“Ah, now that would be greedy of me, wouldn’t it?” He rubbed his face thoughtfully and gave her a wry half-smile. “All things considered, though, I’d be heartily embarrassed if Sebell—my Journeyman is to have possession of the other egg—secured a queen instead. But ... ” and he threw his long figured hand upwards to signify his submission to chance. “Are you waiting here for some purpose? Or is the confusion on the other side of the Bowl too much for all your friends?”

“I should be there. The clutch must be turned; the eggs are hi warm sand by the hearth; but T’gellan brought me into the Hatching Cavern and told me to wait ... ”

“And seems to have forgot you. Not surprising, considering today’s surprises.” The man hastily cleared his throat and extended his hand to her.

She accepted his aid because she couldn’t have risen without it. He had taken three strides when he realized that she wasn’t keeping up with him. Politely he turned. Menolly tried to walk normally, a feat she managed for about three strides when her heel came down so painfully on a patch of pebbles that she involuntarily cried out. Beauty whirled, scolding fiercely, and Rocky and Diver added their antics, which were of no help to anyone.

“Here’s my arm, girl. Were you too long on the hot sands? Ah now, wait. You’re a long child, but there’s no meat on your bones.”

Before Menolly could protest, he’d swung her up into his arms and was carrying her across the Bowl.

“Tell that queen of yours I’m helping you,” he asked when Beauty disordered his silvering hair, diving at him. “After sober reflection, be sure you give me green eggs.”

Beauty was too excited to harken to Menolly, so she had to wave her arms about his head and face to protect him. It was not astonishing then that their approach to the kitchen caverns attracted attention; but people made way so politely, bowing to them with such deference, that Menolly began to wonder who the man was. His tunic was a gray cloth with just a band of blue, so he must be a harper of some sort; probably weyrbound to Fort Weyr to judge by the yellow arm device.

“Menolly, did you hurt your feet?” Felena appeared before them, curious at the flurry of excitement “Didn’t T’gellan remember you? He’s got no memory, drat the man. How good of you to rescue her, sir!”

“Think nothing of it, Felena. I discovered she was custodian of the fire lizard eggs. However, if you happened to have a cup of wine ... This is thirsty work.”

“1 can stand, really I can, sir,” Menolly protested, for something in Felena’s manner told her that this man was too important to be toting sore-footed girls. “Felena, I couldn’t stop him.”