at Clell for insulting Menolly.

Menolly knows him too well and says he'll get water rations himself if there's a scratch on Clell's face.

Piemur does get to see his friends after that, and shares the story of the Hatching. His friends warn him that Clell and company have been asking about him "in a funny sort of way". Actually, his friends are all pretty concerned. They think Piemur hasn't been the same but they can't really articulate why.

I like that Piemur's friends haven't forgotten him.

Later, at the end of the day, Piemur discovers one of the reasons that the apprentices were so vexed. Apparently they'd pulled a prank on him. It's not completely clear what they did, but everything smells like the necessary and his sleeping furs are disgustingly damp. Eww.

Dirzan, who appears because of the smell, excuses Piemur so he can attend to it, and Piemur gets his furs and new clothes to the washing room. Silvina finds him there and asks what he's doing. He's actually honest with her, because this prank actually really hurt his feelings. He was proud of his new clothes and is really upset that they were ruined.

Piemur tells her at least part of the problem: he gets to go to Gathers and Impressions and that he learns drum measures too fast.

Silvina is much more competent here than in Dragonsinger. She takes just the right note with a hurt, angry kid, by helping with the cleaning and pointing out how the joke was really on the other apprentices. They'd expected him back right after the Gather and therefore would have had to sleep in this disgusting stink for two nights. She warns him about Clell though, as he has a mean streak.

...so if you know that, why aren't you doing something about it?

Anyway, unfortunately for Piemur, Dirzan ends up reprimanding the others and put them on water rations "for three days" as well. Um, what are water rations? Because that sounds an awful lot like starvation and torture? Anyway, the apprentices do NOT warm up to Piemur after this.

And indeed, he's now being subjected to all sorts of nasty pranks: benches shoved into his shins, people stepping on his foot or sticking him in the ribs with their sticks, furs sewn together, clothes dipped into roof gutters...

Sadly, Piemur's drifting apart from his old friends too. They're still worried about him, and they're not buying his excuse that he's just changing because his voice is. Apparently his voice hasn't cracked in days.

(Sadly, by now Tilgin's got the part down, and it wouldn't sound the same with Piemur as a baritone. Piemur's so surprised that his voice cracks again. hee.)

Anyway, we're told that two weeks pass after the Hatching. Piemur isn't called away on any more missions. The Feast is coming up, and rather understandably, Piemur would prefer not to go. He and Menolly have a chat. She reassures him that Sebell is fine (he hasn't been around for a while), and asks about him up on the drumheights. Piemur again downplays his problems. The chapter ends with him thinking about how he can put up with it because of his work with Sebell and Menolly.

In a lot of ways, Ms. McCaffrey was probably right when she recommended reading this before White Dragon. Mirrim's Impression, for example, is a lot of fun. And this does build far more suspense with the Oldtimers.

But I think it would have been frustrating to read White Dragon after this too. For one thing, that utterly laughable "plot" of Jaxom being bullied by Dorse. Maybe it would have worked if we ever once SAW an instance. But we didn't. Instead, we're just told that poor prince Jaxom is being mocked and tormented by his peasant foster brother.

And this makes it more frustrating, because we can see with Piemur that McCaffrey IS capable of writing effective bullying scenes. Piemur is advantaged compared to the other kids, but he's put in a position where he can't use that advantage. He's vulnerable and the lowest man on the totem pole. The situation is very tense and believably escalating. I'm worried.

I think if I read Jaxom's plot after this, I'd be even more annoyed and frustrated because McCaffrey wasn't even trying there.