amc.masterharperofpern-第71部分

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rtain　that　the　men　would　have　orders　to　keep　to　a　reasonable　pace　in　deference　to　his　injury。
　　　There　was　nothing　reasonable　about　his　urgent　need　to　talk　sense　into　Kale。　He　wished　that　the　Ruathan　Holder　had　been　at　the　Gather；　but　his　spouse　had　recently　given　birth　to　a　son；　so　he　had　remained　at　his　Hold。　The　other　Lord　Holders　who　had　been　present　had　received　salutary　shocks：　the　murder　of　a　dragonrider；　an　attack　on　a　MasterHarper；　and　then　Fax's　rejection　of　Tarathel's　valid　judgment　on　the　assassin。　Robinton　was　sure　he　wasn't　the　only　one　who　had　trouble　remembering　that　such　a　word　…　assassin　…　existed　in　the　vocabulary。
　　　〃An　escort　is　necessary；　MasterHarper　Robinton；〃　Tarathel　said；　scowling。　〃It　is　bad　enough　that　you　were　attacked　at　all。　I　fear　a　man　so　lost　to　honour　as　Fax　has　proved　himself　would　not　hesitate　to　make　an　attempt　on　your　life　again　if　you　were　not　close…guarded。〃
　　　〃He　has　scarcely　had　time　to　return　to。。。〃　Robinton　paused。
　　　〃I　will　believe　anything　of　that　man　now；〃　said　Tarathel。　〃You'd　do　well　to　limit　your　wanderings；　MasterHarper；　or　ride　with　an　escort。〃
　　　〃Limit　my　wanderings？　That　I　cannot　in　conscience　do　…　not　now。〃
　　　〃Be　careful　then；　Robinton。〃　Tarathel　pressed　his　hand　warningly　against　Robinton's　uninjured　shoulder。　〃I've　put　one　of　my　best　runner…beasts　at　your　disposal。〃
　　　Robinton　thanked　the　Lord　Holder。。。　though　he　wasn't　so　sure　how　thankful　he　should　be　when　he　tried　to　mount　it。　Three　men　had　to　hold　the　black's　head。　Once　he　was　in　the　saddle；　the　animal　became　obedient。。。　at　least　to　Robinton。　No　one　on　foot　could　get　near　enough　to　hand　the　harper　his　saddlebags。　After　that；　his　gear　was　attached　to　the　saddle　when　the　runner　was　tacked　…　and　even　that　took　several　men。
　　　The　runner…beast　was；　however；　a　very　smooth…gaited；　powerful　creature　with　a　habit　of　charging　on　ahead；　so　that　Robinton's　escort　were　hard　put　to　keep　up　with　him。　Gradually；　he　got　the　trick　of　dealing　with　Big　Black　and　they　came　to　an　understanding　…　largely　encouraged　by　the　sweetener　which　Robinton　would　offer　the　animal　when　he　had　reached　the　saddle　unscathed。　But　reining　him　in　was　another　story：　the　trip　went　faster　than　perhaps　the　healer　could　have　wished；　and　Robinton　was　almost　faint　with　relief　when　he　saw　the　children　playing　on　the　front　court　of　Ruatha　Hold。
　　　The　journey　was　seven　days　of　hard　travel。　If　Robinton　regretted　the　absence　of　dragon　wings；　he　knew　more　now　about　this　area　than　he　previously　had　…　information　that　might　prove　valuable。
　　　The　way　into　Ruatha　Hold　was　appallingly　open。　He　would　have　to　incite　Lord　Kale　to　post　guards；　raise　beacons　and　alert　the　outlying　cots　and　holds；　in　case　Fax　had　his　eye　on　this　prosperous　Hold。
　　　〃Surely　there　must　have　been　some　good　reason　behind　the　captain's　attack　on　F'lon；〃　Lord　Kale　remarked　to　Robinton　as　he　offered　hospitality　to　the　MasterHarper。
　　　He　was　a　tall；　slender　man　with　dark　hair　and　grey　eyes；　but　his　manner　was　gentle　and　it　was　obvious　from　the　affection　in　which　his　stewards　held　him　that　he　was　a　good　Holder；　considerate　of　his　people　and　painstaking　in　his　dealings　with　them。　That　made　for　contented　holders；　but　it　was　a　frail　weapon　against　a　man　of　Fax's　proven　character。　Robinton　was　more　fearful　than　ever。
　　　〃If　you'd　been　there；　Lord　Holder；〃　said　Macester；　the　leader　of　the　escort；　with　an　earnest　scowl　of　anxiety；　〃you'd've　known　it　was　no　accident；　and　we're　lucky　the　MasterHarper　wasn't　killed　too。　Gifflen　was　out　to　do　as　much　damage　as　he　could。　And　then　try　to　snake　his　way　out　of　banishment。〃
　　　〃Heat　of　the　moment。〃　Kale　smiled　patronizingly。
　　　Just　then　a　small　girl；　her　wide　grey　eyes　immediately　establishing　her　as　Kale's　daughter；　toddled　up　to　him；　holding　her　arms　out。
　　　〃Ah；　Lessa；　not　now；　pet。〃　But　he　picked　her　up　and　carried　her　to　the　door；　where　her　attendant　arrived　to　take　her　away。
　　　She　kicked　and　screamed；　straining　backwards　so　that　Robinton　saw　the　thin　face　and　the　immense　eyes；　framed　by　a　tangle　of　dark　curly　hair。
　　　〃　Spirited　at　just　four　Turns；〃　said　Kale　with　an　indulgent　smile。
　　　〃Lord　Kale；　as　MasterHarper　of　Pern　I　implore　you　to　follow　the　examples　of　the　other　Lord　Holders　in　the　west；　to　train　men　to　defend　this　Hold。　To　set　up　a　border　guard　with　beacons　to　alert。。。〃
　　　Kale　held　up　his　hand；　smiling　in　condescension。　〃My　people　are　very　busy　with　ordinary　tasks；　Master　Robinton。　It　is　spring；　you　know；　and　we've　herds　to　manage　and　young　animals　to　train　to　saddle。〃
　　　〃Did　it　never　occur　to　you　that　your　fine　runner…beasts　would　be　invaluable　to　Fax　when　he　needs　to　cover　the　plains　to　Telgar？〃　Robinton　said　insistently。
　　　〃Oh；　e　now；　Master　Robinton；　he　buys　our　runner…beasts；　and　that's　good　for　Ruatha；〃　Kale　replied　with　a　laugh。　〃More　klah？　Surely　you　have　time　to　stay　the　night。　Ruatha　Hold　would　be　honoured。〃
　　　Suddenly　Robinton　wanted　to　put　distance　between　himself　and　this　trusting　fool。　He　got　purposefully　to　his　feet；　about　to　refuse；　when　he　saw　the　weary　look　on　Macester's　face　and　the　man's　obvious　inclination　to　spend　a　night　in　the　fortable　surroundings　of　one　of　the　major　Holds。
　　　〃And　we　are　extremely　grateful　for　the　courtesy；〃　he　said　as　graciously　as　he　could。
　　　The　door　to　Kale's　private　office　was　still　open　after　his　daughter's　entrance　and　the　sounds　of　a　struggle；　man　against　a　furious　animal；　could　be　heard。
　　　〃He's　at　it　again；〃　Macester　said　under　his　breath　as　both　he　and　Robinton　moved　to　the　door。　Kale；　curious；　followed　them　out　to　the　broad　outer　court　where　Big　Black　was　attempting　to　take　chunks　out　of　the　Ruathan　who　had　hold　of　his　reins。　Robinton　noted　wryly　that　none　of　the　escort　had　taken　charge　of　the　beast。
　　　〃That's　a　splendid　animal；〃　Kale　said；　pausing　on　the　top　step　to　take　in　the　scene。　〃Circle　him；　Jez；〃　he　called　to　the　handler。　〃One　of　Tarathel's　mountain　breeds；　isn't　he？〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　Robinton　agreed；　dispassionately　watching　the　beast's　antics。　He　felt　for　a　sweetener　lump　in　his　pocket　and；　finding　one；　stepped　forward；　speaking　in　soothing　tones　and　reaching　for　the　reins　as　a　very　wary　Jez　circled。
　　　〃Easy　now；　there's　a　fine　lad。〃　His　voice　got　through　to　Big　Black　and　the　animal　extended　his　nose　towards　the　MasterHarper；　seeking　the　treat　he　expected。
　　　〃Quite　a　handful；〃　Kale　remarked。
　　　〃Until　you're　in　the　saddle；〃　Robinton　said；　rather　pleased　he　could　say　that　honestly　in　front　of　a　noted　rider　like　Lord　Kale。
　　　Kale　chuckled。　〃Now；　Macester；　if　you'll　have　your　men　lead　your　mounts　up　to　the　beasthold〃　…　he　pointed　up　the　lane　to　the　left　…　〃we'll　see　to　your　fort。〃
　　　〃And　if　your　healer　would　check　Master　Robinton's　arm；〃　Macester　said；　ignoring　Robinton's　protest；　〃I　would　be　easier。〃
　　　〃Your　arm？〃　Kale　was　all　concern。　〃Surely　it　was　only　a　glancing　blow。。。〃
　　　〃Which　required　seven　stitches；〃　Macester　said　in　a　growl。
　　　So　Kale　hurried　the　Harper　back　into　the　Hold　and　shouted　for　the　healer。
　　　〃I　had　so　hoped　to　hear　some　new　music　this　evening。。。〃　the　Lord　Holder　began　wistfully。
　　　〃Oh；　you　will；　you　will；〃　said　Robinton；　dismissing　his　injury。
　　　〃You've　Struan　here。。。〃　He　grinned　at　the　prospect　of　seeing　his　old　dorm…mate；　now　a　very　petent　journeyman。　〃And　I　understand　Lady　Adessa　plays　harp　as　well　as　any　harper。〃
　　　〃But　your　wound　。。。〃
　　　〃Didn't　touch　my　throat；　Lord　Kale。〃　And　mentally　Robinton　reviewed　the　sort　of　songs　that　might　alter　Kale's　indolence。　He　could　but　try。　In　ordinary　times　…　and　these　were　definitely　not　…　Kale　would　be　the　ideal　Lord　Holder；　tolerant；　easy…going　and　affable；　immersed　in　his　Hold's　business　and　sure　of　its　continuing　prosperity。
　　　After　Robinton's　wound　was　tended　to；　he　climbed　to　the　Drum　Tower；　greeted　the　young　holder　on　duty　there；　and　asked　for　and　received　permission　to　signal　the　Harper　Hall　of　his　imminent　return。
　　　The　child；　Lessa；　appeared　briefly　at　the　beginning　of　the　evening's　entertainment；　but　fell　asleep　in　her　father's　lap：　Robinton　was　amused；　since　he'd　been　singing　a　rousing　song　which　had　occasioned　much　stamping　of　heavy　boots　and　rhythmic　clapping。　One　of　the　nearby　holders　who　had　been　invited　to　the　evening　meal　was　clever　with　spoons　and　joined　the　other　players。
　　　Ruatha's　main　Hall；　with　its　excellent　acoustics；　was　marvellous　to　play　in；　though　Robinton　rather　thought　the　wall…hangings　helped。　He　sat　opposite　the　largest　one；　a　stunning　spectacle　of　dragonriders　hovering　above　what　was　obviously　Ruatha　Hold；　though　the　design　of　the　facade　had　been　improved　since　the　tapestry　was　hung。　There　were　queens　too；　their　riders　carrying　long　wands　from　which　flame　spewed；　matching　the　ones　used　by　the　crews　on　the　ground。　He　could　even　make　out　the　Fort　Hold　device　on　the　ground　crews'　shoulders；　so　detailed　was　the　scene。
　　　Lady　Adessa　had　certainly　taken　Hold　here。　He　recalled　the　Hall　from　a　previous　visit　with　Lord　Ashmichel；　and　at　that　time　the　chamber　had　been　dark　and　dingy。　What　was　the　old　saying　about　new　spouses　and　brooms？
　　　Robinton　found　a　little　tune　dancing　in　his　head；　in　petition　with　the　one　his　fingers　were　playing。　His　left　arm　was　not　bothered　by　his　playing；　he　had　briefly　worried　that　the　muscles　or　the　tendons　might　have　been　damaged　by　Gifflen's　knife。
　　　The　next　morning；　after　a　good　sleep　in　a　wide　and　fortable　bed；　Robinton　felt　well　rested　for　the　remainder　of　his　journey。　He　only　wished；　as　Jez　gave　him　an　experienced　leg　up　to　Big　Black's　back；　that　he　had　been　able　to　get　more　cooperation　from　Lord　Kale。　At　least　the　Holder　had　agreed　to　setting　up　border　patrols　along　the　Nabolese　border　and　erecting　fire　beacons　on　the　heights。
　　　〃I　doubt　they　will　ever　be　used；〃　Kale　had　said　in　parting；　leaving　Robinton　sighing　as　he　turned　the　black's　head　south　and　east　to　the　main　ford　of　the　Red　River。
　　　On　the　way　back；　spouses　and　brooms　did　a　stately　dance　in　the　MasterHarper's　mind　as　he　took　the　instance　and　tried　to　make　it　musical。　Melodies　seemed　to　plague　him　at　the　most　inauspicious　moments；　but　he　was　grateful　for　the　return　of　such　spontaneity。　He　used　it　as　a　gau