Author's note: I know this is another short chapter. I've honestly been putting this one off, because I've been terrified of not doing Menolly or Robinton justice. Honestly, they may still be a little OOC. I apologize if they are.

Also, I'm currently writing the story as if time passes on Earth faster than it does on Pern - though that could also be a side effect of going between without the proper coordinates.

~Asukasammy

Since coming to the Harper Hall, Menolly had discovered that one of the benefits of being roomed near the Masterharper was that she was readily available if Robinton ever needed her for an errand - which was quite frequently, especially during her early days at the hall when Zair had first hatched. The downside was that if he stayed up late, she could hear him working away, polishing this new song or that, receiving messages from the harpers who worked in the field, or chatting with the masters over a glass of wine. The walls of the hall might be thick to protect against the threat of thread, but when his windows were wide open, the voices from his office could carry across the courtyard.

Over the turns, Menolly had learned to block most of the noise from his office and the rest of the hall out. If she didn't, she was too sleepy the following day to be of any use to anyone. But on a night like tonight, where it had been warm all day, and the room still felt stuffy even though all the windows had been thrown open to catch the evening breeze, it was impossible to sleep. As a result, she was still wide awake when she heard someone knock on the Masterharper's door even though it was at least a candlemark or two past midnight.

She sat up, sending firelizards scattering around the room, and started to dress in expectation that he might need her to fetch more wine, or some meatrolls from the kitchen. As she pulled on her shirt, over her breastband, she heard Robinton call for the visitor to enter. He must recognize them, and they must be friends, for he greeted them pleasantly.

Then she recognized Talmor's light tenor as her fellow journeyman replied to Robinton's welcome. He must have returned from the Gather then and was just now delivering his report, she thought as she buckled her belt. But the apprentices who had gone with him and Domick had been back since supper - where had they been?

And further more, why couldn't she hear Domick's bass replying to the Masterharper's questions? Instead there was a second, unfamiliar voice, answering him nervously. He stumbled over his words multiple times, backtracking, and starting over. All the while she could hear Robinton's voice growing colder and firmer. Whoever this man was, the Masterharper wasn't pleased with whatever he had to report.

As Menolly was lacing her boots on, Robinton's voice, clear as day, carried through her window. "So you are sure then - Domick fell off in between and there is no way to recover him?"

The journeywoman gasped, her blood turning cold as the Harper's words sunk in. Domick? Gone? That couldn't be possible. She could not imagine a vibrant life like his suddenly snuffed out. To think that she would never be able to play with him again, or hear his flute soaring above all the other instruments, or, shards, even have him tease her was impossible to understand. She was no stranger to loss. When Petiron had passed, he had been old and ill so it hadn't been a surprise when he had breathed his last even though it had hurt her deeply. Domick was still in the prime of his life though! And he had many years before the turns stole him away like they had done with Petiron.

"Yes, sir." The strange man's voice quavered under the Masterharper's fury. "Without any coordinates, there's no way for us to find him-"

"It couldn't have happened right before, or right after?" Robinton cut him off.

"No, sir. I felt him behind me and then when we came out, he was gone. Even if he didn't fall between, a fall from that height sir... there's no way he could have survived it. But we looked. We looked everywhere, and we couldn't find hide nor hair of him. It had to have happened while we were between."

"Take me to your Weyr."

"Sir?"

"Take me to your Weyr this very moment." Robinton snapped. "Your Weyrleader must be made aware of this grievous mistake."

"But sir!"

"A man is dead because of your incompetence, bluerider. A valued member of my hall is lost forever!"

"Perhaps," Talmor's tones were much calmer than the Masterharpers. "Perhaps, you should take the watchrider, sir."

"I fail to see why that is necessary. Even though he might be an addled brained weyrling, but his dragon seems to be competent."

"What if another strap snaps, sir? The hall couldn't afford to lose you too."

"I would never lose the Masterharper." The dragonrider snapped.

"But Domick was, somehow, replaceable?" Robinton still sounded cold and furious, but there was an underlying thread of exhaustion weaving through his words. It alarmed Menolly. Robinton never let anyone know when he was tired. Ever. Oh, he might pretend to be tired and doze off at gathers and hatchings every now and then, but he was never really sleeping. Not him. Usually she, Silvina, or Sebell had to force him to stop and take a rest.

Even though the Masterharper did not call for her, she opened her door and stepped out into the hall, ready to join him on his trip to the Weyr. The door to his own rooms swung inward, and he stormed out with the dragonrider and Talmor in his wake. He paused when he saw her. "Menolly, please let Silvina know that I will not need breakfast in the morning - I'm sure this meeting with the Fort Weyrleader will take up most of the day."

"Yes, sir." She nodded. He continued down the corridor, his bootheels ringing against the stone floors. She called out after him. "Is it true?"

He paused, turning to face her. "Is what true?"

"About Master Domick?" She gulped for breath. "Is he really gone?"

He stared at her, his expression grim. "We'll discuss that later. Get your rest."

"Yes, sir." She blinked rapidly against the tears that threatened to overwhelm her, but it was no use. They snuck out and betrayed her anyways.

The dragonrider didn't even bother to meet her gaze as he passed, but Talmor reached out and grasped her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. His own expression was just as grim, just as shellshocked as she imagined her own looked like.

As soon as they passed, she retreated back into her room again. She leaned against the door and slid down until she was sitting on the ground with her legs pulled up against her chest. It was true then. Domick really was gone. Lost forever in the darkness of between. She was dimly aware of her firelizards gathering around her, their sleek little bodies pressing against hers as they crooned. Beauty was especially insistent, rubbing her tiny face against Menolly's tearstained cheeks.

Gone. Menolly thought. He was gone. No more teasing. No more music. No more quartets. All lost due to a stupid stupid stroked her little queen, memories of the master composer flashing through her mind as she mourned him. Beauty chirped once, took flight, and then was gone. The firelizard blinked in between, probably going to fetch Silvina or something - which was good, she could use a bit of fellis to numb the pain.

But Beauty didn't come back that night, or the next.