amc.masterharperofpern-第13节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　Halanna　was　granted　a　room　to　herself；　the　attic　one；　which　had　sufficient　space　for　her　much　reduced　wardrobe。　If　she　did　not　apply　herself　to　her　lessons；　her　father　had　left　instructions　with　the　MasterHealer　Ginia　to　take　what　disciplinary　steps　would　be　required　to　see　that　she　did。
　　　〃And；　if　you　should　decide　this　regimen　doesn't　suit　you；〃　her　father　said　in　so　cold　a　voice　that　Merelan　shivered；　〃and　attempt　to　run　away　from　the　Harper　Hall；　I　will　have　the　drums　repudiate　you　across　all　Pern。　Do　you　understand？　You　wanted　to　sing；　you　wanted　to　e　here　to　the　Harper　Hall　so　that　you　could　improve　your　voice。　Now　you　will　do　just　that；　and　nothing　but　that！　Do　you　understand；　Halanna？〃
　　　Head　hanging　after　the　ordeal　of　apology；　she　murmured　something。
　　　〃I　didn't　hear　that。　Speak　up。〃
　　　A　flash　of　her　old　spirit　flared　in　her　eyes；　but　vanished　when　her　father　lifted　his　hand。　〃Yes；　father。　I　understand。〃　She　stood；　head　up；　lips　and　chin　trembling　slightly。　Satisfied　with　her　demeanour；　he　strode　out　of　the　MasterHarper's　office。
　　　〃MasterSinger　Merelan　will　be　your　primary　instructor；　Halanna；〃　Master　Gennell　said。　〃You　will　review　your　foundation　lessons　with　the　first…year　apprentices〃　…　he　was　almost　glad　to　see　the　flare　of　dismay　in　her　eyes；　her　punishment　had　not　broken　her　spirit；　even　if　it　had　quelled　her　arrogance　…　〃until　you　have　learned　enough　to　graduate　to　the　more　advanced　classes。　Although　classes　have　begun　for　the　day；　Master　Washell　has　given　permission　for　you　to　arrive　late　this　morning。　Now　go　on　to　room　26。　And　you'll　need　this　slate　and　chalk。〃
　　　He　handed　her　the　items　she　had　refused　to　carry　or　use　in　her　first　days　at　the　Harper　Hall。　As　she　went　out　of　the　door；　he　noticed　she　pulled　her　shoulders　back；　steeling　herself　to　go　in　among　the　lowest　of　apprentices　and　face　whatever　their　reaction　to　her　presence　might　be。　The　girl　had　courage。　However；　Gennell　had　made　very　sure　that　she　would　not　be　the　butt　of　any　youthful　mischief。
　　　He　had　given　a　stern　lecture　to　the　apprentice　contingent　that　they　were　to　behave　properly　at　all　times　in　her　presence　and　never　refer　to　the　incident　or　they'd　have　worse　of　the　same。
　　　In　fact；　the　affair　had　subtly　improved　the　behaviour　of　even　the　more　inventive　miscreants　among　the　apprentices。　But　that　didn't　keep　many　of　the　principals　from　deeply　regretting　Halanna's　intransigence。　Petiron　did　not　restore　the　more　plex　music　he　had　written　for　contralto　voice；　but　Halanna　did　sing　at　TurnOver。　In　the　duet　with　Merelan；　she　modulated　her　tone　to　match　the　soprano　so　that　it　was　technically　well　sung；　though　the　contralto　part　did　not　match　the　soprano　in　the　joy　which　the　song　had　been　written　to　express。
　　　Petiron　was　profoundly　disappointed　in　her　performance；　having　worked　so　hard　with　her　to　produce　the　dynamics　he　had　'heard'　during　position。
　　　〃Don't　you　dare　chide　her；　Petiron；〃　Merelan　said；　intercepting　him　after　the　performance。　〃She's　done　well；　all　things　considered。　No　one　can　beat　joy　into　music　unless　it　es　from　the　heart。〃
　　　〃But　her　voice。。。〃　Petiron　was　beside　himself　with　dismay。　〃She　could　so　easily　have　risen　to　the　occasion。〃
　　　〃Give　her　time；　love；　give　her　time。　She　may　not　be　as　rebellious　or　arrogant　as　she　was　when　she　first　came　here；　but　give　her　the　chance　to　realize　how　much　she　has　learned　and　how　much　her　voice　has　improved。　If　you　can't　say　anything　plimentary；　say　nothing。〃　She　looked　over　to　where　Halanna　was　being　surrounded　by　Fort　Hold　guests　who　were　plimenting　her　on　her　lovely　voice　and　splendid　performance。　〃She　was　note…perfect；　you　know；　and　her　breath　support　was　excellent。　And　her　presence　couldn't　have　been　improved　on。　Say　that。　She'll　know　where　she　failed。〃
　　　Petiron　opened　his　mouth　and；　while　Merelan　knew　he　wanted　to　plain　that　his　satisfaction　had　been　diminished　by　her　lacklustre　performance；　he　observed　Halanna　accepting　the　pliments　with　a　genuine　modesty。
　　　〃Oh；　well。　You　were　splendid；　Mere。〃
　　　〃I'm　glad　you　think　so；〃　she　said；　and　if　her　tone　was　a　little　dry；　Petiron　missed　it　as　he　was　surrounded　by　those　wishing　to　congratulate　Masterposer　and　MasterSinger。　
Chapter　FOUR
　　　Of　Halanna's　family；　only　the　second　brother；　Landon；　was　able　to　attend　the　TurnOver　performance　since　Halibran　had　unavoidable　hold　obligations。　She　was　glad　enough　to　see　her　brother；　and　he　seemed　more　affectionately　inclined　towards　her。　Patently　impressed　by　her　demeanour　as　well　as　her　singing；　he　remarked　several　times　that　he　didn't　recognize　his　own　sister；　she'd　changed　so　much　for　the　better。
　　　Merelan　took　him　to　one　side　after　his　third　loud　pronouncement。
　　　〃I　wouldn't　make　so　much　of　her　。。。　good　behaviour；　Landon；〃　she　said　kindly。
　　　〃But　she　has　improved；〃　he　protested。
　　　〃Yes；　but　do　you　have　to　rub　it　in？〃
　　　〃Oh；　yes。〃　He　rubbed　his　tanned　chin　and　gave　Merelan　a　charmingly　penitent　smile。　〃I　see　what　you　mean。　But　she's　certainly　turned　inside　out；　and　not　before　time；　if　you　ask　me；　though　you　didn't。　When　she　was　a　toddler；　she　was　such　a　sweet　thing。。。〃　His　voice　trailed　off。　〃Who's　that？〃　he　asked；　suddenly　suspicious　as　he　noticed　a　young　man　in　elegant　TurnOver　finery　leading　his　sister　on　to　the　dance　floor。
　　　Merelan　recognized　one　of　the　younger　Ruathan　nephews；　Donkin；　who　was　currently　fostering　with　Lord　Grogellan。　As　he　had　a　good　strong　tenor　voice；　he　usually　joined　the　Harper　Hall　chorus。　He'd　been　no　more　attentive　to　Halanna　than　half　a　dozen　others　brought　in　for　the　TurnOver　performance。　But；　being　from　Ruathan　Bloodlines；　he'd　be　quite　acceptable　to　the　most　particular　of　fathers　as　a　possible　spouse。
　　　〃Ruathan；　you　say？〃　Landon　echoed；　quite　able　to　recognize　Donkin's　suitability。　〃Is　she　showing　any　preference？〃　〃Not　that　we've　observed。〃　〃Still　keeping　your　eye　on　her？〃
　　　〃No　more　than　we　keep　our　eyes　on　any　of　the　young　women　in　our　care；〃　Merelan　replied　pointedly。
　　　〃She　has　learned　her　lesson；　then？〃
　　　Merelan　thought　his　attitude　was　a　shade　arch；　but　he　was　himself　young　and　had　spoken　to　and　treated　his　sister　kindly　since　his　arrival。　〃She　has　learned　a　good　deal　more　about　the　mechanics　of　both　producing　her　voice　and　music　in　general。　She　has　proved　a　good　student。〃
　　　〃My　father　said　she　may　stay　on；　if　you　think　she　should。〃　Now　he　sounded　less　self…confident；　and　there　was　a　hint　of　a　plea　in　his　tone。
　　　〃She　has　scarcely　begun　to　learn　the　repertoire　suitable　for　her　range；〃　Merelan　told　him　willingly。　〃And　she　has　learned　to　play　flute　and　gitar　well　enough　to　do　ensemble　work。　We　would　certainly　like　to　train　her　as　far　as　she　is　willing　to　go。〃
　　　〃She'll　be　willing；　I　fancy；〃　said　Landon；　his　eyes　watching　Halanna　going　through　the　steps　of　the　dance　with　the　agile　Donkin。　The　two　were　obviously　enjoying　themselves。
　　　Halanna　was　smiling　more　tonight　than　she　had　done　since　her　father's　disciplining。　And　about　time；　too；　Merelan　thought。
　　　〃e；　Landon；　you　can't　spend　all　your　time　as　observer。　I'd　be　happy　to　introduce　you　to　any　number　of　girls　here。〃
　　　〃I'd　like　to　dance　with　you；　if　you'd　permit　it；　MasterSinger。〃　He　managed　not　only　a　charming　smile　but　a　graceful　bow。
　　　Merelan　glanced　about　to　check　on　Robie；　playing　with　some　other　children　his　own　age　at　the　edge　of　the　dance　floor；　and　Petiron；　who　was　explaining　something　…　with　considerable　gesturing　…　to　one　of　the　harpers　home　for　TurnOver。　Eventually　he　would　remember　that　she　loved　to　dance　and　oblige　her；　but　she　was　quite　willing　to　start　with　Landon。　〃I'd　love　to　dance；　Holder　Landon；〃　she　said　and　took　his　offered　hand。
　　　One　of　the　features　of　the　TurnOver　celebrations　was　that　everyone　got　a　chance　to　play　or　sing　…　even　those　as　young　as　Robinton　and　the　other　nursery　children。　They　performed　a　song　on　the　second　day；　each　of　them　using　a　percussion　instrument：　tambourine；　chimes；　triangles；　tom…toms；　cymbals　and　the　hand…bells。　Robie　had　been　chosen　to　beat　the　tempo　on　the　small　drum　with　the　knucklebone；　and　Merelan　glowed　with　pride　at　the　fine　and　plex　rhythm　he　managed。
　　　She　was　disappointed　that　Petiron　was　too　deep　in　discussion　with　Bristol；　the　Telgar　harper；　to　notice　Robinton's　performance。
　　　Bristol；　like　Petiron；　was　a　poser；　though　his　interests　lay　more　in　balladic　works　for　the　guitar　than　in　full　chorus　and　orchestra。　His　work　was　easy　to　remember　and　enjoyable　to　sing　…　though　Merelan　grimaced　even　to　think　so　disloyally。
　　　She　was　rather　surprised；　and　certainly　gratified；　to　see　Bristol　speaking　to　Robie　later　that　afternoon。　Robinton；　his　little　face　serious；　was　explaining　something　to　the　harper；　who　paid　him　the　courtesy　of　attentive　listening。　If　only　Petiron　would　do　the　same。。。
　　　She　reminded　herself　that　this　was　TurnOver　and　the　new　Turn　was　nearly　on　them。　Just　one　more　day　of　freedom　from　the　usual　routine。　She　was　pleased　with　her　hour's　recital　of　the　old　traditional　airs　which　had　been　part　of　these　festivities　since　Fort　Hold　was　founded。　She'd　had　no　trouble　holding　her　audience；　and　the　applause　had　been　generously　prolonged　though　she　had　kept　her　encores　to　th