“If you kiss him, then everyone will know,” Kindan whispered in Nuella’s ear.
“Good,” Nuella whispered back. She grabbed Zenor’s face and kissed him soundly on the lips. The gathered crowd roared with laughter at Zenor’s obvious surprise.
“Look after him, please,” Kindan begged her when Zenor managed to pull himself away, red-faced with embarrassment and joy.
“Haven’t I always?” Nuella replied. Then she frowned. “But Kindan, what about you?”
A figure separated itself from the shadows. “I think I may help.” It was Master Zist. “This is an official offer from the Master Harper of Pern,” he said, pressing a parchment into Kindan’s hands. Kindan unrolled it and nearly dropped it as he read the words.
“I may be a Harper?” he asked, eyes wide.
“Well, you will certainly have the opportunity to try,” Master Zist said with a smile. “No doubt they’ll be pumping you for all this lost lore on watch-whers.” He leaned in close to Kindan and said in a voice for his ears alone, “You will do fine, lad, just fine.”
“So, Kindan,” Natalon asked with interest, “what will you do?”
“I think I’ll sing,” the newest Harper of Pern replied.