amc.masterharperofpern-第52部分

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best　position　to　date。　How　dare　you　not　give　it　to　her？　You　said　she　plays　the　harp。　Why；　it's　the　most　romantic　piece　of　music　I　have　ever　heard。　Even　better。。。〃　She　closed　her　lips。
　　　〃No；　there　is　no　parison。　You　have　a　far　more　romantic　soul；　my　dearest　son。〃　She　put　her　arms　around　his　waist　and　hugged　him。　〃If　you　don't　show　her　that　before　tomorrow。。。〃
　　　。〃When　will　I　have　the　time？　It　is　nearly　tomorrow　now；　mother！〃　He　hugged　her　tightly　to　him；　smelling　the　scent　she　packed　her　clothing　with　and　wondering　at　how　the　two　women　he　loved　felt　much　the　same　in　his　arms。
　　　〃You'd　better　do　it　soon；　then；〃　Merelan　said。　〃She'll　never　forgive　you　for　not　doing　it　sooner。。。　unless；　of　course；　you've　just　finished　the　piece。〃
　　　〃No；　I　wrote　it　this　summer。〃
　　　〃Oh！〃　she　exclaimed　in　explosive　dismay。　〃If　you　were　so　worried　about　it；　why　didn't　you　send　it　to　me？　I'd　have　reassured　you。〃
　　　Why　he　hadn't　sent　it　was　no　mystery　to　either　of　them；　but　he　felt　relieved　and　more　confident　than　ever；　having　her　positive　opinion。　And　he　knew　that　she　would　never　have　been　so　enthusiastic　if　she　didn't　truly　find　it　good。　That　courtesy　had　nothing　to　do　with　him　being　her　son。　〃Is　there　a　copy　of　it；　Rob？　Master　Gennell　will　want　to　use　it　for　other　espousals。　It's　so。。。　so　lyric。　So　romantic。　Oh；　Robinton；　you　are　such　a　fort　to　me。〃　Abruptly　she　changed　moods。　〃I'm　exhausted　after　that；　love。　Will　you　escort　me　to　my　room？　I　don't　think　I　could　find　my　way　back　down。〃
　　　When　he　had　returned　from　escorting　his　mother；　he　prepared　for　bed　himself；　since　it　was　late　and　tomorrow　would　be　an　exceedingly　eventful　day。　He　smiled；　and　then　broke　into　a　chuckle　as　he　shucked　off　his　clothes　and　settled　into　the　wide　bed　that　he　and　Kasia　would　be　sharing。　It　was　far　too　warm　to　require　night…wear；　and　besides；　he　seldom　bothered　and　now　probably　never　would；　it　being　so　forting　to　snuggle　Kasia　into　his　arms　and　have　her　skin　next　to　his　all　night　long。　He　exhaled　deeply；　and　then　realized　that　he　was　far　too　excited　to　sleep　yet。
　　　So　he　threw　off　the　light　fur　and　found　a　long…tailed　shirt。　His　new　clothes　for　the　espousal　…　well；　Gather　Day；　if　he　wasn't　being　self…centred　…　were　hanging　on　the　closet　door。　He　ran　a　hand　down　the　fine；　brocaded　fabric　which　Clostan　had　talked　him　into　having　made　up。　It　really　was　a　fine　set；　and　he　could　see　why　cut　and　fit　were　so　important。
　　　〃Do　harpers　really　like　wearing　bags？〃　Clostan　had　sarcastically　demanded　when　Robinton　would　have　settled　for　the　first　outfit　long　enough　to　fit　his　torso　and　legs　at　Tillek's　WeaverHall。　The　MasterHealer　was　as　tall　as　Robinton；　dark…haired　and　handsome；　with　fine；　long　hands　which　were　clever　in　sewing　up　wounds　and　gently　strong　in　setting　broken　bones。　He　had　been　at　Tillek　for　the　past　seven　turns；　ever　since　he　attained　his　Mastery；　for　the　Hold　required　an　experienced　healer　and　Clostan　had　worked　hard　to　adapt　treatment　to　the　needs　of　a　fishing　munity。　〃By　the　Egg；　man；　you　do　yourself　no　favours。　You've　broad　shoulders。。。〃　Clostan　flicked　fingers　at　them。　〃You've　a　trim　waist〃　…　he　couldn't　pinch　much　there　…　〃and　long　shanks。。。　Show　them　off。〃　Clostan's　trousers　tended　to　cling　to　his　strong；　muscular　legs；　just　missing　a　tension　that　might　be　considered　lewd。　〃Especially　during　your　espousal。。。　show　all　the　girls　what　a　fine　one　they　missed　out　on。　And　allow　Kasia　to　be　proud　of　you。〃
　　　〃Because　I　show　off？〃　Robinton　had　demanded；　almost　indignant。
　　　〃I　can't　imagine　you　ever　showing　off；　Rob；〃　Clostan　had　said；　shaking　his　head　in　mock　despair。　He　grinned；　a　smile　which　showed　his　excellent　white　teeth　and　echoed　in　his　dark　eyes。　He　turned　serious　then　and　grabbed　up　the　swatch　of　materials　the　tailor　had　on　hand。　He　held　them　up　to　Robinton's　face　to　see　how　they　looked　against　the　weather…tan　the　harper　had　acquired　over　the　summer。　〃Hmmm；　yes。　I　know　what　Kasia's　wearing；　so　we　must　also　consider　her　colours。　Can't　clash。　Hmmm。　I　think　this　rich　resset　shade　of　the　brocade。。。〃
　　　〃Brocade？〃　Robinton　was　aghast。　He　was　prudent　with　his　marks；　and　he　had　brought　the　sum　he　felt　adequate　with　him。　But　brocade。。。
　　　〃Well；　you　can　hardly　appear　in　something　shabby　for　your　espousal；　can　you？〃　Clostan　remarked　in　disgust。　〃Look　at　it　this　way；〃　he　said；　mastering　his　impatience；　〃you'll　be　able　to　wear　this　to　Gathers　for　turns　before　it　frays。〃　He　robbed　the　sample　roughly　between　his　fingers；　and　then　pulled　both　ends　of　the　swatch　to　show　its　strength。　〃You'd　have　to　spend　far　more　to　match　it　for　quality　over　the　same　period　of　turns。　Good　clothing　is　an　investment。〃　〃And　you　make　many；〃　Robinton　said；　stung　to　retort。
　　　Clostan　gave　him　a　slightly　malicious　grin。　〃I　may；　but　they　have　all　been　wise　choices；　and　I　can　change　to　fit　the　mood　of　the　day　and　the　weather　of　the　season。　Besides；　it　heartens　my　patients　to　see　me　well…dressed。〃
　　　Dispassionately；　and　because　it　was　his　espousal　to　Kasia；　Robinton　fingered　the　swatch　and　then　held　it　against　his　face；　noting　that　the　rich　russet　shade　did　enhance　his　skin　colour。
　　　〃Tailored　correctly；〃　…　Clostan　gestured　for　the　tailor　to　take　measurements　…　〃you'll　be　glad　you　took　the　time　and　effort。　And　you　might　consider　a　few　new　shirts　too；〃　he　added；　waving　another　set　of　colours。　〃You've　only　three。〃
　　　Robinton；　extending　his　arms　for　their　measure；　was　half…tempted　to　clout　Clostan　for　his　manners。　Then　he　started　to　laugh。
　　　At　himself。
　　　〃And　a　new　pair　of　pants。　The　ones　you　came　with　are　all　but　threadbare　…　in　embarrassing　spots　…　since　you　rode　out　of　here；〃　Clostan　added；　peering　down　at　Robinton's　backside。
　　　Since　the　harper　had　that　very　morning　realized　that　Clostan's　observation　was　all　too　true；　he　also　ordered　shirts　and　pants；　including　one　of　leather　which　would　take　the　harder　wear。　He　had　secretly　coveted　the　leather　pants　he　had　seen　Ifor　and　Mumolon　wearing。
　　　When　he　returned　for　the　fitting；　he　had　been　very　pleased　with　the　result　and　admired　himself　in　the　tailor's　long　mirror。
　　　Furthermore；　they　all　fitted　so　fortably　that　he　wondered　why　he　had　never　thought　of　having　tailor…made　clothing　before。　But　it　had　been　as　easy　to　find　something　in　a　Gather　stall　that　was　reasonably　priced　and　fitted　…　more　or　less。
　　　He　was　grateful　to　Clostan　and　brought　him　a　skin　of　good　Benden　wine。
　　　〃Well；　you　do　me　proud；〃　Clostan　said；　gratefully　accepting　the　skin。　〃The　one　drawback　with　this　Hold　is　its　wretched　wine。〃　With　which　sentiment　Robinton　totally　agreed。
Chapter　THIRTEEN
　　　Smiling　over　that　episode；　he　opened　the　glowbasket　over　the　new　worktop　which　he　and　Kasia　had　had　such　fun　finding　and　setting　up　in　their　room。　He　snagged　the　sonata　from　where　his　mother　had　left　it　on　the　music　stand　and；　taking　pen　and　a　new　square　of　hide　…　Kasia　had　said　she　was　going　to　make　sure　he　always　had　good；　fresh　writing　materials　…　he　began　to　make　a　copy　of　the　sonata　for　his　mother　to　take　back　to　the　Harper　Hall。　Maybe　Petiron　would　even　see　it　and　find　few　faults；　since　it　was　written　in　a　classic　style。　He　grinned　ruefully　even　as　his　fingers　flew　across　the　sheet：　Robinton　could　not　really　see　his　father　approving　of　anything　his　son　wrote。
　　　He　looked　back　over　the　score；　to　be　sure　he　had　annotated　it　properly；　and　mused　over　Kasia's　possible　reactions　to　it　when　she　heard　it　the　first　time。　If　she　was　even　half　as　pleased　as　his　mother。。。
　　　He　paced　back　and　forth；　paused　to　pour　himself　a　glass　of　wine；　and　then　went　back　to　the　table　and　proceeded　to　copy　out　his　Kasia　songs。　His　mother　would　like　them　too。　She　might　even　want　to　sing　a　few　as　encores　to　recitals。　He　finished　those；　drinking　as　he　worked；　and　rolled　up　the　music　with　a　neat　ribbon　tying　the　packet；　ready　to　give　to　his　mother。　He　had　a　final　glass　of　wine　and　then；　realizing　that　dawn　was　not　far　away；　took　himself　back　to　bed　and　willed　himself　to　sleep。
　　　Despite　his　late…night　activities；　Robinton　was　up　at　dawn：　he'd　forgotten　to　close　the　curtains　over　the　small　round　windows；　and　the　sun　was　shining　in　his　eyes。　But　he　felt　rested　enough　and　sprang　from　his　bed。　The　day　was　so　clear　that　he　fancied　he　could　see　the　High　Reaches　shore　across　the　wide　bay。。。　which　reminded　him　that　he　hadn't　heard　whether　Lord　Faroguy　had　accepted　Lord　Melongel's　invitation　to　e　to　his　espousal　day。　Not　that　it　was　his　alone；　he　corrected　himself；　for　others　would　be　taking　vows　at　this　Gather　as　well。　As　he　dressed；　he　groaned　as　he　thought　of　having　to　waste　this　morning　at　the　Gather　Court；　but　at　least　it　would　keep　him　too　occupied　to　worry　about　anything　else。
　　　He　joined　Clostan　at　the　table　for　breakfast；　and　the　healer　inspected　him　critically　in　his　new　clothing。
　　　〃Yes；　I　did　you　a　favour；　old　thing；〃　Clostan　said；　sniffing　a　little　as　he　turned　back　to　his　bread　and　cheese。
　　　〃You're　looking　splendid　yourself；〃　Robinton　replied；　now　able　to　recognize　good　tailoring　when　he　saw　it。
　　　Clostan　glanced　down　at　himself；　as　if　he　couldn't　remember　what　he　had　put　on　that　morning。　〃Oh；　well　enough。　I　may　change　for　the　dancing。　That　is；〃　he　added；　nudging　Robinton　in　the　ribs　and　rolling　his　eyes　slyly；　〃if　I'm　allowed　to　dance　with　the　fair　spouse　Kasia。〃
　　　〃Since　it's　you　and　I　owe　you　a　favour；　I'll　let　you　dance　with　Kasia　when　I　have　to　play。〃
　　　〃What？〃　Clostan　affected　great　horror　and　surprise。　〃They　make　you　do　a　set　on　your　espousal　day？〃
　　　Robinton　hushed　him。　〃I'm　a　harper。　I　take　my　turn。　You　wouldn't　turn　away　a　sick　person　today；　would　you？〃
　　　〃Well；　I'd　change　my　clothes　first；〃　Clostan　replied；　flicking　an　errant　crumb　off　his　sleeve。　〃I'll　hold　you　to　that　dance；〃　he　said；　rising。　〃I　do　have　rounds　to　make　now。〃　And　he　was　off。
　　　Lord　Melongel；　looking　austere　in　dark　brown　with　just　a　piping　of　gold　at　the　neck　and　sleeves；　entered　the　dining　hall。　An　approving　smile　appeared　on　his　face　as　he　noted　Robinton's　new　clothes。
　　　〃You　are　looking　the　part；　that's　certain；〃　he　said。　〃Oh；　a　message　was　drummed　in　yesterday　from　High　Reaches。　Lord　Faroguy　regrets。〃
　　　〃Well；　I　didn't　think　he'd　be　able。　Is　he　well？〃
　　　Melon