amc.masterharperofpern-第50部分

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　　　Robinton　gawked　at　her。　〃How　do　you　figure　that？　Have　you　met　her？〃
　　　〃Not　really；　but　I've　heard　her　sing。　And　her　face　is　so　expressive　that　she　must　be　loving。　And　if　she　brought　you　up　the　way　you　are　now；　she's　a　dear。〃　Then　she　gave　him　a　warm　hug　and　a　loving　kiss　before　she　relaxed　against　his　arm。　He　covered　her　hand　with　his。
　　　〃Should　I　ask　the　MasterHarper's　permission？〃　he　asked。
　　　〃You're　a　journeyman；〃　Juvana　said；　lifting　one　shoulder。
　　　〃You've　the　permission　of　your　contract　holder　and　have　officially　announced　your　intent。　But　I　think　it　would　do　no　harm　to　tell　Master　Gennell。〃
　　　〃I'd　like　to　tell　the　whole　world；〃　Robinton　said；　beaming　down　at　Kasia；　still　marvelling　that　she　would　love　him。　That　was　when　the　music　poured　into　his　head　and　he　knew　exactly　how　he　could　publish　his　happiness。　Sonata　to　Sea…Green　Eyes；　he　would　call　it；　and　he　hung　on　to　the　lyrical　line　as　he　often　did　when　there　was　no　opportunity　to　write　music　down。
　　　〃As　Kasia's　sister　and　as　your　Lady　Holder；　I　will　expect　you　to　e　to　me　with　any　problems　you　might　encounter　as　you　start　your　lives　together；〃　Juvana　said；　ing　to　the　real　purpose　of　her　interview　with　the　pair。　〃I　have　already　discussed　this　with　Kasia；　and　she　will　protect　herself；　which　is　her　duty；　until　such　time　as　you　are　settled　enough　to　contemplate　children。〃
　　　Robinton　blushed。　He　and　Kasia　had　not　discussed　the　natural　oute　of　their　love…making　and　he　realized　that　he　had　been　remiss　in　this　regard。
　　　Juvana　went　on。　〃I　offer　the　suggestion　that　you　should　spend　several　years　enjoying　each　other's　pany；　consolidating　your　new　relationship；　especially　since　it　is　unnecessary　for　either　of　you　to　need　children　to　help　in　your　professions。〃　She　was　quite　matter…of…fact；　and　Robinton　knew　that　she　spoke　mon　sense。　〃You're　both　young。　You　have　time。　I　have　told　Kasia　that　I　would　gladly　foster　any　child　of　yours　should　your　work　make　it　impossible　to　give　that　child　the　advantages　of　a　permanent　home。〃
　　　Robinton　managed　to　stammer　out　his　astonishment　at　such　a　magnificent　offer：　an　honour　that　he　had　never　imagined　being　offered　him。　Usually　it　was　the　grandparents　who　offered　fostering；　or　a　very　close　friend。　To　have　his　child　fostered　at　Tillek　Hold　would　be　a　privilege。
　　　〃That's　an　incredible　offer；　Juvana；〃　he　said；　getting　his　wits　together。　〃I'd　like　to　think　I'd　be　a　sufficiently　good　father　that　a　child　would　not　need　more　than　his　parents　to　reassure　him；　wherever　we　went。〃
　　　Juvana　regarded　him　solemnly　for　a　moment。　〃Yes；　you　would　want　to　be　a　good　father。　And　I　think　you　would　be。　I've　watched　you　with　the　slow　ones；　and　you're　kind　and　patient；　though　some　of　their　antics　would　be　enough　to　drive　me　to　sea　in　a　leaky　boat。〃
　　　Kasia　laughed。　〃Juvana　gets　seasick　just　looking　at　a　rocking　boat。〃　〃This　is　all〃　…　he　gestured　with　the　hand　Kasia　was　not　holding　to　indicate　being　overwhelmed　…　〃rather　more　than　I　thought　espousing　entailed。〃
　　　〃That's　why　there　are　such　wise　women　as　myself；〃　Juvana　said　portentously；　grinning　to　take　any　sting　out　of　her　tone。　〃So　we'll　plan　the　formal　vow…taking　for　the　Autumn　Equinox。　I　doubt　our　parents　can　e。。。〃
　　　〃If　they　wouldn't　mind　riding　a　dragon；　I　think　I　can　arrange　conveyance；〃　Robinton　said；　wondering　at　himself　for　speaking　out　since　he　had　been　delighted　her　parents　lived　as　far　away　as　Nerat　and　he'd　be　unlikely　to　meet　them。　But　that　was　just　faint…heartedness　on　his　part；　and　silly　of　him；　since　he'd　been　reassured　by　Melongel；　as　well　as　Juvana；　that　Kasia's　parents　had　no　objection　at　all　to　a　harper　in　the　family。
　　　〃Can　you　arrange　such　a　ride？〃　Juvana　was　surprised。
　　　〃Yes；　sister　dear；〃　Kasia　said；　beaming　on　her　intended。　〃He's　been　friends　with　F'lon；　bronze　rider　of　Simanith；　ever　since　he　and　his　mother　spent　a　winter　at　Benden　Hold。〃
　　　〃Really？　How　useful。〃
　　　〃You　wouldn't　mind　a　dragonrider？〃
　　　〃Who　could　possibly　be　so　dense　as　to　ignore　that　sort　of　a　connection？〃　Juvana　asked　parenthetically。　Robinton　thought　of　Fax。　And　he　had　occasionally　encountered　the　notion　…　from　men　who　knew　little　beyond　their　cotholds　…　that　the　Weyr　and　the　dragonriders　were　an　encumbrance；　maintained　long　past　their　usefulness。
　　　〃I'll　see　if　F'lon　is　willing。　I　think　he　might　like　to　e　to　the　espousal。〃
　　　〃I　think　my　parents　would　very　much　enjoy　ing　a…dragonback；〃　Juvana　said　wistfully。　〃Is　it　as　exciting　as　I've　heard？〃
　　　Robinton　was　quite　happy　to　give　her　a　full　accounting　of　his　various　trips　a…dragonback。
　　　He　and　Kasia　enjoyed　the　next　two　seven…days；　until　they　were　separated　by　his　duties　as　the　Turn　moved　into　summer；　fair　weather　and　long　days　when　the　journeymen　had　to　travel　to　the　outlying　holds　to　make　sure　the　Teaching　Ballads　were　being　correctly　taught　and　sung。　Mumolon　and　Ifor　envied　Robinton　his　smooth…paced　Ruathan　runner；　so　he　volunteered　to　take　the　furthest　assigned　sweep。
　　　〃If　I　can　travel　faster　and　more　smoothly　than　you　can；　it's　only　right　for　me　to　go　further；〃　he　said；　grinning。　It　also　meant　longer　distances；　which　he　could　use　to　work　on　his　sonata。　He　had　done　no　more　than　the　opening　measures　so　far；　and　the　music　was　plaguing　him。
　　　〃You　won't　get　a　protest　from　me；〃　Mumolon　said。
　　　〃You'll　learn；　you'll　learn；〃　Ifor　teased　him。　〃Days　more　away　from　the　lovely　Kasia；　though。〃
　　　Robinton　controlled　the　spurt　of　rage　he　felt；　reminding　himself　that；　with　his　intentions　announced；　his　claim　to　her　affections　would　no　longer　be　challenged。　So　he　made　his　lips　smile　and　sloughed　off　the　irritation。。。　and　retired　to　his　room　to　write　a　few　more　measures　of　the　music　that　wouldn't　leave　his　head。
　　　Before　he　left；　he　had　an　ecstatic　and　very　long　letter　from　his　mother；　delighted　by　his　news；　asking　for　a　sketch　of　Kasia　and　so　many　details　that；　laughingly；　he　suggested　that　Kasia　had　better　answer。　Which　Kasia　immediately　did；　including　a　sketched　portrait　which　Marlifin　was　able　to　do　for　her。　Master　Gennell　sent　felicitations　and　thought　he　would　acpany　Merelan；　to　be　sure　she　made　it　safely　to　Tillek　Hold。　Kasia's　parents；　Bourdon　and　Brashia；　expressed　delight　in　her　uping　espousal　and　readily　accepted　the　possibility　…　though　Robinton　was　still　waiting　for　an　answer　from　F'lon　…　of　a　quick　and　safe　transfer　to　the　west　coast。
　　　At　last　F'lon　sent　a　drummed　message　that　he　would　be　there　…　with　whoever　needed　conveyance。
　　　After　a　loving　and　reluctant　farewell　to　Kasia；　he　set　his　runner　on　the　north…eastern　route；　up　to　the　Piro　River　which　separated　Tillek　from　High　Reaches　Hold。　From　there　he　headed　across　the　plateau　into　the　highlands　and　down　the　Greeney　River　to　the　sea　in　the　corner　of　Tillek　and　Fort。　There　was　a　rapidly　expanding　series　of　holds　along　the　Greeney　River；　some　so　new　that　the　hard…set　was　still　drying　…　or　so　the　longer…established　holders　said　with　grins。　That　tour　took　him　most　of　the　summer　and　into　the　cooler　nights　and　shorter　days　of　the　autumn。　Occasional　runner　notes　from　Kasia　sustained　him。　And　each　evening　he　faithfully　recorded　his　doings　to　be　returned；　often　by　the　same　runner。
　　　He　was　very　grateful　when　he　reached　the　apex　of　his　journey；　a　hill　holding　right　below　the　High　Reaches　border。　He　stayed　four　days；　teaching　the　children；　who　were　at　first　very　shy　with　him　but　warmed　as　he　taught　them　the　ballads　and　sang　them　the　humorous　songs　with　which　he　had　relaxed　many　a　nervous　student。　On　his　final　night　Chochol；　the　holder；　had　taken　him　…　and　a　skin　of　the　rough　white　Tillek　wine　…　to　see　the　two　moons　rise；　and　then　unburdened　his　mind　to　the　harper。
　　　〃Once；　twice；　maybe；　Harper；〃　Chochol　said　in　his　rough　voice；　pitched　low　so　that　not　even　the　herd…beasts　grazing　near　by　could　hear　what　he　said；　〃I　would　not　worry。　Anyone　can　e　to　a　disagreement　with　his　Holder。　But　there　have　been　eight　lots　and　they　arrive　scared　of　their　shadows。　Wounded；　and　the　pretty　ones　have　been　badly　handled。〃　He　paused；　indicating　with　a　nod　what　he　wouldn't　say　about　their　condition。　〃Badly　handled。〃　He　emphasized　the　repetition　with　a　second　sharp　nod。　Then　he　pointed　down　the　hillside；　which　was　grassland　with　a　few　stunted　trees。　〃Twice〃　…　he　held　up　two　thick；　work…callused　fingers　…　〃the　women　were　sure　that　Lord　Faroguy　must　be　dead　for　such　things　to　happen　in　High　Reaches。　Scared　my　spouse；　that　did。　But　we　see　anything　ing　up　here　and　I　tell　her　we're　in　Tillek；　holding　with　Lord　Melongel；　who's　a　fair　Holder　if　ever　there　was　one；　and　the　time　hasn't　e　when　one　Lord'll　run　over　what　another　has　owned　since　his　Blood　took　hold。〃　The　phrase　'run　over　what　another　has　owned'　sent　a　shudder　of　fear　through　Robinton　right　down　to　his　guts。
　　　〃So's　to　reassure　her；　we've　another　cot；〃　Chochol　said；　waving　his　hand　vaguely　over　his　shoulder；　〃where　we　could　go　did　we　see　someone　ing　who　ought　not。　I　don't　like　it；　Harper；　I　don't　like　it　one　bit。〃
　　　〃Nor　I；　Chochol；　and　you　may　be　sure　I　will　tell　Lord　Melongel　of　your　worries。〃
　　　Robinton　did　no　posing　that　night；　for　music　had　gone　out　of　his　head。　He　had　asked　Chochol　if　the　women　had　mentioned　names；　or　where　they　were　going　in　Tillek；　but　Chochol　replied　that　he　didn't　know　because　he　hadn't　asked。　He　had　seen　them　safely　to　the　fiver　track　to　the　sea；　and　given　them　what　they　could　spare　of　provisions。
　　　Most　nights；　though；　Robinton　would　drain　glowbaskets　of　their　last　glimmer；　penning　his　sonata。　He　also　wrote　other　music　for　his　Kasia；　posing　love　songs　on　the　long　stretches　between　holds　…　though　sometimes　the　notes　on　the　hide　showed　the　roughness　of　his　travel　and　had　to　be　corrected。　These　were　only　for　Kasia；　written　for　her　to　play　for　herself　on　her　harp。
　　　He　finished　the　sonata　before　he　got　back　to　Tillek　Hold；　before　the　Autumn　Gather　and　their　espousal。
　　　Kasia　weled　him　so　warmly　that　their　reunion　lasted　all　night　long；　which　delighted　a　travel…weary　young　man　who　had　desperately　missed　the　object　of　his　affections。
　　　They　spent　almost　as　much　time　talking　as　making　love。　They　discussed　their　future　at　length。　Now　and　then；　he　related　the　amusing　incidents　that　he　hadn't　written