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第44部分

amc.masterharperofpern-第44部分

小说: amc.masterharperofpern 字数: 每页4000字

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   〃I think not;〃 Robinton said; but he smiled without rancour。
   〃Here es your dragon。 Oh; and if it's F'lon; warn him that my brother's raging over him paying so much attention to Naprila。〃
   〃Oh?〃 Robinton had missed that。 No; Lord Raid would not want his half…sister seeing too much of a dragonrider; though he rather thought that Lord Maidir would have been receptive。
   Maidir had known that life in a Weyr could be preferable to working a hold。
   When Hayon rose to escort Robinton down the stairs; the journeyman shook his head。 〃Let's not give Raid any cause for plaint about my departure。 I want out as quietly and inconspicuously as possible。〃
   Hayon chuckled。 〃You will have to work hard to be inconspicuous; Rob。 I shall miss you badly。〃
   With a final nod of thanks; Robinton started down; collected his carisaks from his room and made his way down the main stairs and out of the door without seeing anyone。
   F'lon and Simanith had e for him。 Robinton did see Raid at the office window; watching him sling his things up to F'lon to arrange on Simanith's back。 Then; with a good leap of his long legs; he made it to Simanith's cocked forearm and grabbed F'lon's gloved hand to help him the rest of the way。
   〃Sacked you; did he?〃 said F'lon; grinning and tossing an airy wave in the direction of the office window。
   〃Did you know he would?〃 Robinton asked; wondering how he had missed the change in Raid's attitude。
   〃I hoped he would。 You can do better elsewhere。〃
   〃Benden's a good Hold;〃 Robinton protested out of loyalty and truth。
   〃Under Maidir; yes。 Raid's going to have to learn some tact。〃 〃You heard talk about that?〃
   F'lon gave a shrug。 〃Hang on。〃 And Simanith gave the head…snapping leap skyward。
   Robinton did feel a lump in his throat at leaving Benden Hold。
   He had been happy there as a child; and so proud to have been asked to e back as a journeyman for Maidir。 Really; he had done his best as he had been taught。 Where had he gone wrong?
   〃Nowhere; as I interpret the matter;〃 Master Gennell said when Robinton had his interview。 〃Young Lord Raid has a lot to learn about handling his people。〃 The MasterHarper sat with steepled fingers and a sympathetic expression on his face。 〃He will; though。 He had good training。 And the results of his current practices will show him the error of his ways。〃
   〃Really?〃 Robinton gave a snort of disbelief。
   〃Oh; I think so。〃 Then Master Gennell grinned。 〃Actually I can use your talents in at least six other positions。 You may choose。〃
   That was how Robinton came to spend the next two turns at Tillek Hold。 And found the first love of his life。 The only two drawbacks to the posting would be the awful weather which never seemed to include many sunny days; and the very sharp; foxy white wine the slopes of Tillek hills produced。 He would also start the extra study for his Mastery; which included Applications of the Charter and the Precepts of Arbitration and Mediation; advanced aspects of Harper Hall's purview。 The Tillek Hold MasterHarper; Minnarden; had agreed to undertake his tuition; since Minnarden attended the Hold's court sessions。 Robinton was looking forward to working under Minnarden; and his mother thought well of this Master。
   〃Solid man for basics; and a kind person too;〃 she'd said。 〃You'll have no trouble with him。〃 She'd added one of her mischievous smiles; slanting her gaze up at her tall son。 〃He dandled you on his knee at one point。〃 She laughed as Robinton grimaced。 〃Don't worry; love。 He won't embarrass you by remembering。〃
   Robinton certainly hoped not。 He didn't think such a reminiscence would be good for his authority over a class。
   He and young Groghe; Grogellan's third son; made the trip on runner…back: some of the good Ruathan stock which were so popular; plus a pack…beast for their supplies and effects。 Groghe was going to spend a Turn in Tillek Hold; stewarding for Lord Melongel。 Lord Holders often rotated their sons in hold management; or fostered them outright from time to time。
   Groghe was Rob's age; an energetic young man who resembled his mother; Lady Winalla; more than his father。 He made the arduous trip pleasant for; despite a tendency to make all the decisions about camping and hunting and duties; he was a sturdy traveller and a good panion。 His taste in songs leaned to the bawdy but Robinton didn't mind obliging him in the evenings; especially when they sheltered overnight in one of the all…male holds … miners; herders and foresters … on their way。 For the simpler melodies; Groghe sometimes acpanied him on a pipe。
   On the way; Groghe had a small errand to do for his father。 One of Lord Grogellan's high mountain holders was having trouble with a neighbour who was on Tillek Hold lands; not Fort。 Groghe was to see what he could do to solve a problem which had now existed for several turns。
   〃I'm fed up with his plaints; both written and at Gathers;〃 Lord Grogellan had said。 〃I've sent messages to Melongel; who's equally disgusted with the case。 With Journeyman Robinton along; you should be able to solve the problem。 A matter of a mutual wall; I understand。 Making a mountain out of a very small pile of dirt。〃
   When they came down the side of the mountain; heading north; they saw the two cots; both substantial in size。 The Fort man was a herder; the Tillek man a forester。 The cots were separated by several dragons' lengths; and in plain sight was a collapsed stone wall; five or six lengths long; which separated field from forest。
   Perhaps a storm had brought down a swathe of trees; smashing into the structure and damaging a long stretch。 They could also see the shaggy coats of herd…beasts being driven from the forest; with angry shouts by the men doing the driving and furious cries from three men waiting on the field side。 The drivers were not sparing of their clubs in getting the woolly beasts back on their own side of the wall。
   〃Fix that sharding wall; Sucho; or I'll kill the next ones that e into my plantation!〃
   The driver's bellowed threat carried easily to the two travellers。
   〃We would arrive in the middle of it;〃 Groghe said to Robinton with a grimace。 〃Ah; well! It's to be done!〃
   They had indeed hoped to arrive before dark; so that they could have a quick assessment of the problem。 Now the issue would have to be met immediately。
   〃A wall has two sides;〃 Robinton remarked and grinned。
   〃Good evening to you;〃 Groghe said; raising his voice。
   The driver had stopped at the pile of stones and; shielding his eyes from the glare of a sun close to setting; peered at the two riders。 The holder whirled; raising a sturdy staff; and his sons … they resembled him too much to be anything but … assumed defensive stances。
   〃Groghe of Fort Hold and Journeyman Harper Robinton;〃 Rob called out; raising his hand high。
   The two older men exchanged glances。 〃You've been plaining again to Lord Groghe; Sucho?〃 the forester shouted; grinning maliciously。 〃Wele; holder and harper。 You must spend the night with me and mine。〃 He gestured to his two sons。
   〃We'll be grateful for shelter; I assure you;〃 Robinton said at his most gracious; close enough to the wall now to halt his runner and swing down from the saddle。 He was taller than any of them; and he would use that to his advantage。
   Groghe dismounted as well; and stood firmly at Robinton's side。
   〃My father; Lord Grogellan; wants this settled and has sent me and Journeyman Robinton to be sure that this time the matter is finished!〃
   That was all that was needed to send both men into loud and conflicting claims: Tortole insisted that the wall had fallen on Sucho's side; so it was up to him to repair it; Sucho claimed that if Tortole hadn't been so clumsy in felling the line of trees so that they damaged the wall; there wouldn't have been a problem。
   Robinton then noticed that the remains of the uprooted trees on Tortole's side were well covered in moss; suggesting that the stumps had been there for many turns。 That the storm had done more damage to the forestation … knocking down a swath that continued on up and down the hillside … than to the meadows of the herder was clear; but why two isolated families would not bine to replace the dividing wall was not。
   〃Enough!〃 Groghe shouted。
   〃Quite enough;〃 Robinton said into the sudden stillness。 〃A wall has two sides; my friends。〃
   The response was blank looks。 The younger men muttered together。
   〃Of course a wall has two sides;〃 Sucho said; scowling。
   〃Your side and his side;〃 Robinton said patiently。 〃You build your side and he will build his side。〃
   Sucho and Totrole goggled at him。 Groghe turned a chuckle into a cough。
   〃The wall was not one stone thick; was it?〃 Robinton went on; looking sternly over the group。 He could see that the wall had been wide and high enough to keep the herd…beasts from easily jumping over to reach the lush grass where the swath had been cleared。
   Sucho shook his head。 〃That wall's been there since my hold was built。〃
   〃Since my hold was built; you mean;〃 Tortole said。
   〃Then it's small wonder that it has fallen。 The mortar would have deteriorated over the turns;〃 Robinton said。 〃But that does not keep it from having two sides。 You〃 … he pointed over the fallen wall at Tortole … 〃will build your side; smack up against Sucho's。〃 He turned to the herder。 〃And you will be sure to build your side smack up against Tortole's。 You alternate putting in the mortar; to be sure that both sides are bound together。〃
   〃And we will see you started in the morning;〃 Groghe said。
   〃But we've other work to do!〃 Tortole shouted; outraged。
   〃I've herds to tend;〃 Sucho bellowed simultaneously。
   〃I notice that you each have two sons;〃 Robinton put in。 〃Strong fellows; and you have the stones to hand。 I wonder which of you; working three to a side; can finish your side first。〃 〃Why; my sons and I。。。〃 〃My sons and I。。。〃
   Tortole and Sucho glared at each other。
   〃Then we will see just who does win tomorrow; won't we?〃 Robinton said as pleasantly as possible; smilin

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