Chapter 4 Summary

There are other chores at the minehold for Piemur to complete. Suddenly, one of Menolly's fire lizards swoops down, squawking at Piemur. Piemur calms Rocky down, telling him he is safe. Piemur convinces the head miner to give him a piece of hide on which to write a message. Piemur writes a cryptic message, "Errand completed. Emergency. Old Dragons." Piemur launches Rocky off with the message yelling at the lizard to go to Menolly and let her know that he found Piemur. The miners knowing that Piemur is a harper, asks him to sing. He tells them he lost his voice but finds a pan to beat on and talks through one of the new songs.

When Piemur returns to Harper Hall, Master Robinton asks if the message meant that he had run into some of the Oldtimers. Piemur confirms and describes his...