T’gellan was staring at her, but the other two riders were grinning broadly. Then Menolly saw that Mirrim, too, was smiling with delight More unbelievable to Menolly in her confusion, was the fact that a little brown fire lizard was perched on Mirrim’s shoulder, intently staring at Beauty who wouldn’t take her head out of Menolly’s hair.

“I’d like to hear the whole story, in sequence, one day,” Lessa said. “Right now, will you please keep your lot under control and with you? They’re upsetting Ramoth and all the others. Nine, eh?” And Lessa sighed, turning away. “When I think where I could use nine eggs to good purpose ... ”

“Please ... do you need more fire lizard eggs?”

Lessa whirled so fast that Menolly took an involuntarily backward step.

“Of course we need fire lizard eggs! Where have you been that you don’t know?” She turned on T’gellan. “You’re wingleader. Didn’t you inform all the sea holds?”

“Yes, I did, Lessa,” and T’gellan looked straight at Menolly now, “just about the time Menolly first disappeared from her hold. Right, Menolly? The sweep riders have been on the lookout for her ever since, but she was holed up snug as you please in that cave, with nine fire lizards.”

Menolly hung her head in despair.

“Please, Weyrwoman, don’t send me back to Half-Circle Hold!”

“A girl who can impress nine fire lizards,” said Lessa in a sharp rippling tone that made Menolly look up, “does not belong in a Sea Hold. T’gellan, find out from Menolly where that clutch is and secure it for us immediately. Let us fervently hope it hasn’t hatched.” To Menolly’s intense relief, Lessa actually smiled at her, obviously in a much improved temper. “Remember to keep those pesky creatures away from Ramoth. Mirrim can help you train them. Hers are quite useful now.”

She swept away, leaving the entire cavern breathless. Activity suddenly picked up on all sides of the kitchen. Menolly felt Mirrim pressing her into a chair, she sank weakly down. She found a cup of klah in her hands and heard T’gellan urging her to take a few sips.

“One’s first encounter with Lessa is apt to be unnerving.”

“She’s ... she’s so small,” Menolly said dazedly.

“Size is irrelevant.”

Menolly turned anxiously to Mirrim. “Did she really mean it? I can stay, Mirrim?”

“If you can impress nine fire lizards, you belong here. But why didn’t you tell me about them? Didn’t you see mine? I’ve only the three ... ”

T’gellan clicked his tongue at Mirrim, who stuck hers out at him.

“I told mine to stay in the cave ... ”

“And here we’ve been wracking our brains,” Mirrim went on, “accusing riders of hoarding eggs ...”

“I didn’t know you people needed fire lizards ... ”

“Mirrim, stop teasing her; she’s unnerved. Menolly, drink your klah and relax,” T’gellan told her.