amc.masterharperofpern-第18部分

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to　him。
　　　〃But　I　could　still　be　a　harper；　couldn't　I？〃　He　hadn't　had　a　definitive　answer　to　that　question　from　the　dragons。　Maybe　his　mother　would　know。
　　　〃I　think　that　depends　on　many　things；〃　she　said；　drying　her　eyes；　and　suddenly　she　seemed　more　like　herself。　〃Like　if　there's　a　clutch　when　you're　the　right　age。　Dragons　don't　have　as　many　eggs　during　an　Interval；　you　see；　and　you're　only　Impressionable　until　you're　twenty；　and　the　weyrbred　have　preference。　At　least　you'll　get　to　understand　more　about　the　Weyrs；　and　that's　all　to　the　good。〃
　　　Again　her　remark　was　not　meant　for　him；　but　he　didn't　mind　because　he'd　like　to　know　more　about　the　Weyrs。　The　abandoned　Fort　Weyr　was　forbidden　by　order　of　Lord　Grogellan。　That　might　have　been　one　reason　why　every　boy　had　to　go　up　there　alone　for　a　night　when　he　turned　twelve；　or　he'd　be　considered　cowardly。
　　　〃Will　I　be　able　to　visit　the　Weyr？〃　Robinton　asked　eagerly。　That　way；　he'd　know　what　a　Weyr　was　like；　and　then　an　empty　one　wouldn't　be　as　scary。
　　　〃I　think　that's　likely。　One　of　the　reasons　I'm　here　is　to　help　C'gan；　their　current　Weyrsinger。　He　desperately　wants　more　training。〃　His　mother　gave　a　little　laugh。　〃I'll　be　so　busy　I　won't。。。〃　She　broke　off　and　stood　up。　〃Well；　let's　get　ourselves　settled　in；　shall　we？　Or　are　you　hungry　enough　to　sample　what's　here？〃
　　　Robinton　had　spotted　the　large　selection　of　sweet　biscuits　and　pointed。
　　　〃Well；　just　two　of　them；　so　as　not　to　spoil　your　appetite。　I'll　have　one；　too　…　they　smell　so　good。　Fresh。。。　every　bit　as　good　as　Lorra　makes。〃　And　she　chattered　on　as　she　insisted　on　helping　him　put　his　things　away。　〃I　didn't　want　to　overload　the　dragon；〃　she　said；　〃so　I　didn't　bring　everything　you　own；　love；　but　your　newest　drum　and　pipes　。。。　we've　my　guitar　to　practice　on；　and　maybe　we　can　get　enough　wood　for　you　to　start　your　own；　because　I　know　Master　Bosler　said　you　could　start　preparing　the　wood；　which　takes　most　of　the　time　it　takes　to　make　a　guitar；　you　know。　I'm　sure　we　can　find　gut　for　strings　when　the　time　es　to　do　that　step。　And　your　new　Gather　clothes；　because　they　entertain　quite　a　bit　here　at　Benden；　Lord　Maidir　and　Lady　Hayara　being　so　popular　on　this　coast。　There's　a　schoolroom；　too；　so　we'll　just　leave　these　in　the　carisak　now；　shall　we？　Now；　that's　done　and　you　can　help　me。〃
　　　As　he　did；　Robinton　realized　that　his　mother　hadn't　brought　many　of　her　own　clothes。　Only　one　Gather　dress　and　one　of　the　long；　fine　dresses　she'd　use　when　she　gave　concerts。　And　while　she　had　lots　of　new　musical　scores；　mainly　the　ones　she'd　teach　from；　there　was　nothing　in　his　father's　familiar　broad　script。　That　was　odd。　His　stomach　felt　a　little　queasy　suddenly；　and　it　wasn't　from　eating　the　sweet　biscuits。
　　　〃Mother；　will　Father　e　visit　us？〃
　　　She　paused；　her　back　to　him　at　that　moment；　then　slowly　turned；　her　expression　unusually　bleak。
　　　〃That　will　be　up　to　your　father；　Robinton；〃　she　said；　and　turned　back　to　fuss　with　the　things　in　the　top　drawer　of　the　chest。　〃Likely　he'll　e　to　the　Spring　Gather　here　at　Benden；〃　she　added　in　a　totally　different　tone　of　voice；　as　if　it　made　no　difference　to　her　at　all。　〃Now；　let's　wash　up；　shall　we？　I　think　that　soon　enough　it'll　be　time　to　eat。〃　She　gestured　towards　the　fading　light　and　then　pulled　the　heavy　curtains　across　each　of　the　narrow　windows；　as　if　shutting　out　more　than　the　end　of　this　day。
　　　At　dinner　that　night；　Robinton　had　a　place　with　the　Hold　children：　it　was　a　crowded　table　for　his　age　group　…　he　counted　twenty…four　…　but　Falloner　had　held　a　place　for　Robinton　beside　him。
　　　〃No；　you　got　to　take　his　things　up；〃　one　of　the　Holder　boys　said；　rushing　to　crowd　into　the　space　on　Robinton's　right。　〃Mother　said　we've　all　got　to　make　him　feel　at　home；　and　you　had　your　chance。〃
　　　〃Rob　and　I　are　friends；〃　Falloner　said　loftily；　〃but　you　can　sit　on　the　other　side；　Hayon。　He's　Lady　Hayara's　oldest　son；〃　he　added；　and　started　naming　everyone　at　their　end　of　the　table。　〃Rasa's　beside　him；　then　there's　Naprila；　Anta；　Jonno；　and　Drevalla　on　the　other　side。〃
　　　Robinton　had　a　moment　to　glance　up　at　the　head　table　where　his　mother　sat　beside　Lord　Maidir；　with　Raid　on　her　other　side　and　Maizella　by　her　stepmother。
　　　〃They　got　graduated　off　the　younglings'　table　last　year；〃　Falloner　said　with　a　sniff。　He　took　the　bread　and　board　from　the　serving　drudge　and　started　cutting　neat　slices　from　the　loaf；　flipping　them　from　the　knife　point　up　and　down　this　end　of　the　table　until　everyone　had　a　piece。　〃Stew；　I　betcha；〃　he　added。　His　bet　was　a　fair　one；　because　the　next　thing　to　e　was　a　big　pot。
　　　〃My　turn；〃　Anta　said；　standing　up　and　grabbing　the　ladle　before　he　could。
　　　〃Fair　enough；　only　don't　slop；〃　he　said；　sitting　down　again　and　shoving　a　friendly　elbow　into　Robinton's　side　as　he　grinned。
　　　The　upper　table　was　not　receiving　stew；　Robinton　noted；　but　bowls　of　soup　first　and　then　slices　of　what　looked　like　wherry；　sauces；　dishes　of　vegetables；　and　individual　loaves　of　bread。　He　also　noticed　that　his　mother　was　mushing　her　food　around　her　plate　instead　of　eating；　although　she　was　talking　to　both　father　and　son　and　seemed　her　usual　self。　Except　she　didn't　smile　as　much　as　she　usually　did　at　the　head　table　in　the　Harper　Hall；　and　he　didn't　hear　her　laugh　once。　The　stew　was　good；　and　so　was　the　bread；　and　he　was　hungry。　And　the　'afters'　served　at　their　table　were　small　cakes　and　fruit　which　disappeared　with　amazing　rapidity；　though　Robinton　didn't　see　them　all　eaten　at　the　table。　Maybe　his　mother　was　getting　special　treatment　what　with　her　being　MasterSinger；　which　he　felt　was　only　right　and　proper。　Especially　as　he　was　getting　specials；　too。
　　　His　mother　sang；　too；　after　the　head　table　finished　eating。　And　there　were　good　voices　joining　in　the　choruses；　so　he　wondered　why　Benden　Hold　would　need　a　MasterSinger　of　his　mother's　standing。　A　good　journeyman　would　have　done　as　well。　No；　she　was　also　here　to　teach　Maizella　and　help　C'gan。　Robinton　wrinkled　his　nose：　it　was　obvious　from　the　loud　way　the　girl　was　singing　that　she　thought　her　voice　was　good。　It　wasn't　bad；　he　had　to　admit；　but　she　didn't　need　to　shriek　and　she　hadn't　much　breath　control。
　　　His　mother　sang　only　four　songs；　though；　and　smiled　and　nodded　encouragingly　when　instruments　appeared　and　she　gestured　for　the　musicians　to　e　forward　into　a　unit　closer　to　the　head　table。
　　　There　were　two　guitarists；　a　tall；　pale　older　man　and　a　younger　one　who　looked　sufficiently　like　the　older　to　be　son　or　nephew；　one　violinist　who　played　with　his　instrument　held　on　his　knee　instead　of　under　his　chin；　but　his　fingering　was　very　good；　a　woman　playing　flute；　two　pipers；　both　young；　and　a　drummer　who　had　the　sense　to　keep　to　a　mute　beat。　Of　course；　when　Merelan　gestured　encouragingly；　the　rest　of　the　Hold　sang　the　choruses　to　her　first　song。　The　harmonies　weren't　bad　either；　Robinton　decided；　though　he　didn't　sing　out　as　he　would　have　done　back　in　the　Hall。　Falloner　sang　lustily　in　a　good　strong　alto　treble；　however；　as　did　all　the　other　younglings　at　the　table　…　showing　off　to　him；　probably；　but　Robinton　was　used　to　how　new…e　apprentices　to　the　Harper　Hall　acted；　so　he　pretended　not　to　notice。
　　　〃It　doesn't　cost　any　marks　to　be　gracious；　no　matter　where　you　are　or　what　you're　doing；〃　his　mother　was　always　saying。　〃No　singer　of　a　professional　calibre　would　think　of　drowning　out　other　singers；〃　was　another　point　she　often　made　…　especially　when　she　had　been　having　all　that　trouble　with　Halanna。　He　hoped　Maizella　wouldn't　be　as　difficult。
　　　Although　he　knew　all　the　words；　Robinton　didn't　sing　along　with　Merelan　in　the　new　song　she　presented　as　her　final　one　of　this　evening。　Then　she　sweetly　begged　to　be　excused　for　such　a　short　programme；　but　promised　she　would　be　more　forthing　when　she'd　caught　up　with　Benden　time。
　　　She　sat　down　to　very　enthusiastic　applause　and　shouting。
　　　Falloner　then　nudged　Robinton　and　rose。　〃Can　you　find　your　way　back　to　your　room；　Rob？〃　he　asked。　〃That　was　the　signal　for　us　to　get　out　of　the　Hall　and　let　the　adults　have　it　to　themselves。〃
　　　Lady　Hayara　had　risen　too；　and　gestured　towards　the　younglings　so　that　they　all　obediently　rose　and　started　to　leave　the　Hall。　His　mother　caught　his　eye　and　motioned　him　to　wait　for　her。
　　　〃I'll　go　up　with　Mother；〃　Rob　said；　though　he　would　have　liked　more　time　to　ask　Falloner　questions。
　　　〃You're　lucky；〃　Falloner　said　under　his　breath。　〃A　room　of　your　own。　I　have　to　sleep　with　a　half　a　dozen。　Oh；　well；　I　did　at　the　Weyr　too；〃　he　added　in　a　philosophical　tone。　〃I'll　see　you　tomorrow；　I　'spect。〃
　　　〃Thanks；　Falloner；〃　Robinton　said；　a　little　shy　but　earnest　in　his　thanks。　Falloner　grinned　a　response　as　he　started　herding　some　of　the　younger　ones　ahead　of　him　towards　the　inner　staircase。
　　　Robinton　never　did　find　out　from　his　mother　the　real　reason　for　their　precipitous　departure　from　the　Harper　Hall；　but　he　did　learn　that　no　one　at　Benden　Hold　had　ever　expected　the　famous　MasterSinger　to　e　there。　And　because　she　curbed　the　loudness　of　Maizella's　rather　good　basic　voice；　she　was　very　wele　indeed　…　not　just　by　the　girl's　disenchanted　half…brothers　and　sisters；　but　by　many　of　the　adults　who　resided　in　the　Hold。　Lord　Maidir　was　a　good　man；　and　generally　fair；　but　he　adored　his　daughter　Maizella；　who　at　sixteen　hadn't　the　wisdom　or　mon　sense　that　characterized　her　brother　Raid。　Robie　found　Raid　a　bit　stuffy　and　prim；　but　he　had　inherited　his　father's　sense　of　fair　play　and　would　take　criticism　from　any　of　the　more　senior　members　of　the　large　group　of　people　who　managed　the　big　Holding。　Unlike　his　sister；　he　was　popular。　And　there　was　a　discreet　understanding　that　Hayon；　Rasa　and　Naprila；　the　older　of　Lady　Hayara's　children；　were　to　be　protected　from　Maizella；　who　either　teased　them　outrageously　or　ignored　them　as　the　fancy　took　her。　Inured　to　such　tactics　as　Robinton　was；　having　survived　Halanna's　antics；　he　learned　to　smile　and　keep　his　tongue　in　his　mouth。　He　had　some　sort　of　revenge　a　little　later　when　his　mother　required　Maizella　to　sing　duets　with　him。　He　knew　he　had　a　good　treble　voice　and　had　been　more　than　adequately　trained　by　Washell　as　well　as　his　mother。　In　fact；　he　would　have　step