amc.masterharperofpern-第39部分

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　　　As　Robinton　carried　the　gaunt　old　MasterHarper　down　to　the　conveyance；　he　wondered　why　Benden　hadn't　requested　a　dragon　and　rider。　He　had　seen　dragons　in　the　sky；　but　none　had　touched　down　at　Benden　Hold　as　they　used　to　do；　and　none　had　been　invited　for　any　of　the　dinners　which　Lady　Hayara　loved　to　give　with　the　least　excuse。　Robinton　had　been　too　busy　to　visit　F'lon　on　his　own；　to　discover　the　Weyr's　viewpoint　on　the　coldness　between　Hold　and　Weyr。　Then　he　answered　his　own　question；　as　he　realized　that　the　cold　of　between　would　have　been　the　worst　possible　course　for　the　sick　man；　not　to　mention　the　difficulty　involved　in　hoisting　him　to　the　dragon's　back　without　additional　pain。
　　　The　travel　wagon's　narrow　body　was　well　sprung　and　well　padded　and　would　pass　on　most　of　the　normal　trails。　Such　vehicles　had　bee　quite　popular　during　the　long　Interval。　And　most　holders　kept　good　teams　ready　in　the　beasthold　or　in　a　nearby　paddock　for　travellers'　needs。　This　wagon　was　also　fortably　sized：　〃Lady　Hayara　wide；　which　means　the　two　of　us　will　fit；〃　Maizella　said　with　a　touch　of　malice；　although　Robinton　had　noticed　that　she　was　now　on　better　terms　with　her　father's　second　spouse　than　Raid　was。
　　　Robinton　watched　with　a　lump　in　his　throat　as　the　old　man　left。
　　　Lady　Hayara　was　openly　weeping。
　　　〃He's　taught　all　my　children；　you　see；〃　she　admitted　as　Robinton　gave　her　a　steadying　hand　up　the　steps　to　the　Hold。　〃And　I　really　don't　think　he　should　e　back　…　even　in　the　warmer　weather。〃
　　　And　so　it　was　that　Evarel　did　not　return　to　Benden　Hold。
　　　Robinton　slid　into　the　vacancy　and　started　quietly　training　three　of　the　brighter　Hold　children　to　be　his　assistants。　One　lad　was　harper　material；　if　he　was　not　much　mistaken。　Robinton　had　a　sixth　sense　for　that：　he　likened　it　to　the　green　dragon's　ability　to　perceive　rider　potential　in　youngsters。　He　did　wish　that　somehow　or　other　he　could　find　a　girl　as　talented。　His　mother　would　so　enjoy　having　another　voice　to　train　as　she　had　Halanna　and　Maizella。
　　　A　Turn　and　a　half　later；　S'loner's　Chendith　flew　Jora's　Nemorth　and　a　clutch　resulted。　Not　a　large　one；　but　six　bronzes；　three　browns；　five　blues　and　six　greens。　F'lon　would　still　e　to　visit　Robinton　whenever　he　chose；　seemingly　oblivious　to　the　bad　feeling　between　S'loner　and　Maidin
　　　F'lon　had　been　quite　caustic　about　the　long　wait　for　Nemorth　to　e　into　season。　He　blamed　it　on　Jora's　own　immaturity　and　fearfulness。
　　　〃This　business　of　Jora　being　afraid　of　heights　is　inhibiting　her　queen；　of　all　stupidities！〃　F'lon　paced　up　and　down　Robinton's　apartment；　waving　his　arms　about　in　frustration。　〃I　personally　know　that　Nemorth　was　glowing　as　bright　as　a　gold　nugget　when　Jora　takes　it　in　her　head　to　be　violently　nauseated　and　faint。　Naturally　that　put　the　poor　queen　off；　making　her　nearly　frantic　with　worry　over　her　rider。〃　F'lon　kicked　at　a　chair　in　his　way；　venting　his　disgust　with　the　Weyrwoman。　〃Frankly；　I'll　be　surprised　if　we　ever　get　Nemorth　in　the　air　to　mate。〃
　　　When　the　mating　flight　did　occur；　Robinton　tactfully　did　not　ask　for　any　details　the　next　time　F'lon　appeared　at　Benden　Hold。　F'lon　made　only　one　reference　to　the　event。
　　　〃S'loner　had　no　great　joy　in　the　day。　We　all　hope　Chendith　had　more。〃　He　spoke　in　such　a　neutral　tone　that　Robinton　couldn't　tell　if　F'lon　had　got　over　his　disappointment；　but　the　bronze　rider　had　an　infinite　capacity　to　ignore　what　he　wished。
　　　F'lon　was　shortly　able　to　report　that　Nemorth　was　showing　unmistakable　signs　that　she　was　in　egg。　He　even　appeared　happy　to　be　able　to　make　such　an　announcement。
　　　〃All　in　all；　considering　the　way　Jora　carries　on；　I'm　just　as　glad　that　I　don't　have　to　put　up　with　her　nonsense　and　carryings…on。　S'loner's　wele　to　them。〃　He　grinned　maliciously。
　　　In　his　capacity　as　Hold　harper；　Robinton　was　invited　to　the　Hatching　and　the　Impression。　And　impressive　that　was　for　the　sensitive　harper。　He　had　never　seen　such　joy；　or　felt　so　touched　by　another's　elation。　Each　new　bonding　added　to　the　impact；　and　he　found　himself　wishing　desperately　that　somehow　he　could　have　been　both　harper　and　rider。　He　was　in　tears；　and　unashamed；　by　the　end　of　the　Hatching。　Even　F'lon；　collecting　him　from　the　spectators'　seats　above　the　Hatching　Ground；　was　blurry…eyed　with　unshed　tears。
　　　〃Gets　to　you；　doesn't　it？〃　the　bronze　rider　murmured；　wiping　his　eyes。
　　　〃I　didn't　realize　it　was　like。。。〃　And　Robinton　spread　his　hand　helplessly　over　the　hot　sands　…　which　made　him　speed　up　his　pace　lest　he　scorch　the　soles　of　his　feet　even　through　good　harper　boot　leather。　〃The　most　incredible　moment　in　a　man's　life。。。　isn't　it？〃
　　　〃Indeed。〃　F'lon　glanced　fondly　over　his　shoulder　at　Simanith；　who　was　leaving　the　Hatching　Ground　by　the　upper　exit。　Most　of　the　dragons　were　already　on　their　way　to　their　own　weyrs；　and　Robinton　was　awed　by　the　sight　of　their　deft　insertion　in　the　dark　hole　at　the　top　of　the　immense　cavern。　He　was　amazed　how　gracefully　imminent　collisions　were　avoided　as　the　flying　dragons　filed　out。
　　　F'lon　draped　a　careless　arm　across　Robinton's　shoulders。　〃Now　is　the　good　time。　In　the　euphoria　of　an　Impression；　all　old　insults　and　agitations　are　put　aside。　Even　Raid　came　today。〃
　　　〃Wasn't　he　supposed　to？〃　Robinton　asked；　hoping　that　tonight　he　might　at　last　get　some　answers　to　explain　the　estrangement　between　Raid　and　F'lon。　They　had　once　been　very　good　friends。　Robinton　hadn't　noticed　at　first　that　the　two　were　never　in　the　same　room　together。　But　F'lon　could　be　caustic；　and　Raid　had　his　own　foibles。
　　　〃Maidir　and　Hayara　have　talked　of　nothing　else　since　the　drum　message　came　about　the　clutch。〃
　　　〃And　Maizella　and　that　fish…faced　spouse　of　hers。〃　F'lon　grimaced。　〃She's　pretty　enough　to　have　done　better　than　that。〃
　　　〃Cording's　got　a　large　and　prosperous　hold　on　the　Eastern　Sea。　He　gives　her　sea　jewels　and　goes　goggle…eyed　when　she　sings　to　him；〃　Robinton　remarked；　keeping　his　tone　non…judgmental。　He　liked　Maizella　much　better　now　than　he　ever　had　as　a　child。　He　also　rather　liked　Cording；　who　was　solicitous　of　his　love's　parents　and　the　brood　of　younger　children；　and　courteous　to　his　Lord　Holder；　but　he　did　have　a　distinct　resemblance　to　a　fish：　with　that　shock　of　sun…bleached　hair；　flat　face；　and　rather　blunted　features。　But　a　harper　had　to　be　careful　of　admitting　to　anything　at　all　improper　…　even　in　confidence　to　a　friend。
　　　〃That's　as　may　be；　but　he　doesn't　believe　in　Thread；〃　F'lon　said　in　a　flatly　disapproving　tone。
　　　Since　that　would　have　caused　F'lon　to　dislike　anyone；　male　or　female；　Robinton　declined　to　ment　further　on　Cording's　good　points。　And　now　he'd　been　given　a　lead…in　to　the　problem　he'd　been　dying　to　address。
　　　〃Is　that　the　basis　of　your　argument　with　Lord　Maidir　and　Raid？〃　Robinton　asked。　After　all；　one　of　his　duties　as　harper　was　to　act　as　mediator　whenever　necessary。　Not　that　he　felt　himself　an　expert；　but　he　could　at　least　try　to　understand　the　dispute　from　both　sides。
　　　〃Of　course。〃　F'lon　actually　ground　his　teeth。　〃Neither　of　them　will　listen　to　S'loner　or　me。　And　it's　not　as　if　we　were　the　only　riders　of　that　opinion。　M'odon　is　adamant　that　we'll　see　Thread　within　the　next　three　decades。　And　I've　checked　his　figuring　time　and　again。　He　might　be　out　a　Turn　or　two；　but　not　by　more　than　that。〃　He　glanced　about　irritably；　as　if　hoping　to　find　something　he　could　at　least　kick。　A　stone　lay　across　his　path；　and　he　kicked　that　across　the　Bowl　so　that　both　of　them　heard　it　connect　with　the　cliff　and　shatter。　F'lon　grunted　at　his　success。　Then；　in　one　of　his　abrupt　changes；　he　pointed　to　a　table　not　far　from　the　entrance　to　the　Lower　Caverns。　〃Let's　take　that　one　before　anyone　else　can　settle。〃
　　　Robinton　decided　to　wait　for　a　more　propitious　opening　to　obtain　further　details。　F'lon　was　not　the　most　tactful　of　riders　…　nor；　for　that　matter；　was　his　father　…　but　perhaps；　in　the　aftermath　of　the　Hatching；　he　could　make　some　progress　in　healing　the　breach。
　　　Most　of　the　invited　guests　were　still　on　their　feet；　wineglasses　or　klah　mugs　in　their　hands；　while　the　aromas　of　the　uping　feast　wafted　in　tantalizing　waves　from　the　busy　kitchen。　In　the　distance；　by　the　weyrling　barracks；　Robinton　caught　sight　of　the　newly　Impressed　riders　feeding　their　dragonets；　who　raised　squeaky　but　imperious　voices　protesting　the　slowness　of　the　service。　Once　sufficiently　full；　the　dragonets　would　be　bedded　down；　and　then　the　new　riders　would　join　their　parents　for　the　festivities；　elated　with　pride　at　their　success。　Robinton　had　noted　that　a　Benden　holder　lad　had　Impressed　a　bronze　…　a　talking　point　with　Maidir。　There　was　such　an　air　of　rejoicing；　of　gladness；　of　acplishment；　that　Robinton　had　trouble　restraining　himself　from　grabbing　up　his　guitar　and　making　appropriate　triumphant　music。　His　turn　would　e　soon　enough；　and　meanwhile　here　was　C'gan；　his　oddly　boyish　face　smiling；　making　his　way　towards　them　carrying　a　tray　of　glasses；　a　skin　of　wine　looped　over　his　shoulder。
　　　F'lon　waved　for　C'gan　to　hurry。　Robinton　had　had　a　chance　on　his　arrival　to　quiz　C'gan　on　how　many　musicians　he　would　have　to　supply　music；　and　what　special　songs　might　be　requested。　He　had　brought　some　new　songs；　as　well：　three　of　his　own　and　four　from　the　Harper　Hall。　He　had　learned　that　he　didn't　need　to　tell　anyone　who　had　posed　them。　If　the　songs　were　good；　they　were　sung　again　and　again；　and　those　that　failed　to　catch　on　he　could　simply　forget。　There　were　few　of　his　in　the　latter　category。　A　march　from　Petiron's　pen　was　included　in　those　from　the　Hall；　and　Robinton　deemed　it　a　new　departure　for　the　Masterposer：　rhythmic　and　solemn；　but　stirring。
　　　Eventually　those　at　the　head　table　took　their　places；　a　signal　for　the　weyrfolk　to　serve　their　guests；　green　riders　helping　to　cater　to　the　extra　numbers。　Bronze　and　brown　riders　were　not　required　to　serve　guests；　so　R'gul；　S'lel；　L'tol　and　R'yar　…　the　lad　who　had　been　Searched　from　his　first　apprentice　turn　at　the　Harper　Hall　…　joined　Robinton's　table。
　　　Robinton　was　close　enough　to　the　head　table　to　get　his　first　good　look　at　the　young　new　Weyrwoman。　She　was　not　at　all　as　attractive　or　sensual　as　Carola　had　been。　But　that　was　not　relevant　…　no　matter　what