Anne Mccaffrey_ Dragonriders of Pern 20 by Dragon Harper Page A

has seen the error of his ways,” Detallor agreed, his face set in a wry smile.
    “We shall keep an eye on him, all the same,” Murenny said. Kindan noticed the way the Masterharper regarded him and felt that there was something that remained unspoken.
    “I had three older brothers,” Kindan said. “I won’t treat him badly.”
    “Good,” Murenny said. “Let me know if you need any help.”
    “I won’t need it,” Kindan told him. The Masterharper raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
    Kindan explained, “Vaxoram lost, fair and square. He won’t cause trouble now.”
    “You seem quite certain,” M’tal observed.
    “He’s acknowledged his loss in front of the whole hall,” Kindan said.
    “But he tried to attack you again!” M’tal protested.
    “I’d be worried if he hadn’t,” Kindan replied. “Now, he knows for certain that I’ll beat him, so he won’t try.”
    “You’re saying that now that he knows his place, he won’t cause any more trouble?” Murenny suggested.
    “Yes,” Kindan replied.
    Murenny pursed his lips, his eyes half-closed in thought. Finally he looked up at Kindan and nodded. “I think you have a good understanding of his character,” he said. He wagged a finger warningly at Kindan as he added, “Make sure you don’t forget.”
    “I won’t, Master,” Kindan said. Taking the Masterharper’s nod for a dismissal, he turned to M’tal. “Thank you for helping me.”
    M’tal snorted. “Do you think you were the only one I was helping?”
    Kindan shook his head. “Thank you for helping my friends, and Vaxoram.”
    M’tal nodded. “You’re welcome.”
    With a final nod, Kindan left the room. Just after he closed the door, he heard Murenny’s voice carrying clearly: “Zist will want to know.”
    Master Zist had been the harper at Kindan’s mining home, and the one who had recommended him to the Harper Hall. Since he had been at the Harper Hall, Kindan had learned that Master Zist was respected by all the Masters, this information usually being relayed in the form of a groaning question, “And you are
sure
that Master Zist recommended you, Kindan?”

    “Verilan’s much better,” Kelsa filled Kindan in at lunchtime. “He’ll be so disappointed that he didn’t get to watch the fight.” She cast her eyes toward Vaxoram, who sat at the end of their table, eating distractedly. She glanced over to Kindan, her expression making it plain that she wished he hadn’t invited Vaxoram to sit with them. Kindan gave her the merest frown in reply and gestured for her to continue with her story.
    “He’s still coughing a bit,” Nonala said, not missing any of their exchange of expressions. Her glance toward Vaxoram was thoughtful, almost pitying. “But Master Lenner says he’ll be released later on today.”
    “What herbals did he get?” Kindan asked, mentally developing his own list of herbals. At the beginning of his second year at the Harper Hall, Kindan had been offered the chance to become a healer and declined, feeling that he wasn’t suited for the duties. He’d meant it when he’d said that he didn’t want to be a healer, but he also knew that harpers had to know some healing: They were often called upon to assist the local healer or expected to provide remedies when no healer was available.
    As Nonala recited the list in a singsong fashion, Kindan could see Kelsa nodding approvingly and only once frowning, as though she would have ordered the words more melodically. Kindan wondered when “Herbs for Colds” would be sung around the Harper Hall.
    “That sounds like ‘Minor Green Dragon,’” Vaxoram murmured.
    “Pardon?” Nonala asked, turning to him in surprise.
    “It’s a song I learned,” Vaxoram said, looking at her uncomfortably. “It talks about different herbs and what they treat. One decoction is Minor Green Dragon—it’s used for minor colds and coughs.”
    “Could you sing it to me?” Kelsa asked. Vaxoram started to answer, then turned to