amc.masterharperofpern-第21部分

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honour　all　dragons　and　their　riders。〃
　　　Five　days　later　a　green　rider　came　with　an　invitation　for　the　MasterSinger　and　her　son　to　dine　at　the　Weyr　and；　if　she　would　be　so　kind；　to　bring　some　of　the　new　music　that　had　been　heard　in　Benden　Hold。
　　　Robinton　was　never　sure　if　it　was　because　he　had　sung　the　Question　Song　or　because　the　Weyrleaders　wanted　his　mother　to　sing　more　for　them。
　　　〃Of　course　it　means　I'm　to　sing；　love；〃　she　said；　grinning　at　her　son；　〃so　we'll　take　instruments　with　us。　But　I'm　glad　that　you've　been　invited；　too。　I've　wanted　you　to　see　Benden　Weyr。〃　She　paused　and　then　winked　conspiratorially　at　him。　〃Then；　when　you　have　to　spend　the　night　up　at　Fort　Weyr；　you　won't　be　the　least　bit　scared。〃
　　　〃How　did　you　know　about　that？〃　The　apprentices　did　not　tell　anyone；　certainly　not　the　girls。
　　　Merelan　chuckled。　〃There's　a　lot　that　goes　on　in　the　Hall　that　is　known　but　not　talked　about；　lovey。　Not　that；　for　a　single　moment；　I　would　think　you'd　be　frightened　of　just　an　empty　place。〃
　　　Robinton　puffed　out　his　chest。　〃But　aren't　all　the　Weyrs　different？〃
　　　Merelan　considered　this。　〃Yes；　and　in　fact　there　are　maps　of　the　interiors　lodged　in　the　Archives　。。。　or　should　be。　Another　thing　that　I　must　check　on　when　we　get　back。〃
　　　〃When　are　we　going　back；　Mother？〃　Not　that　he　really　wanted　to；　if　he　was　being　honest　with　himself。　He　really；　truly　liked　it　here　at　Benden；　and　especially　Falloner。　He　had　never　had　a　best　friend　before。
　　　He　felt　his　mother　smoothing　his　hair。　〃Do　you　miss　the　Hall？〃　she　asked。
　　　〃Not　when　I　get　my　lessons　from　you；〃　he　said；　grinning　up　at　her。　〃You're　harder　on　me　than　Master　Washell　or　Kubisa。〃
　　　〃I　am；　am　I？〃
　　　〃And　it's　great　to　have　you　to　myself；〃　he　added　and　felt　her　hand　hesitate。
　　　〃But　you　don't；　Robie；〃　she　said；　and　her　voice　sounded　so　funny　that　he　looked　up　at　her　to　see　why。　He　caught　the　hint　of　her　frown。
　　　〃You　share　me　with　Benden　Hold　and　all　its　students。〃
　　　He　thought　that　over　for　a　moment。　〃Yes；　but　it's　not　the　same。〃
　　　〃No；　it　isn't；〃　she　said　very　slowly。　〃However；　you　and　I　must　do　some　practicing　so　we'll　show　them　our　mettle。〃
　　　Later；　Robinton　told　Falloner　about　the　invitation。　〃Will　you　be　ing　up　too？〃　he　asked；　practically　dancing　in　his　delight。
　　　〃Me？　No；　why　should　I　be？〃　〃But　。。。　but。。。　but。。。〃
　　　Falloner　dismissed　the　'but'　with　an　indifferent　hand　and　a　wry　grin。　〃I'm　lucky　to　be　down　here　at　the　Hold。　I　lost　my　birth　mother　when　I　was　born；　and　my　foster…mother　died　of　a　fever　the　healer　couldn't　cool　down；　and　there's　no　one　up　there　I　want　to　see。〃
　　　〃Not　even　your　father？〃
　　　Falloner　cocked　his　head　at　his　friend。　〃No　more　than　you　want　to　see　yours。〃
　　　〃I　never　said　anything　like　that。。。〃
　　　〃But　you　never　mention　him；　do　you？　So　you　don't　miss　him；　do　you？　Besides；　I　prefer　to　stay　out　of　Carola's　way；　and　Lady　Hayara's　fairer　to　me　than　even　Stolla。。。〃　His　voice　altered　to　a　kinder　tone。　〃But　she's　nice；　even　being　headwoman　in　the　Lower　Cavern　and　all。　She　the　one　who　made　S'loner　send　me　down　here　until　it　cooled　off。。。〃　He　stopped　short；　making　a　horrible　grimace　as　if　he'd　let　his　mouth　run　away　with　him。
　　　〃What　cooled　off？〃
　　　Falloner's　expression　turned　to　bland　innocence。　〃Cooled　what　off？〃
　　　〃You　just　said。。。〃　And　then　Robinton　stopped；　shrugged　and　dropped　the　subject。
　　　It　was　Lady　Hayara's　intervention　that　saw　Falloner　going　with　Robinton。
　　　〃For　the　pany；〃　she　told　Merelan。　〃Falloner　will　show　Robinton　around　without　letting　him　go　where　he　shouldn't。〃　She　fixed　a　stern　look　on　Falloner；　but　let　it　turn　into　an　understanding　smile。　〃But　I　expect　you　not　to　tease　Lama　so　much　any　more。〃
　　　〃She　follows　me　everywhere；〃　Falloner　plained；　screwing　his　face　up。　〃Lama's　Carola's　daughter；〃　he　explained　to　Merelan；　〃and　a　real　pain。〃
　　　〃Now；　Falloner；〃　Lady　Hayara　said；　wiggling　a　warning　finger　at　him；　〃I　know　that　Rob　will　be　asked　to　sing；　but　it's　good　for　an　uping　harper　to　learn　more　about　the　Weyr　than　what　is　sung。〃
　　　The　brown　dragon　who　collected　the　invited　guests　did　not　quibble　about　adding　Falloner　to　his　back。　Nor　did　his　rider；　who　greeted　the　boy　with　a　wry　grin。
　　　〃Allowed　back；　are　you；　weyrling？〃
　　　〃It　would　seem　so；　C'vrel。　Thanks；　Falarth；〃　Falloner　added　to　the　brown　as　he　petently　mounted　and　settled　himself　behind　Robinton。
　　　Robinton　would　have　given　anything　to　know　exactly　what　that　meant；　but　he　suspected　he'd　never　be　told　by　Falloner。　Before　he　could　reflect　further；　he　felt　the　brown　launch　himself　off　the　ground　with　the　usual　neck…snapping　lunge　and　Robinton　braced　himself　for　between。　He　was　especially　grateful　when　he　felt　Falloner's　hands　grip　his　arms　and　tighten　the　moment　they　went　into　that　bone…searing　cold。　In　between　he　could　feel　nothing；　but　he　knew　that　Falloner　still　gripped　him。　It　wasn't　as　bad；　now　he　knew　what　to　expect　…　and　then；　suddenly；　he　had　the　incredible　good　fortune　to　see　a　Weyr　from　on　high。
　　　Benden　was　unusual　in　that　it　was　situated　in　an　old　double　volcanic　crater。　As　Falarth　swung　round；　almost　on　wingtip；　Robinton　saw　the　watch　dragon　and　his　rider；　just　beyond　the　massive　Star　Stones　which　would　bracket　the　Red　Star　on　its　next　return　at　Solstice。　He　saw　dragons　lying　on　the　western…facing　ledges；　asleep　in　the　sun。。。　and　then　the　several　black　maws　which　gave　into　the　Hatching　Ground　where　a　queen's　clutch　of　eggs　hardened　until　it　was　time　for　the　weyrling　dragons　to　Hatch　and　Impress　their　lifelong　partners。　As　Falarth　glided　downward；　Robinton　saw　the　great　golden　bulk　of　Feyrith　on　her　ledge；　Chendith　lying　just　above　her；　his　eyes　whirling　in　slow　circles　as　he　watched　Falarth　land　lightly　in　front　of　the　Lower　Cavern。
Chapter　SEVEN
　　　So　here　he　was。　Falloner　had　diplomatically　slid　down　the　off…side　of　Falarth；　thus　avoiding　a　meeting　with　Carola　who；　with　S'loner；　greeted　their　MasterSinger　guest　and　her　son；　thanking　them　profusely　for　accepting　the　invitation。
　　　〃e　to　Benden？〃　Merelan　laughed。　〃I've　been　dying　to。〃　Then　she　was　introduced　to　Stolla；　the　headwoman　of　the　Lower　Cavern；　a　tall　woman　of　middle　years　who　in　turn　introduced　the　MasterSinger　to　the　blue　rider；　C'gan；　who　was　Weyrsinger；　a　slight　man　whose　boyish　face　was　eager　and　earnest；　and　so　was　obviously　thrilled　to　meet　Merelan。　The　other　woman；　Miata；　handled　basic　lessons　at　the　Weyr。　Robinton　made　his　best　bow　to　them　all；　and　then　S'loner　took　him　by　the　shoulder。
　　　〃Go　off　with　Falloner；　Robinton；〃　he　said；　grinning　broadly。
　　　〃We'll　take　good　care　of　your　mother；　never　fear。〃
　　　〃I　don't　worry；　not　when　she's　in　the　Weyr；〃　Robinton　answered　boldly　and；　before　his　mother　could　reprimand　him；　he　slipped　around　behind　Falarth　to　join　his　friend。
　　　〃C'mon；　there's　a　lot　to　see；〃　Falloner　said　and　led　the　way；　running　across　the　Bowl　to　the　black　maws　of　the　Hatching　Ground。
　　　〃This　is　the　most　important　place　in　the　Weyr。　Any　Weyr。。。〃
　　　〃Is　that　son　of　yours　to　be　a　harper；　Merelan？〃　Robie　heard　S'loner　asking。
　　　He　didn't　hear　his　mother's　exact　answer　and　he　wondered；　once　again；　if　maybe　he　could　possibly　be　harper　and　dragonrider。　And　he'd　Impress　a　bronze；　too。　Well。。。　he'd　settle　for　a　brown　and　be　in　Falloner's　wing　and　fight　Thread　when　it　came　back。
　　　Falloner　showed　him　everything。　The　Hatching　Ground　was　awe…inspiring；　with　the　great　vaulted　roof；　the　steep　ranks　of　seats　where　guests　could　watch　Impression　and　the　raised　stone　couch　where　the　queen　stayed；　guarding　her　clutch　and　viewing　the　Hatching。　Then　there　were　some　places　which　Robinton　wasn't　sure　visitors　were　usually　shown。　Falloner　took　him　up　steps　at　the　side　of　the　Hatching　Ground　and　pushed　through　a　door　into　what　had　to　be　the　Weyrwoman's　quarters。　Robinton　gulped；　hoping　that　Feyrith　was　still　fast　asleep　on　her　ledge　and　that　Carola　did　not　take　a　sudden　urge　to　leave　his　mother。　He　walked　on　tiptoe　and　noticed　that　Falloner　was　putting　his　feet　down　more　quietly　than　usual。　From　there；　they　went　to　the　Council　Chamber；　with　its　immense　stone　oval　table　and　the　massive　stone　chairs　where　the　Weyrleaders　and　wingleaders　sat　for　meetings。　Then　down　into　the　musty…smelling　rooms　which　housed　the　Weyr's　Records。
　　　〃Our　Archives　smell　exactly　like　this　too；〃　Robinton　remarked；　feeling　a　little　safer　this　far　from　the　Weyr　and　Feyrith。　As　he　ran　one　finger　across　the　spine　of　a　bound　volume；　leather　rubbed　off；　and　he　hastily　cleaned　his　finger　and　hoped　the　mark　wouldn't　show。　The　Weyr　really　needed　to　have　these　seen　to：　they　were　in　far　worse　condition　than　those　Master　Ogolly　worried　over。
　　　Falloner　had　noticed　and　now　snorted。　〃That's　another　thing　I　like　about　Benden　Hold　…　they　keep　their　Records　in　good　condition　so　that　you　can　actually　read　them。〃
　　　Which　Rob　allowed　was　true　enough。　There　was　one　drudge　whose　sole　job　was　to　dust　and　oil　the　leather…bound　Records；　and　check　that　no　insects　had　burrowed　into　the　hide　pages。　His　mother　had　shown　him　some　of　the　oldest　ones；　the　ink　still　bright　and　who…knew…how…many…hundreds…of…Turns　old。
　　　Only　when　they　had　gone　back　up　and　out　the　way　they　had　e　in　to　the　Weyrwoman's　quarters　did　Robinton　draw　a　sigh　of　relief。　He　did　wonder　why　Falloner　was　venturing　up　here：　did　he　do　it　because　it　was　a　way　to　annoy　or　get　back　at　Carola　for　not　liking　him？　Sneaking　into　her　private　quarters　was　a　bit　silly；　Robinton　thought；　but　he　was　glad　he　had　had　the　chance　to　see　the　Council　Chamber。　This　was　where　the　bronze　riders　would　assemble　before　a　Threadfall。　But　those　Records。。。　Wouldn't　they　be　needed　then；　too？　And　in　much　better　condition　than　they　were　in　now？
　　　Moving　quickly　across　the　warm　sands；　Robinton　expected　to　go　back　to　the　main　living　area　of　the　Weyr；　but　Falloner　beckoned　him　towards　the　top　of　the　Bowl　with　a　wicked　grin　on　his　face。
　　　〃Show　you　something　not　even　many　weyrbred　know　about；〃　he　said。　Casting　a　glance　around　to　be　sure　that　no　one　was　looking　in　their　direction；　he　ducked　behind　a　large　boulder。　When　Robinton　hesitated；　Falloner　hauled　him　along　by　his　sleeve。
　　　Though　there　was　still　a　good　dea