amc.masterharperofpern-第46部分

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y　enough　up　on　this　hill　without　being　unable　to　share　their　lives　with　another　family。〃
　　　The　women　agreed　loudly。
　　　The　two　families　were　already　at　work　…　the　women　of　both　working　together　to　mix　new　mortar　and　crack　the　old　off　the　stones　…　by　the　time　Groghe　and　Robinton　were　ready　to　mount。　Robinton's　parting　gift　was　a　sheaf　of　songs；　which　he　gave　to　Pessia。
　　　〃You　have　a　good；　strong　alto。　Get　them　singing　again。〃
　　　〃I　will。　I've　missed　it　fearfully；〃　she　said；　holding　on　to　his　hand　a　moment　before　taking　the　music。　〃Thank　you；〃　she　added　under　her　breath。
　　　By　the　time　they　had　reached　the　trail　winding　through　the　forest；　Groghe　kicked　Robinton's　stirruped　foot；　grinning。　〃A　wall　has　two　sides；　indeed！　You've　a　glib　tongue　on　you；　Harper；　but　what　a　great　notion！　My　father　will　howl　with　laughter。〃
　　　Robinton　grinned；　though　the　image　of　the　dignified　Lord　Grogellan　howling　with　laughter　was　more　than　he　could　manage。
　　　He　was；　in　truth；　rather　pleased　with　himself　because　of　the　success　of　their　interference。
Chapter　TWELVE
　　　By　the　time　they　reached　Tillek　Hold；　however；　he　had　got　tired　of　hearing　Groghe　repeat　the　tale　of　their　little　foray　into　arbitration　at　every　hold　they　sheltered　in　on　the　long　coastline　leading　to　the　tip　of　Tillek　and　the　Hold。　Lord　Melongel　was　relieved　to　hear　that　the　situation　had　been　remedied　…　and　very　pleased　to　procure　Journeyman　Robinton's　addition　to　his　staff　with　such　an　instance　of　his　abilities　in　the　field。　To　offset　this　minor　success；　Robinton　felt　obliged　to　explain　the　circumstances　under　which　he　had　left　Benden　Hold。
　　　〃He'll　learn；　young　Raid　will；〃　Melongel　said　after　Robinton　had　been　candid　with　him。　〃His　loss；　Tillek's　gain。　e；　meet　my　Lady　and　my　tribe　of　promising　Bloods。　Master　Minnarden's　off　doing　an　arbitration　service　for　me；　so　you'll　have　to　wait　to　hear　what　your　precise　duties　are　here。　However；　I'll　warn　you　now　that　I　like　to　change　journeymen　every　three　or　four　turns；　so　don't　take　it　personally　when　either　Minnarden　or　I　suggest　we　make　a　change。〃
　　　Robinton　grinned　back；　liking　the　man's　manner：　a　refreshing　change　from　the　two　much　older　Lords　he　had　served；　and　a　decided　relief　after　Raid's　didacticism。　Melongel　was　in　his　prime；　active　and　vigorous；　with　ragged　good　looks；　though　not　quite　as　tall　as　his　harper。　He　seemed　to　have　time　to　attend　to　all　his　duties　and　still　go　out　with　the　fishing　fleet　from　time　to　time。　Since　Tillek　Hold　not　only　hosted　the　FishCraftHall　but　the　MasterFishman；　and　did　most　of　the　western　ship…building；　Melongel　thoroughly　understood　the　needs　of　that　Craft　as　well　as　the　agriculture　and　forestry　which　made　Tillek　a　profitable　Hold。　He　had　even　qualified　for　his　captaincy；　but　had　never　taken　a　mand。　On　one　cruise　around　the　Southern　Sea　to　Nerat；　Melongel　had　found　a　major　Holder's　daughter；　espoused　her；　and　carried　her　back　to　his　Hold。　Robinton　heard　him　call　that　the　most　profitable　journey　he'd　ever　made。
　　　When　Master　Minnarden　returned　two　days　later；　he　weled　his　new　journeyman　effusively；　with　reminiscences　of　earlier　days　spent　at　the　Harper　Hall　and　duets　sung　with　the　MasterSinger　Merelan。　Robinton　held　his　breath；　but　the　MasterHarper　did　not　embarrass　him　in　front　of　the　other　two　journeymen　with　tales　of　Merelan's　little　boy。
　　　〃I　understand　you're　very　patient　with　the　slow；　and　I've　several　here　I'd　like　to　see　you　bring　up　to　the　level　the　others　are　at。　With　one　it　may　not　be　possible。　But　if　you　can　do　anything；　his　parents　and　I　would　be　grateful。〃
　　　Robinton　murmured　something　polite。
　　　〃To　offset　that　chore；　I'd　like　you　to　take　the　singers　of　the　Hold　for　choral　practice。　I've　had　to　do　so　much　mediation　lately；　that　I've　had　to　give　up　a　steady　progression　for　them。　You'll　stand　the　necessary　Drum　Tower　watches。〃　At　that；　Minnarden　grimaced；　for　the　long　hours　of　listening　and　little　action　were　a　penance　for　most　harpers；　who　tended　to　be　gregarious　by　nature。　〃If　you　can　find　a　couple　of　lads　in　the　Hold　to　train　up　to　drumming；　I'd　be　grateful。　Shorten　our　hours。　I've　not　had　the　time；　and　neither　Mumolon　nor　Ifor　has　the　top　rating　you　got　from　the　Hall　DrumMaster。〃
　　　Again　Robinton　nodded。　He　had　had　the　advantage　of　being　raised　in　the　Harper　Hall　and　learning　to　decipher　messages　long　before　he　took　the　actual　course。
　　　〃The　usual　evening　divertissements；　but　we　trade　off。〃　Then　Master　Minnarden　looked　quizzically　at　him。　〃Bring　any　new　songs　with　you？〃　When　Robinton　smiled　in　assent；　Minnarden　sighed　with　relief。　〃Both　Mumolon　and　Ifor　are　good　harpers；　excellent　teachers；　but　couldn't　pose　if　you　gave　them　words　and　music　to　put　together。　That's　your　special　skill；　I　understand。。。　and　don't　turn　modest　on　me。〃
　　　Robinton　chuckled。
　　　〃You're　quartered　well？〃
　　　Robinton　bowed　his　head　gratefully；　for　he　had　an　outside　room；　small　but　private；　with　a　window　facing　east　and　a　bath　next　door。
　　　〃Need　anything？〃　Robinton　shook　his　head。
　　　〃Good。　Tillek　is　not　as　much　a　warren　as　many　big　Holds。　But　that's　because　the　cliff　doesn't　have　that　many　caves；　so　they've　used　the　local　stone　to　build　sturdy；　Threadproof　housing。〃
　　　Robinton　looked　at　him　sharply。　This　was　the　first　time　anyone　had　mentioned　Thread。
　　　〃Hmmm；　yes；　young　harper；　I　believe　we'll　see　Thread　again；〃　Minnarden　said　solemnly。　〃I've　read　too　much　in　the　Archives　to　think　Pern　will　escape　its　return。。。　in　due　time。　Are　you　of　my　mind？　Which；　I　must　add；　is　not　shared　by　many；　including　Melongel；　though　he's　a　well…read　man。〃
　　　〃The　dragons　told　me。　And　I've　friends　in　the　Weyr。。。〃　Robinton　admitted　hesitantly。　But　if　Minnarden　believed　Thread　would　return；　he　wouldn't　object　to　Robinton's　friendship　with　a　dragonrider。
　　　〃Keep　them。　Cherish　them；〃　Minnarden　said。　Then　he　cocked　his　head　to　one　side。　〃Is　that　why　young　Lord　Raid　let　you　go？〃　He　held　up　his　hand　when　Robinton　moved　uneasily　in　the　chair　〃I　know；　I　know。　If　you　believe　in　anything　…　anything　…　keep　that　faith。　Now；〃　he　went　on；　rising；　〃if　you've　any　questions　after　you've　settled　in；　I　prefer　my　harpers　talking　to　me　rather　than　plaining　to　each　other。　One　last　item；　though；　since　this　Hold's　main　source　of　ine　is　from　fishing；　I'd　like　it　if　you　could　see　your　way　clear　to　learn　as　much　of　this　different　lifestyle　as　you　could。　Never　hurts。　Even　the　hull　of　a　ship　has　two　sides。〃
　　　Robinton　groaned：　he　was　getting　mighty　tired　of　that　reference！
　　　But　he　had　to　grin　at　Minnarden；　who　was　clearly　delighted　with　his　new　journeyman's　adventure。
　　　Minnarden　then　retrieved　from　the　shelf　behind　him　a　squared…off；　leather…bound　record　book　and　slid　it　across　the　table　to　Robinton。
　　　〃If　you　haven't　memorized　the　Charter；　you'd　better；　and　study　the　examples　of　some　of　the　more　mon　infractions。〃　Minnarden　grinned。　〃That　aspect　of　our　job　can　be　quite　interesting　at　times。。。〃　He　paused　to　sigh。　〃And　at　others；　about　as　infuriating　as　dealing　with　the　dumbest；　most　insubordinate；　mentally　deficient　adolescent　male。〃　Melongel's　middle　children　…　he　had　nine　…　were　part　of　the　chores　group　that　Robinton　was　to　rehearse。　Bright；　intelligent　and　curious；　the　two　boys　and　one　girl　were　musical　enough　so　that　any　of　the　three　could　have　apprenticed　in　the　Harper　Hall。　His　oldest；　just　a　turn　younger　than　Robinton；　was　Oterel　…　a　rangy；　awkward　lad　needing　to　grow　into　his　bones。　Oterel　was　delighted　to　have　Groghe　share　both　his　room　and　his　duties；　for　he　already　had　stewardship　responsibilities；　which　went　more　swiftly　with　help。
　　　And　then　there　was　Kasia；　Lady　Juvana's　youngest　sister；　who　was　living　at　Tillek　Hold。
　　　Robinton　felt　a　decided　attraction　at　his　first　meeting　with　the　attractive　young　woman。　In　the　previous　Turn；　she　had　tragically　lost　her　lover　to　a　storm　at　sea　off　Nerat　coast；　half　a　month　before　their　espousal。　Her　parents　had　sent　her　to　Juvana　to　ease　her　grief。
　　　It　was　the　aura　of　sadness　which　caught　his　eye；　the　sorrow　that　lurked　in　her　lovely　sea…green　eyes。　And　the　tremulous　smile　which；　only　occasionally；　briefly　lifted　it。　But　she　was　cheerful；　helpful　and　kind；　with　a　real　understanding　of　the　trials　of　her　younger　nieces　and　nephews。　She　was　obviously　their　confidante；　as　well　as　her　sister's。　She　had　prehensive　recollection　and　was　able　to　e　out　with　astonishing　bits　and　pieces　of　information　which　she　had　tunnelled　away　in　her　retentive　memory。
　　　〃I　just　remember　things；〃　she　said　with　a　little　shrug　when　Robinton　asked　her　if　she　knew　all　the　words　to　an　old　Teaching　Song；　one　he　was　revitalizing。　Which　she　did　…　word　perfect。　〃I　can't　say　why　I　know　that　particular　ballad；　but　you'll　find　it　on　the　second　shelf　from　the　top　on　the　right…hand　side　of　the　library。〃
　　　And　sure　enough；　there　it　was；　with　Kasia　grinning　with　delight　at　her　accuracy：　an　occasion　when　the　sadness　disappeared。　He　became　determined　to　lift　the　shadow　pletely。　He　was　chagrined　to　discover　that　he　was　not　the　only　young　man　in　the　Hold　who　had　the　same　ambition；　including　his　fellow　harpers。
　　　Robinton　was　only　twenty；　a　fact　he　kept　hidden　since　he　didn't　look　so　young　and　could　cite　five　turns　of　active　harpering。
　　　Neither　Mumolon　nor　Ifor　knew　that　he　had　been　fifteen　when　he　walked　the　tables　to　collect　his　journeyman's　knot。　Minnarden　knew；　and　probably　Melongel；　but　his　youth　was　not　a　factor　in　assigning　him　difficult　tasks　…　especially　after　the　wall　incident。　If　Ifor　and　Mumolon　suspected；　it　didn't　matter　to　them　as　he　performed　his　duties　too　well　to　encourage　criticism。
　　　Kasia　was　several　turns　older　…　and　looked　younger：　except　for　the　harboured　grief。　However；　that　age　difference　and　her　continued　mourning　for　her　lost　lover　were　the　reasons　why　Robinton　was　hesitant　in　discovering　if　the　sudden；　keen　attraction　was　mutual。　Their　ordinary　tasks　often　brought　them　together。　In　that　he　was　luckier　than　the　others　who　sighed　over　her。
　　　He　contented　himself　with　enjoying　her　pany；　her　bright　humour；　her　lovingness；　and　sparring　with　her　in　duels　of　memory　and；　often；　song。　She　had　had　excellent　training：　she　sang　with　a　sweet　light　soprano　and　played　fiddle　and　pipe