amc.masterharperofpern-第51部分

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written　to　her　…　since　most　of　his　letters　had　been　intensely　loverly；　as　she　described　them。　She　would　treasure　them　for　ever。　Of　course；　the　wall　incident　had　been　meat　for　runners　all　across　Tillek　Hold。
　　　〃I'll　probably　never　live　it　down；〃　he　told　her；　stroking　her　thick　hair；　rolling　a　tress　on　his　finger。
　　　〃Why　would　you　want　to；　Rob？〃　She　giggled。　〃I　think　it's　a　marvellous　ment　on　your　abilities。〃
　　　〃I　had　to　live　up　to　expectations；〃　he　said。
　　　〃Which；　to　judge　by　Melongel's　remarks；　you　certainly　did。〃
　　　〃I'm　not　so　sure　of　that；〃　he　said；　worried。
　　　〃I　know　you　did；〃　she　said　loyally；　poking　his　nose　gently。
　　　He　groaned。　〃I　hope　I　did。　Every　hold　seemed　to　have　some　sort　of　long…term　dispute　that　only　I〃　…　he　thumbed　his　chest　…　〃could　settle。〃　〃Which　I'm　sure　you　did。〃　〃How　can　you　be　so　sure？〃
　　　〃Because　I　know　my　Rob。　Who　sees　with　clear　eyes；〃　she　said；　touching　them　one　by　one；　which　interrupted　him　when　he　was　about　to　tell　her　about　the　sonata；　〃great　perception〃　…　and　she　touched　his　temples　…　〃and　the　clever　tongue　to　speak　truth　and　to　the　point。〃　She　kissed　him　and　that　ended　their　conversation　for　some　while。
　　　If　he　went　about　his　duties　at　the　Hold　yawning　and　only　half　there；　knowing　and　kindly　smiles　absolved　him。
　　　During　his　verbal　report　to　Melongel；　he　mentioned　what　Chochol　had　told　him。　〃Hill　holding；　well　kept。　The　holder's　named　Chochol；〃　he　said；　leading　up　to　the　distressing　news。
　　　Melongel　glanced　up　at　the　map　and　nodded　as　he　identified　the　place。
　　　〃He's　given　hospitality　to　holdless　fleeing　from　the　High　Reaches。〃
　　　〃Oh？〃
　　　Robinton　shifted　uneasily；　trying　not　to　alarm　unnecessarily　and　yet　to　state　his　fears　and　reservations　candidly。　〃I　was　three　Turns　at　High　Reaches；　you　know；　and　I　have　great　respect　for　Lord　Faroguy；　but　the　last　time　I　saw　him　…　at　Benden　Hold；　for　Lord　Raid's　confirmation　…　he　looked　very　ill。〃
　　　Melongel　nodded；　confirming　that　opinion。　〃Hmm。　I　noticed。〃
　　　〃Well；　it　seems　that　Lord　Faroguy　may　be　dead　and　we　simply　haven't　been　told。〃
　　　Melongel　regarded　him　with　shock。　〃How　could　that　be？〃
　　　〃I　don't　know；　but　Chochol　thought　it　possible　because　he　has　sheltered　several　holdless　folk　…　women　and　children　mostly；　returning　to　their　relatives'　holdings　here　in　Tillek。〃
　　　Melongel　frowned。　〃I　know　of　several　holders　who　have　asked　for　dispensation　on　their　tithes　because　of　increases　in　dependants。〃　He　shuffled　through　some　hides。　〃I　didn't　know　the　women　had　been　made　homeless。　Or　that　they'd　e　from　High　Reaches。〃
　　　Robinton　cleared　his　throat；　ing　to　the　most　dubious　part　of　what　Chochol　had　told　him。　〃The　women　said　that　they　had　been　driven　out　of　holds。　Chochol　said　that　some　of　the　younger　ones　had　been　badly　handled。　That　they　thought　Lord　Faroguy　must　be　dead　for　such　things　to　happen。〃
　　　Melongel　scowled；　fixing　Robinton　with　a　glance　which　many　would　have　been　unable　to　meet。
　　　〃You　believe　Chochol？〃
　　　〃I　do；　because　I　know　there　is　a　very　ambitious　man　in　High　Reaches　who　will　try　to　claim　succession　for　himself。。。　when　Lord　Faroguy　dies。〃
　　　〃Does　this　ambitious　man　have　a　name？〃
　　　Something　in　Melongel's　eyes　suggested　to　Robinton　that　the　Lord　Holder　knew　to　whom　he　was　referring。
　　　〃Fax。〃
　　　〃That　nephew　of　Faroguy？〃　Melongel　looked　away　from　Robinton　for　a　long　moment。　〃I　think　I　shall　ask　Faroguy　to　join　us　for　the　Gather。　As　you　have　served　him；　he　might　wish　to　e。〃
　　　That　suggestion　was　more　than　Robinton　had　hoped　for。　But　Chochol's　tale　had　revived　suspicions　he　had　once　thought　groundless。
　　　〃Ah；　here；〃　Melongel　said；　tweaking　a　hide　from　the　pile　and　glancing　down　at　the　text。　〃I'll　just　see　what　I　can　find　out。　Two　of　these　enlarged　holders　live　near　by。〃　He　folded　his　hands　across　his　chest；　looking　down　at　a　point　on　the　floor。　Then　he　looked　up　again；　giving　Robinton　a　little　smile。　〃Good　report；　Robinton。　Well　done。　I've　met　that　nephew　and；　quite　frankly；　I　tagged　him　as　ambitious；　too。　Would　you　say　that　Farevene　is　able　for　him？〃
　　　Robinton　cleared　his　throat；　struggling　with　being　honest　without　being　derogatory。　〃Let　me　say　that　I　wouldn't　back　Farevene　in　a　wrestling　match　with　Fax。〃
　　　〃Frankly；　nor　would　I；　but　I　know　Farevene　has　been　well　trained　to　succeed　his　father；　and　I　would　certainly　not　confirm　Fax　in　his　place。〃
　　　Robinton　let　out　a　relieved　breath　through　his　lips　and　said　nothing　more。
　　　Melongel　grinned　more　broadly　now。　〃Go　on；　lad。　I　know　you're　eager　to　spend　time　with　Kasia　after　being　so　long　away。　One　more　thing：　you'll　be　on　the　panel　of　the　Gather　Day　Court　with　Minnarden　and　myself。〃
　　　Inwardly；　Robinton　groaned　…　once　more　the　wall　incident　was　raising　its　head；　even　if　he　was　appreciative　of　the　honour　just　accorded　him。　Minnarden　had　been　very　pleased　with　his　application　to　the　study　of　the　Charter　and　his　understanding　of　the　principles　of　mediation　and　adjudication。　This　would　be　his　first　time　to　sit　on　a　Hold　Court　panel。　Kasia　would　be　pleased；　even　if　he　wasn't。
　　　〃I　doubt　it　will　be　a　long　session；　Rob；　and　certainly　won't　cut　into　your　espousal　in　the　afternoon。〃
　　　With　a　clap　on　the　shoulder；　Melongel　finally　dismissed　him。
　　　〃At　the　Gather　Court？　Oh；　Rob；　that　is　an　honour；〃　Kasia　exclaimed　when　he　told　her；　her　eyes　wide。　Then　she　giggled。　〃Melongel　really　likes　you。〃
　　　〃He's　working　my　butt…end　off；〃　Robinton　said　in　an　unrepentant　growl。　〃I'll　be　all　morning　listening　to　troublemakers'　excuses　and　deciding　fines　for　minor　infractions。〃
　　　〃Keep　you　from　being　nervous　about　the　afternoon；〃　she　said；　teasingly。
　　　〃Ha！　The　morning'll　make　me　worse。　Having　to　sit　through　Court　will　give　me　indigestion；　having　to　listen　to　all　those　half…truths　and　alibis。。。〃　He　pulled　her　into　his　arms；　stroking　her　hair；　which　had　a　soothing　effect　on　his　disturbed　digestion。　Kissing　her　provoked　other　sensations；　and　once　again　he　didn't　get　around　to　mentioning　the　Sonata　to　Sea…Green　Eyes。
　　　Of　course；　the　longer　he　delayed；　the　harder　it　was　going　to　be　to　work　in　a　playing　of　it　before　the　Gather。　And　suddenly　he　wasn't　at　all　sure　of　its　worth。　It　was　definitely　the　most　serious　music　he　had　ever　written；　and　he　was　quite　unsure　of　its　merit。　He　could　be　fooling　himself。　It　wasn't　as　if　he　could　play　for　a　critical　listener；　like　Minnarden；　who　had　seen　the　rest　of　his　travel　songs　and　liked　them。　They　were　insignificant　pared　with　the　sonata　…　if　it　was　any　good　at　all。　Yet　whenever　he　heard　the　music　in　his　head；　it　thrilled　him；　and　he　felt　a　tremendous　lift　at　the　finale　of　the　last　movement。　Like　making　love。　And　that's　what　he　wanted　people　to　hear　when　they　listened　to　it　…　the　crescendo　which　was　also　an　orgasm。
　　　Finally　it　was　the　day　before　the　Gather　and　his　mother　arrived　with　Master　Gennell。　What　with　the　necessary　hospitality　accorded　them；　he　had　trouble　finding　a　few　moments　alone　with　Merelan；　when　he　could　chide　her　for　making　such　a　long　journey　when　she　was　obviously　tired。
　　　〃Tired　of　riding；　yes；〃　she　said；　her　voice　vigorous。　〃Your　father　has　sent　a　short　piece；　which　I'm　to　sing　at　your　espousal。〃
　　　〃He　did？〃　Robinton　was　flabbergasted　as　he　took　the　score　from　his　mother's　hand。
　　　〃It's　not　in　his　usual　style；　either。　I　do　believe　your　father　is　mellowing　with　age。〃
　　　Robinton　snorted　but；　as　he　scanned　the　music；　he　realized　that　this　was　a　softer　music；　almost　gentle；　and　quite　simple；　considering　the　usual　style　in　which　his　father　wrote。
　　　〃Minnarden　said　he　would　acpany　me；　as　you'll　he　otherwise　occupied。。。〃　And　then　Merelan　hugged　him　fiercely。
　　　〃She's　lovely；　your　Kasia；　and　she　is　besotted　with　you。　You'll　be　happy；　Robie。　I　know　you'll　be　happy。〃
　　　〃I　am　already；〃　he　said　with　a　silly　grin　on　his　face。　〃And　mother；　I　have　some　music　I　need　you　to　look　over。〃
　　　〃You　do？　Just　like　old　times；〃　she　said；　waiting　as　he　rummaged　in　his　drawers　to　find　the　sonata。　〃I'm　almost　jealous　that　others　get　to　see　your　music　now　before　I　do。〃
　　　〃I　always　send。。。〃
　　　〃I　know　you　do；　lovey；　but　it　was　such　fun　to　be　the　first　to。。。〃　She　had　unrolled　the　score　and　blinked　at　the　first　measures。　She　read　on；　and　started　to　hum　the　opening　melody。　Cocking　her　head；　she　took　to　walking　as　she　read；　sometimes　half…singing；　sometimes　nodding　her　head　to　the　tempo；　her　eyes　never　leaving　the　page。
　　　While　his　stomach　churned　and　his　heart　seemed　to　be　squeezed　tight；　he　watched。　Fortunately　he　had　moved　into　their　new　quarters　on　the　uppermost　level　of　the　Hold；　well　down　the　corridors　from　the　rooms　the　old　aunties　and　uncles　occupied。　There　were　two　rooms　with　a　small　bathing　facility　in　what　Kasia　called　a　walk…into　closet。　So　there　was　space　for　Merelan　to　pace　from　the　bedroom　door　across　the　wide　living　area。
　　　Abruptly　Merelan　paused；　gave　him　a　bemused　look；　then　sat　herself　down　on　the　stool　by　his　guitar　stand　and；　propping　up　the　music　and　picking　up　the　guitar；　she　started　to　play　it。
　　　He　had　arranged　it　for　first　fiddle；　or　a　guitar；　harp　and　pipes；　with　the　occasional　emphasis　of　a　flat　drum。　It　wasn't　that　long　a　piece；　for　all　its　three　movements。　He　had　not　added　a　fourth；　as　his　father　would　have　done；　because　he　had　said；　musically；　all　that　he　needed　to　in　the　allegro；　adagio　and　rondo。　A　scherzo　would　have　fractured　the　mood。
　　　When　his　mother　played　the　final　chords；　her　hands　remained　motionless　on　the　strings　for　a　long　moment。　Then　she　gave　a　funny　little　shake　as　if　she'd　had　a　spasm　and　looked　up　at　him；　her　eyes　filled　with　tears。
　　　〃Oh；　Robie；　that　is　the　most　beautiful　thing　you've　ever　written。　Does　Kasia　like　it？　For　I　know　you　wrote　it　for　her。〃
　　　Robinton　gulped。　〃I　haven't　shown　it　to　her。　I　didn't。。。　know。。。　if　it　was　any　good　or　not。〃　The　last　phrase　came　out　fast。
　　　〃Not　good！　Not　good！〃　His　mother　returned　the　guitar　to　its　stand　and　rose　in　indignation。　〃Robinton；　you　have　never　written　a　bad　piece　of　music　yet；　and　that〃　…　she　pointed　a　stiff　forefinger　at　the　roll　…　〃is　the　best　position　to　date。　How　dare　you　not　give　it　to　her？　You　said　she　plays　the　harp。　Why；　it's　the　m