amc.masterharperofpern-第31部分

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ood　news　in。　It　was　something　to　relish；　anyway。　As　relieved　as　he　was　that　he　wouldn't　have　to　take　Theory　under　his　father；　he　was　most　excited　at　the　prospect　of　leaving　the　Hall　on　his　first　official　assignment。　He　also　knew　he'd　had　a　hint　of　something　the　oldest　apprentices　would　die　to　hear：　he　suspected　that　Master　Gennell　was　about　to　reveal　who　would　walk　the　tables　…　the　best　of　all　the　traditions　in　the　Harper　Hall。　The　announcement　of　who　had　made　journeyman　rank　could　be　any　day　now；　there　was　a　lot　of　talk　about　its　imminence　in　the　dorms。
　　　Sometimes　the　lucky　ones　were　warned　to　pack　what　they'd　need；　but　just　as　often　no　clue　at　all　was　given　until　Master　Gennell　called　out　the　names。　That　was　always　a　great　evening。　The　Masters　loved　to　surprise　the　fourths；　make　them　sweat　a　little　before　giving　them　the　reward　for　four　turns'　work。　At　least　he'd　have　time　to　warn　his　mother　of　his　leaving；　but　he　knew　she'd　be　pleased　for　him。　Even　being　assigned　as　assistant　harper　was　an　honour。
　　　Robinton　paused　in　his　varnishing；　whooshing　the　fumes　away　from　his　nose。　The　reek　was　stifling。
　　　〃That's　the　ticket；〃　Master　Bosler　said；　pausing　by　Robinton's　work　station。　He　gave　him　a　quick　pat　on　the　back。　〃One　of　the　nicer　ones　with　all　that　careful　inlaid　pattern。　And　the　skybroom　wood！　Very　good！　We　can　get　a　good　price　for　it　at　the　next　Gather。〃
　　　〃With　skybroom　wood　hard　to　e　by；　I　think　I　might　just　keep　it　for　a　while；〃　Robinton　said；　watching　Bosler's　expression。　Would　the　Master　have　an　idea　of　Robinton's　immediate　future？　He　knew　that　Master　Gennell　listened　to　the　opinions　of　his　Masters。　As　an　apprentice；　Robinton's　studies　were　governed　by　what　all　the　Masters　…　probably　his　father；　too　…　thought　of　his　progress；　so　maybe　Master　Bosler　was　aware　of　his　good　news。　But　no；　the　lined　face　and　keen　eyes　did　not　alter。
　　　So　much　for　that；　Robinton　thought　and；　with　a　smile　for　his　Master；　he　went　back　to　applying　the　varnish。　He　wasn't　using　a　quick…drying　type　because　he　wanted　to　avoid　any　brush　strokes。
　　　By　dinner…time；　his　mood　had　swung　in　the　opposite　direction　and　his　stomach　was　churning。　Maybe　it　had　been　Petiron's　idea　in　the　first　place；　removing　the　unwanted　son　from　the　Hall？　His　father　was　more　likely　to　suggest　he　go　drudge　for　someone　in　a　back…of…beyond　small　hold；　too　far　away　for　him　to　take　time　off　and　e　back　to　the　Hall。　It'd　be　ironic　if　Robinton　was　assigned　to　Master　Ricardy　at　Fort　Hold。　He　already　had　three　assistants　and　another；　elderly　harper　who　did　nothing　but　entertain　for　the　old　aunties　and　uncles　of　the　Hold。　No；　definitely；　Master　Gennell　wanted　him　to　help　teach。　That　had　been　the　crux　of　the　interview：　would　he　be　willing　to　teach？
　　　Though　the　dinner　was　one　of　Lorra's　better　ones；　Robinton　found　himself　unable　to　eat；　a　fact　immediately　noted　by　his　table　panions　who　were　well　aware　of　his　voracious　appetite。
　　　〃Inhaling　varnish　all　afternoon　has　put　me　off；〃　he　offered　as　explanation。
　　　Falawny　gave　him　a　startled　look。　〃First　time　in　three　turns　it　ever　has；〃　he　remarked。　〃Ah；　well；　more　for　us　certainly；　eh；　fellows？〃　And　he　speared　a　third　slice　of　roast　from　the　platter　being　passed。
　　　Robinton　hadn't　seen　any　packs　in　the　hallway；　so　no　one　had　been　warned　that　tonight　might　be　the　night　to　walk　tables。　He　sneaked　a　glance　at　the　fourth…term　table；　judging　by　the　way　dinner　was　being　consumed；　their　appetites　weren't　affected。
　　　Determinedly；　he　mopped　his　bread　in　the　gravy　and　ate　that；　though　his　stomach　toiled　with　either　hunger　or　nerves。　He　actually　hadn't　had　all　that　much　experience　with　either　condition。　He'd　never　gone　hungry；　and　he　refused　to　let　himself　get　nervous　just　over　a　hunch　that　tonight　might　be　the　night。
　　　He　shifted　about　on　his　chair　a　lot；　shooting　glances　at　his　mother；　but　she　was　busy　either　eating；　quite　normally；　or　chatting　with　Master　Washell　and　his　father；　who　bracketed　her　at　the　head　table。　Well；　maybe　she　hadn't　been　told。
　　　Because　he　spent　so　much　of　the　dinner…time　looking　about　the　dining　hall；　he　did　notice　that　Journeyman　Shonagar　was　seated　to　one　side。　But　there　was　nothing　especially　unusual　about　Shonagar's　presence：　journeymen　were　constantly　in　and　out　of　the　Hall　on　errands；　on　reassignments；　or　to　ask　advice　of　their　Masters。
　　　The　sweet　and　klah　had　been　served；　and　Robinton　managed　to　get　those　down　with　no　trouble。
　　　Then　he　heard　a　chair　being　shoved　back　and　Master　Gennell　was　on　his　feet；　tapping　his　glass　for　attention。　The　room　was　already　still；　breaths　universally　bated。
　　　〃Ah；　I　see　that　I　have　your　attention。〃　His　grin　swept　from　the
　　　Masters'　tables；　across　the　journeymen's　and　towards　the　apprentices。
　　　〃So；　Master　Washell；　send　out　for　the　extra　chairs。〃
　　　This　task　was　customarily　done　by　the　first…term　apprentices；　who　scurried　out　and　rattled　back　in；　each　carrying　a　chair　which　they　set　in　the　spaces　the　journeymen　made　at　their　tables。　Twelve！
　　　Now；　who　would　be　seated　in　them　in　the　next　few　minutes？　There　were　nineteen　in　the　final　term　of　their　apprenticeship。　All　of　them　managed　to　look　calm　and　indifferent；　as　befitted　trained　harpers。
　　　It　was　also　the　custom　for　those　who　walked　to　be　escorted　ritually　from　their　lowly　apprentice　bench　to　a　chair　at　the　journeymen's　tables。
　　　Gennell　took　a　list　from　his　pocket　and　pretended　to　have　trouble　reading　it。
　　　〃Journeyman　Kailey。〃
　　　The　former　apprentice　jumped　to　his　feet；　and　a　grinning　journeyman　instructor　immediately　strode　across　the　room　during　the　applause。　Then　everyone　had　the　beat　and　began　the　traditional　sing…song　chant：　〃Walk；　Kailey；　walk。　It's　time　to　go　ahead。　Walk；　Kailey；　walk。　Into　your　new　life。　Walk；　Kailey；　walk。〃
　　　〃You'll　be　going　to　Wide　Bay　Hold　in　Keroon；〃　Gennell　said；　his　voice　rising　easily　above　the　chanting　and　the　clapping。
　　　And　so　it　went　for　the　next　ten　as　well；　ending　with　the　popular　Evenek　who　had　two　journeymen　jostling　each　other　good…naturedly　to　do　the　honours。　Evenek's　lyrical　tenor　voice　had　often　been　matched　with　Merelan　in　duets；　and　now　she　clapped　loudly　at　the　announcement　of　his　assignment　to　Telgar　Hold；　a　prestigious　posting。
　　　That　left　one　chair　…　and　eight　more　possible　journeymen。
　　　Gennell　waited　until　Evenek　was　seated　and　had　been　congratulated　by　those　around　him。
　　　〃To　be　a　harper　requires　many　talents；　as　you　all　know。　Some　of　us　are　endowed　…　unfairly　…〃　he　put　in；　grinning　charmingly　around；　〃with　more　than　a　sufficient　share。〃
　　　Robinton　looked　over　those　remaining　at　the　fourth…term　tables。
　　　Really；　Kailey　and　Evenek　had　been　the　top　men：　none　of　the　others　were　'unfairly'　talented。
　　　〃However；　when　the　fundamentals　of　our　craft　have　been　well　and　truly　learned；　I　insist　that　we　hold　no　one　back　from　the　rank　they　are　entitled　to　by　knowledge　and　ability　and；　in　this　case；　rare　talent。〃
　　　The　room　was　buzzing：　everyone　trying　to　decide　who　the　lucky　one　was。　The　fourth…termers　were　just　as　puzzled。
　　　〃Journeyman　Shonagar；　you　claimed　this　right　when　you　left　the　Harper　Hall　two　Turns　ago。　Exercise　it。〃
　　　Every　head　turned　to　watch　Shonagar　rise　and；　with　the　wicked　half…grin　for　which　he　was　well　known；　walk　with　measured　step　down　the　aisle　to　the　third…term　table。
　　　When　Shonagar　stopped　by　him；　Robinton　felt　paralyzed。　His　mouth　dropped　and　his　eyes　nearly　bugged　out。
　　　〃Shut　your　mouth；　pull　your　eyes　in；　and　get　up；〃　Shonagar　muttered　in　an　undertone。　〃That　gets　you　even；　the　only　way　you　could。〃　Even　as　he　spoke　to　Robinton；　Shonagar's　grin　widened　at　the　surprise　and　shock　which　had　hushed　the　hall。
　　　Robinton　was　still　trying　to　assimilate　what　he'd　just　heard　…　his　name　announced　as　journeyman　…　when　Shonagar　plunged　a　hand　under　his　arm　and；　with　a　heave；　got　Robinton　to　his　feet。　〃Wallet　Walk；　Robinton！〃　With　that；　Shonagar　turned　him　and　started　propelling　him　to　the　journeymen's　table。　〃Walk；　Robinton；　walk。〃
　　　〃And　none　too　soon；〃　Master　Washell　shouted；　jumping　to　his　feet　and　smacking　his　big　hands　together　over　his　head；　urging　people　to　join　him。　Bosler　stood；　clapping　in　rhythm　with　the　reluctant　journeyman's　stride。　Betrice　was　up；　as　were　the　other　Masters　at　the　table；　Ogolly　and　Severeid；　and　the　kitchen　workers　crowded　in　at　the　serving　doors；　adding　their　noise　to　the　general　furore。　The　only　two　not　on　their　feet　were　Robinton's　parents：　his　mother　was　weeping；　and　his　father　seemed　to　be　too　stunned　and　stony…faced　to　move。　Robinton　knew　then；　as　Shonagar　had　told　him；　that　he　had　got　back　at　his　father　in　the　only　decent　way　he　could　…　by　success。
　　　〃Walk；　Robinton；　walk。〃
　　　Unashamed　of　the　tears　streaming　down　his　face　and　swallowing　the　lump　in　his　throat；　Robinton　walked　the　tables；　bearing　himself　as　proudly　as　he　could　despite　the　tendency　of　his　knees　to　wobble。
　　　Still　steering　him；　Shonagar　pushed　him　past　the　head　table。
　　　Through　her　tears　his　mother　shot　him　an　exultant　look　and　a　weak　smile　before　she　had　to　wipe　her　cheeks　again。　Neither　of　them　looked　at　Petiron。
　　　Installed　in　the　final　chair；　Robinton　was　still　shaking　so　badly　that　he　could　barely　accept　the　congratulations　of　the　other　new　journeymen。　He　noticed　that　they　all　had　rank　knots　on　their　shoulders；　and　then　he　felt　Shonagar　slip　one　up　his　arm　and　to　his　shoulder。
　　　〃Journeyman　Robinton　will　go　to　Master　Lobira　at　High　Reaches；　where　it's　hoped　this　sensible　fellow　will　keep　Master　Lobira　out　of　more　trouble；〃　Gennell　announced；　and　then　called　for　glasses　and　wine　for　the　new　journeymen。　Sometime　in　that　interval　Petiron　slipped　from　the　room；　but　Merelan　did　not。　And　that　was　as　it　should　be；　Robinton　thought。
Chapter　NINE
　　　And　so　Robinton　headed　off　to　his　first　official　assignment　with　five　full　packs；　even　though　he　had　stored　some　childish　mementoes　in　the　Hall's　vast　cellars。　His　mother　insisted　that　he　drum　a　request　to　F'lon。
　　　〃It　won't　hurt　your　reputation　at　all　for　you　to　arrive　on　drugonback；〃　she　said　firmly。
　　　〃It's　showing　off；　Mother；〃　he　insisted。
　　　〃Others　have　requested　conveyance；〃　she　went　on；　helping　him　pack　up