amc.masterharperofpern-第59部分

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ng　from　an　uncle。　He　refuses　to　allow　harpers　to　teach　what　every　holder　has　the　right　to　know。　Then　he　'acquires'　other　holds；　duelling　the　legitimate　holders　to　death　and　ousting　their　families　from　their　homes。　You　can't　let　him　continue　unopposed；　Melongel。〃
　　　〃Lord　Holders　are　autonomous　within　their　property；〃　Melongel　said　wearily；　as　if　trying　to　convince　himself。
　　　〃Not　if　they　have　taken　illegal　possession。〃
　　　〃That's　not　specified；〃　Melongel　said。
　　　〃It　will　seem；〃　Minnarden　began　carefully；　〃as　if　silence　confirms　him　in　the　position　of　Lord　Holder　of　High　Reaches。〃
　　　〃I　know。　I　know。　And　you've　sent　my　messages　to　the　other　Lord　Holders；〃　Melongel　said　testily。　〃You　know　their　response。〃
　　　〃They'll　let　Fax　get　away　with　this？〃　Robinton　was　indignant。
　　　Couldn't　they　realize　that　they　were　taking　an　awful　risk？　〃I'd　guard　my　borders；　brother。〃
　　　Melongel　shot　him　a　hard　look；　then　relaxed　and　gave　a　little　smile。　〃I　have。　So　far　all　they've　done　is　succour　those　fleeing　Fax's　new　management。　He's　a　hard　man。〃
　　　〃And　will　the　Lord　Holders　act？〃　Robinton　demanded。
　　　Melongel　twisted　his　head　slightly　to　indicate　uncertainty；　lifting　his　hands　in　helplessness。　〃I　cannot　act　on　my　own。〃
　　　Robinton　sighed；　knowing　that　that　would　be　foolish。　〃Lord　Grogellan　would　support　you　…　especially　since　Groghe　can　endorse　your　word。〃
　　　〃Grogellan　would；　but　I　doubt　I　could　get　much　support　from　old　Lord　Ashmichel　at　Ruatha　Hold。　His　son；　Kale；　though。。。〃　Melongel　thoughtfully　fingered　his　chin。　〃Telgar's　another　matter；　but　his　Hold　borders　High　Reaches。〃
　　　〃Lord　Tarathel's　protective；　and　his　foresters　are　very　well　trained；〃　Minnarden　ventured。
　　　〃Lord　Raid　is　too　far　away　to　feel　anxiety；〃　said　Robinton　with　a　touch　of　asperity。
　　　〃I　know　that　Master　Gennell　wants　to　know　about　Lobira　and　Mallan；〃　Minnarden　said；　exchanging　another　glance　with　Melongel。　〃If　he　isn't　satisfied　with　the　answers；　he'll　withdraw　all　harpers　from　the　Hold。〃
　　　Robinton　snorted；　still　pacing。　〃That　would　suit　Fax　perfectly。　No　one　to　tell　anyone　in　his　Hold　what　their　rights　are。〃　Then　he　paused。　〃I　know　High　Reaches　Hold　well：　how　to　get　in　and　how　to　get　out。〃
　　　〃Yes；　and　Fax　knows　your　face；〃　Minnarden　said。
　　　〃He　can't　be　everywhere；〃　Robinton　replied。
　　　〃You　are　far　too　valuable　to　be　sent　on　that　sort　of　a　task；〃　said　Minnarden；　his　face　set　in　denial。
　　　〃I've　nothing　to　lose。。。〃　Robinton　began。
　　　〃I　have。。。　brother；〃　said　Melongel。
　　　〃You've　all　to　lose　if　you　cross　Fax；〃　Minnarden　said　at　the　same　time。　〃Master　Gennell　has　men　who　are　versed　in　quiet　investigations。　He　has　arranged　all。〃　His　expression　said　clearly　that　that　was　that。
　　　After　Robinton　left　that　meeting；　he　realized　how　he　had　shut　himself　away　from　what　was　happening　around　him。　He　fretted　about　Master　Lobira；　Lotricia　and　Mallan。　And；　considering　what　the　fleeing　women　had　told　Chochol；　he　worried　about　pretty　Sitta；　Triana　and　Marcine。　He　was　still　worrying　about　their　fates　when　he　sought　his　bed；　and　it　was　a　long　time　before　he　could　get　his　mind　to　stop　and　let　him　sleep。
　　　He　pleted　his　summer　tour　of　the　upper　holds；　although　sometimes　the　folk　…　in　expressing　their　sympathy　for　his　loss　…　caused　him　more　pain　than　they　knew。　Chochol's　hold　was　enlarged　by　several　tents；　sheltering　a　contingent　of　armed　men　who　patrolled　the　high　ground。
　　　〃More　ing　in　all　the　time；〃　Chochol　told　Robinton　in　a　lugubrious　voice；　shaking　his　head　at　the　terror　which　drove　them　from　their　holds。　〃Someone　ought　to　do　something　about　that　man。　They　say　he's　got　six；　seven　spouses；　all　of　'em　pregnant。〃　Then　he　chuckled　and　his　droll　face　lit　up。　〃Can't　seem　to　get　himself　a　son。〃　Robinton　laughed　too。　〃We　don't　need　more　of　his　ilk！〃
　　　So　he　was　there　when　Lobira　and　Lotricia　managed　to　make　good　their　escape；　escorted　by　a　small；　thin　man　whom　Robinton　thought　he　recognized　from　his　Hall　days。　But　he　couldn't　be　sure。
　　　The　man　had　no　distinguishing　features；　being　quiet　and　capable　but　self…effacing。
　　　〃Don't　I　recognize　you　from　the　Hall？〃　Robinton　asked　him　much　later　when　he　found　the　man　by　himself；　stuffing　food　into　his　carisak。　By　then；　Robinton　had　heard　Lobira's　account　of　the　last　Turn　and　a　half。
　　　〃You　may；　and　again　you　may　not；　Robinton。　Just　forget　you've　ever　seen　me。　That's　the　safest　thing。　I'm　going　back；　as　you　see。〃　〃Why？　You've　brought　Lobira　and　Lotricia　safely　out。〃
　　　〃I'm　going　to　try　for　Mallan　next。　I　think　I　know　where　I　might　find　him。〃
　　　〃Why？　What　happened　to　him？〃
　　　Lobira　and　Lotricia　had　had　enough　warning　to　be　able　to　escape　the　Hold　before　Fax　could　arrest　them。　Mallan　had　not　been　so　lucky。
　　　〃Fax　doesn't　waste　anything。　Even　a　loathsome　harper　can　work　for　his　living。　If　you　call　that　work。。。　or　living。〃
　　　〃What？〃　Robinton　was　insistent。
　　　〃The　mines。　The　mines　always　need　live　bodies。〃
　　　Robinton　felt　a　shiver　of　fear　shoot　up　his　spine。　Mallan's　hands　would　be　ruined；　digging　in　rock。
　　　〃I'll　find　him；　never　fear；　Robinton；〃　the　man　said；　pressing　the　harper's　hand　firmly；　and　then　he　was　off　down　the　hills　on　the　High　Reaches　side；　disappearing　into　the　falling　dusk。
　　　Robinton　and　two　men　escorted　the　thin；　weary　Master　and　his　spouse　to　the　next　hold；　where　he　stayed　to　teach　while　they　went　forward　as　fast　as　they　could　travel　fortably。　Robinton　thought　of　Lotricia；　a　shadow　of　her　once　plump　and　generous　self；　and　the　plates　of　food　she　had　brought　him　and　Mallan；　and　hated　Fax　more　than　ever　…　if　that　was　possible。
　　　Returning　to　Tillek　Hold　was　almost　more　than　he　could　bear。　He　hadn't　minded　the　long　journeys　between　holds；　the　teaching；　even　the　focus　of　his　thoughts　…　Kasia's　beautiful　sea…green　eyes；　her　laugh；　her　body；　the　peace　she　had　given　him。　But　seeing　the　Hold　again　in　the　bright　afternoon　light；　remembering　with　what　hopes　he　had　e　back　the　previous　Turn；　he　almost　turned　his　runner　aside。
　　　When　he　came　to　give　Melongel　his　formal　report；　the　Lord　Holder　put　it　to　one　side。
　　　〃I　saw　your　face　when　you　came　back。。。　brother；〃　he　said；　〃and　it　decided　me。　Just　being　here　in　Tillek　is　making　it　worse；　not　helping。　I'm　releasing　you　from　our　contract。　Master　Gennell　agrees　that　you　should　return　to　the　Harper　Hall　where　you　won't　always　be　reminded。。。　of　Kasia。〃
　　　Numbed　by　the　suddenness　of　that　decision　and　yet　grateful　that　it　had　been　made　for　him；　Robinton　nodded。　Melongel　rose；　so　did　Robinton。
　　　〃There　is　always　room　for。。。　our　brother。。。　here　at　Tillek　Hold；　any　time　you　care　to　claim　it；〃　the　Lord　Holder　said　formally　and　held　out　his　hand。　〃I　think　Master　Gennell　wants　you　to　bring　that　good　Ruathan　runner　back　with　you。〃　He　gave　a　little　smile。　〃Young　Groghe's　to　go　home　too。　You　can　keep　each　other　pany。　He'll　make　a　good　Lord　Holder　when　he　inherits。〃
　　　〃He'll　be　wary　of　Fax；　too。〃
　　　Melongel's　eyebrows　rose　and　his　eyes　caught　Robinton's。　〃Yes；　he　will；　and　that's　all　to　the　good。〃
　　　Two　mornings　later；　having　allowed　his　runner　a　good　rest；　Robinton　rode　south　with　Groghe；　retracing　their　original　route　and　spending　two　days　with　Sucho；　Tortole　and　their　family。　He　had　Saday's　bowl　with　him；　and　showed　her　how　much　he　treasured　it。
　　　The　wall　was　up；　and　many　of　the　capping　slabs　were　athwart　its　expanse　rather　than　on　one　side　or　the　other。　To　Robinton　this　meant　that　at　least　the　two　holders　had　resolved　their　differences。　A　small　satisfaction　to　take　back　with　him。
Chapter　FIFTEEN
　　　It　was　easier　to　be　in　the　Harper　Hall　again；　surrounded　by　the　hopes　of　the　new　young　apprentices；　immersed　in　his　studies　for　his　Mastery；　which　was　what　Master　Gennell　suggested　he　apply　himself　to　for　the　rest　of　the　summer。
　　　But　it　was　still　a　shock　when　Robinton　heard　the　unmistakable　music　of　his　sonata　pouring　out　of　the　open　windows　of　the　rehearsal　hall。
　　　How　dared　they？　How　had　they　got　the　music？　He　had　kept　his　copy；　but　he　had　never。。。　Then　he　remembered　that　he　had　given　his　mother　a　copy　when　she'd　e　for　their　espousal。　But　surely　she　wouldn't。。。
　　　He　tore　out　of　his　room；　pounding　down　the　stairs　to　the　rehearsal　hall；　trying　with　the　noise　of　his　boots　to　drown　out　the　music　he　had　so　lovingly　created　for　his　Kasia。　He　flung　open　the　door；　startling　the　instrumentalists；　his　mother　and　Petiron。
　　　〃How　dare　you　play　that？〃　And　he　advanced　on　his　mother　as　if　he　would　rip　the　harp　from　her　lap。
　　　〃How　dare　you？〃　Petiron　demanded；　infuriated　by　the　interruption。
　　　〃It's　my　music。　No　one　plays　it　without　my　permission。〃
　　　〃Robie。。。〃　his　mother　began；　rising　to　her　feet　and　starting　to　e　towards　him。　She　stopped　abruptly　when　he　recoiled；　holding　his　hands　out　in　protest　as　much　against　the　sympathy　and　pity　in　her　face　as　against　any　contact。　He　almost　hated　her。　How　could　she　have　let　Petiron　see　his　music；　the　sonata　he　had　posed　for　Kasia；　only　for　her？　〃I　loved　Kasia；　too；　Robinton。　I'm　playing　it　for　her。　Every　time　the　Kasia　Sonata　is　played；　her　memory　will　be　invoked。　She　lives　on　in　this　beautiful　music；　she　will　be　remembered　with　it。　You　must　allow　her　that！　You　need　to　allow　yourself　that。〃
　　　He　just　looked　at　her；　feeling　the　anger　drain　away　under　her　stern　gaze。　The　other　players　remained　so　motionless　that　he　scarcely　noted　their　presence。
　　　Then　his　father　cleared　his　throat。　〃The　sonata　is　the　best　thing　you've　ever　written；〃　Petiron　said；　without　a　trace　of　condescension　in　his　voice。
　　　Robinton　turned　slowly　to　look　at　the　Masterposer。
　　　〃It　is；〃　he　said；　and；　turning　on　his　heel；　he　left　the　room。
　　　He　put　wadding　in　his　ears　when　he　went　back　to　his　room　so　that　he　wouldn't　have　to　hear　the　music。　But　some　of　it　penetrated　and　towards　the　end　of　the　rehearsal　…　which　was　almost　a　straight　run…through；　given　the　quality　of　the　musicians　performing　…　he　took　the　wadding　out。　Listening　to　the　rondo　and　the　finale；　he　let　the　tears　run　unheeded　down　his　face。
　　　Yes；　it　was　the　best　piece　of　music　he　had　written。　And　listening　to　it；　somehow　he　found　he　could　think　of　Kasia　without　the　terrible　sense　of　loss　and　the　c