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pastry, "they're every bit as good as you said, Piemur."
"Say," and Piemur eyed her through narrowed lids, "maybe you'd better bargain
the next lot out of Palim."
"I couldn't eat another ..."
- "Oh, not now. Later."
"It'll be my treat then."
"Sure thing!" He agreed with such amiability that
Menolly decided that she'd taken the bait, hook and all.
"First," he went on, "let's find the tanner's stall." He took her by the hand
and Camo by the sleeve and hauled them down the row. "So you're really Master
Robinton's apprentice? Wow! Wait'll I tell the others! I told 'em you would
be."
"I don't understand you."
Piemur shot her a startled look. "He did say that you
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were his apprentice when he gave you that two-marker, didn't he?"
"He'd told me I was before today, but I didn't think that was unusual. Aren't
all the apprentices in the Hall bis apprentices? He's the Masterharper . .."
"You sure don't understand." Piemur's glance was one of undiluted pity for her
denseness. "Every master has a few special apprentices ... I'm Master
Shonagar's. That's why I'm always running his errands. I don't know how they
did it in your Sea Hold, but here, you get taken in as a general apprentice.
If you turn out to be specially good at something, like me at voice, and
Brolly at making instruments, the Master of that craft takes you on as a
special apprentice, and you report to him for extra train-
ing and duties. And if he's pleased with you, he'll give you the odd mark to
spend at a gather. So ... if Master
Robinton gave you a two-marker, he's pleased with you, and you're his special
apprentice. He doesn't tap many."
Piemur shook his head slowly from side to side, with a
soft emphatic whistle. "There's been lots of heavy bet-
ting in the dorm as to who he'd pick since Sebell took his walk as journeyman
. . . not that Sebell doesn't still look to the Masterharper even if he is a
rank up ... but
Ranly was so sure he'd be tapped."
"Is that why Ranly doesn't like me?"
Piemur dismissed that with a gesture. "Ranly never had a chance, and the only
one who didn't know that was
Ranly! He thinks he's so good. Everyone else knew that
Master Robinton was hoping to find you . . . the one who'd written those
songs! Look, there's the tanner's stall.
And just spy that beautiful blue belt. It's even got a fire lizard for a
buckle tongue!" He'd pulled her up and lowered his voice for the last words.
"And blue! You let me bargain, hear?"
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Before she could agree, Piemur approached the stall, acting casually, glandng
over the tabards, soft shoes and boots displayed, apparently oblivious to the
belt he'd just indicated to Menolly.
"They've got some blue boot hide, Menolly," he said, to her.
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Knowing the shrewdness Piemur had already displayed, Menolly followed his cue,
and, glancing at the tanner for permission, touched the thick wherry leather.
She could see the belt over his shoulder, and the tongue had been fashioned
like a slim fire lizard.
"Now, don't tell me you have money in your trous, short stuff," the tanner
journeyman said to Piemur and then peered uncertainly at Menolly's cropped
hair,
trousers and apprentice badge.
"Me? No, but she's buying. Her slippers are a disgrace."
The tanner did look down, and Menolly wanted to hide her scuffed footwear.
"This is Menolly," Piemur went on, blithely unaware of the embarrassment he
was causing her. "She's got nine fire lizards, and she's Master Robinton's new
apprentice."
Wondering what on earth was possessing Piemur, she glanced anywhere but at the
curious journeyman. She caught a glimpse of bright filmy materials, and richly
decorated tunics. She steadied her gaze and saw Pona, her arm through a tall
lad's. He was wearing the yellow of Fort Hold and the shoulder knot of the
Lord Holder's family. Behind Pona came Briala, Amania and Audiva, each of the
girls escorted by a well-dressed youth, fos-
terlings of Lord Groghe's to judge by the different hold colors and rank
knots.
"Here, Menolly, what do you think of this hide?" asked
Piemur.
"And be sure she has the marks for it," said Pona, pausing. Her voice was too
smooth to be insulting, and yet her manner gave her words an offensive ring.
"For
I'm certain she's only wasting your time and will finger your wares dirty.
Whereas I want to commission you to make me some soft shoes for the summer . .
." She held up a well-filled waist pouch.
"She's got two marks," Piemur said, turning to chal-
lenge Pona, his eyes flashing with anger.
"If she does, she stole it," replied Pona, abandoning
her indolent manner. "She'd nothing on her when she was still permitted to
live in the cot."
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"Stolen?" Menolly felt herself tensing with fury at the totally unexpected
accusation.
"Stolen, nothing!" Piemur replied hotly. "Master Rob-
inton gave it to her this morning!"
"I claim insult from you, Pona," cried Menolly, her hand on her belt knife.
"Benis, she's threatening me!" Pona cried, clinging to her-escort's arm.
"Now, see here, apprentice girl. You can't insult a lady of the Holders. You
just hand over that mark piece,"
' said Benis, gesturing peremptorily to Menolly.
"Menolly, don't take insult," Audiva pushed her way past the others and
grabbed her arm, restraining her. "It's what she wants."
"Pona's given me too many insults, Audiva."
"Menolly, you mustn't "
"Get the mark, Benis," Pona said in a hiss, "Make her pay for threatening mel"
"Out of the way, Benis, whoever you are," said Me-
nolly. "Pona has to answer for the insults she gives, lady holder or not."
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Menolly moved sideways, countering
Pona's attempt to evade her.
"Benis, she can be dangerous! I told you sol" Pona's voice went up in a
frightened, breathless squeak.
"You mustn't, Menolly," Audiva said, catching Me-
nolly's sleeve. "She wants you to ... Piemur, help me!"
"Don't you dare, Audiva!" Pona's voice was now edged with angry malice. "Or
I'll settle you good as well."
"Come, girl, the money. Hand it over and we'll say no more about attempted
insult . . ." said Benis in a patronizing tone.
"Pona's insulted Menolly!" cried Piemur indignantly.
"Just because you're a "
"Close your mouth!" Benis wasted no courtesies on
Piemur. He took a stride to close the distance between himself and Menolly,
his jaw set in a disagreeable grin as he disdainfully measured the three
slight and defiant adversaries.
Pona gave a little squeal as Benis left her standing on
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her own. Then, another as Menolly, stepping away from
Benis, made a lunge at her, trying to catch her long plaited hair.
"Hey, now just a minute, you," said the tanner in a loud voice, sensing an
imminent fight. He ducked under the counter of his stall, emerging into the
walkway. "This is a gather, not a ..."
Benis was quick on his feet, too, and he grabbed Me-
nolly by the shoulder, spinning her toward him and
securing her left arm, which he immediately twisted up behind her. With a cry
of triumph, Pona darted forward, her hands busy with Menolly's belt pouch.
Piemur sprang to Menolly's assistance, lacking Benis in the shins and grabbing
Pona by the hair. The kick made Benis loosen his hold on Menolly's arm. With a
strength developed by
Turns o£ hauling and handling heavy nets, she wrenched free of his grasp,
dancing out of his way.
"I settle Ponal" She shouted to Piemur, beckoning him away.
"Benis, save me!" Pona screamed, rushing to die young
Holder, but Piemur was still hanging onto her plait.
Benis let fly a kick at Piemur, tripping him up and added another one to the
ribs as the boy measured his length in the dust.
"Leave him alone!" Forgetting her quarrel with Pona, Menolly launched herself
at Benis. Putting shoulder and body behind her fist, she drove it right into
Benis's face.
He staggered back, roaring in outrage and pain. One of the other fosterlings
came charging forward, fist cocked to slam Menolly, but Audiva hung onto his
arm.
"Viderian! Menolly's a seaholder! Help us!"
Startled, her escort bounded in to help Audiva, just as Menolly ducked under
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