Menolly slipped through the busy kitchen, countering orders flung at her by various other women who saw in her a capable assistant at their own tasks. Menolly merely brandished the sack and proceeded down to the water rooms. There some of the older but still able women were busily sand-scouring the best metal plates and trays.

“I must have one basin for the greens, auntie,” said Menolly, pushing up to the rank of stone sinks.

“Greens is easier on old skin than sand,” said one of the women in a quavering, long-suffering voice and promptly deposited her pile of plates into the sink beside her and pulled her plug.

“More sand in greens than cleaning,” another woman remarked in an acid tone.

“Yes, but take it off greens,” said the obliging one. “Oh, what a lovely mess of yellow-veins, too. Where did you find them this time of year, daughter?”

“Halfway to Nerat.” Menolly suppressed her grin at their startled shrieks of dismay. The furthest they’d stir from the Hold was the ledge in front on a sunny day.

“With Thread falling? You naughty girl!”

“Did you hear about the sail?”

“Who do you suppose?”

“The new Harper, who else?” There was a wild chorus of cackling laughs and great wonderings about the appearance of the new Harper.

“They always send a young one here.”

“Petiron was old.”

“He got that way. Same as we did!”

“How would you remember?”

“Why not? I’ve lived through more Harpers than you have, my girl.”

“You have not! I came here from Red Sands in Ista ... ”

“You were born at Half-Circle, you old fool, and I birthed you!”

“Ha!”

Menolly listened to the four old women arguing back and forth until she heard her mother demanding to know if the greens had been washed. And where were the good plates and how was she to get anything done with all the gossip?

Menolly found a sieve large enough to hold the washed greens and brought them up for her mother’s inspection.

“Well, that’ll be enough for the head table,” Mavi said, poking at the glistening mound with her fork. Then, she stared at her daughter. “You can’t appear like that Here you, Bardie, take the greens and put the dressing on them. The one in the brown flask on the fourth shelf in the cool room. You, Menolly, have the goodness to get yourself sandfree and decently dressed. You’re to attend Old Uncle. The moment he opens his mouth, shove something into it or well be hearing him all night long.”

Menolly groaned. Old Uncle smelled almost as much as he chattered.

“Sella’s much better handling him, Mavi ... ”

“Sella’s to attend head table. You do as you’re told and be grateful!” Mavi fixed her rebellious daughter with a stern eye, tacitly reminding her of her disgrace. Then Mavi was called away to check a sauce for the baking fish.