amc.masterharperofpern-第18节

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od　enough　to　have　a　Harper　stamp。〃
　　　〃That　drum　he　made　was　not　up　to　standard；〃　Petiron　began。
　　　〃At　that；　his　first　drum　was　nearly　good　enough。　The　others　he　has　made　in　the　past　few　months　have　already　been　sold。　So　have　the　multiple　pipes　and　his　first　flute。。。〃
　　　〃The　pipes　are　in　his　room。。。〃
　　　〃He　is　already　considered　an　apprentice　by　the　rest　of　the　Hall's　Masters；　Masterposer　Petiron；〃　Gennell　said。　〃We　are　careful　to　take　him　only　at　his　own　pace　…　and　his　progress　has　him　ahead　of　most　second…year　apprentices。〃
　　　Petiron's　mouth　dropped。　〃But　he's　my　son。。。〃
　　　〃A　fact　that　you　only　seem　to　have　recognized　very　recently；〃　Gennell　said　in　much　the　tone　he　would　take　with　an　erring　journeyman。
　　　Then　his　expression　softened。　〃You　are　the　best　poser　we　have　had　in　the　Hall　in　over　two　hundred　years；　Petiron；　and　you　are　honoured　as　such。　It　is　your　single…mindedness　which　can　produce　such　extravagant　and　plex　music；　but　it　has　also　given　you　less　than　perfect　vision　about　other；　equally　important　matters：　such　as　your　son　and　your　spouse。　Therefore；　since　I　had　a　request　from　Benden　Hold　for　a　Master　in　the　Vocal　Traditions；　I　have　assigned　Merelan　to　the　post。　At　her　request。　As　the　Benden　Lord　Holder　has　children　Robinton's　age；　he　will　acpany　his　mother。〃
　　　Petiron　rose　indignantly。　〃I'm　his　father　…　have　I　no　say　in　this？〃　〃Until　a　boy　child　is　twelve；　it　is　traditional　for　him　to　be　in　his　mother's　care　unless　fostered　to　a　family。〃
　　　〃This　has　all　been　conducted　with　precipitous　and　unnecessary　haste；〃　Petiron　began；　clenching　and　unclenching　his　fists；　trying　to　control　the　rage　that　was　boiling　up　inside　him。　Not　only　were　his　paternal　rights　being　denied；　but　why　was　his　spouse；　usually　so　understanding；　suddenly　rejecting　him？
　　　〃On　the　contrary；　Master　Petiron；〃　Gennell　replied；　shaking　his　head　slowly　and　sadly；　〃the　decision　was　neither　an　easy　nor　an　abrupt　one。〃
　　　〃But　。。。　she　was　there！〃　Petiron　waved　a　shaking　hand　towards　his　own　quarters　on　the　level　above。　〃She　cannot　have　gone　far。。。〃
　　　〃A　Benden　dragon　arrived　this　morning　with　a　further　entreaty　from　Lord　Maidir　for　her　to　accept　the　posting；　especially　as　his　contracted　harper；　Evarel；　has　been　advised　to　rest　by　the　healer。　She　took　the　message　up　to　your　quarters　to　discuss　it　with　you。　I　admit　to　being　surprised　that　she　returned　and　accepted　it。　She　told　me　that　she　felt　it　was　in　both　her　interests　and　Robinton's　that　she　do　so。〃
　　　〃Because　I　didn't　know　my　son's　age？〃　Petiron　heard　his　voice　rise　to　tenor　range　in　surprise。
　　　Gennell　blinked　in　such　an　honest　reaction　that　Petiron　had　to　accept　that　that　subject　had　not　e　up。　Still；　Merelan's　acceptance　of　any　posting　away　from　him；　away　from　the　Hall；　was　so　uncharacteristic　of　her　that　he　could　think　of　no　reason　at　all　beyond　that　rather　trite　one。
　　　〃About　that　I　do　not　know；　Petiron；　but　she　and　the　boy　will　already　have　reached　Benden　Hold。　She　asked　Betfice　to　pack　up　what　she　and　Robinton　will　need。　Doubtless　you　will　hear　from　her　shortly　with　a　private　letter。〃　Petiron　stared　at　his　MasterHarper；　having　great　difficulty　absorbing　what　he　had　just　heard。
　　　〃If　it　is　a　mother's　right　to　have　her　child　until　he　is　twelve；　then　I　shall　not　interfere　with　her　maternal　instincts；〃　he　said　so　harshly　that　Gennell　flinched。　〃At　twelve　I　shall　have　him。〃　With　that；　both　promise　and　threat；　he　turned　on　his　heel　and　stalked　out　of　the　MasterHarper's　workroom。
Chapter　SIX
　　　His　mother　never　did　explain　to　Robinton　exactly　why　she　came　to　his　classroom　that　morning；　to　speak　quietly　and　briefly　to　Kubisa；　whose　face　gave　away　nothing。　She　just　gave　him　his　heavy　jacket　to　put　on；　while　she　cleared　the　contents　of　his　desk　into　a　carisak；　adding　the　roll　of　things　which　Kubisa　handed　her。
　　　There　was　something　about　his　mother's　attitude　that　warned　Robinton　not　to　ask　questions。　The　rest　of　the　children　in　the　classroom　were　whispering　excitedly；　two　had　even　left　their　seats　and　were　peering　out　of　the　window。
　　　That　was　when　Robinton　saw　the　wing　claws　of　a　bronze　dragon　in　the　courtyard。
　　　〃I　don't　think　you'll　mind　riding　a　dragon　today；　dear；〃　his　mother　said；　as　she　carefully　closed　the　classroom　door　behind　her。
　　　She　had　the　half…full　carisak　clutched　under　her　arm　and　took　his　hand　to　guide　him　down　the　steep　steps。
　　　〃Ride　a　dragon？〃　He　stumbled　in　surprise；　and　was　glad　of　the　tight　hold　she　had　on　his　hand。
　　　〃Yes；　we're　going　to　Benden　Hold。　Lord　Maidir　sent　a　dragon　for　us。〃
　　　〃He　sent　a　dragon　for　us？〃
　　　Robinton　was　floored。　Yet　there　were　Betrice　and　Masters　Bosler　and　Washell　handing　up　carisaks　to　the　bronze　rider；　who　was　securing　them　to　the　dragon's　harness。　As　his　mother　briskly　rushed　him　across　the　courtyard　to　the　dragon；　he　looked　about　for　his　father。
　　　〃Your　father's　not　ing　with　us；〃　his　mother　said　with　an　odd　catch　to　her　voice。　Before　he　could　protest；　she　had　swung　him　off　his　feet　and　up　to　the　bronze　rider's　waiting　arms。　Then　she　mounted　and　sat　behind　him。
　　　I　am　Spakinth　and　my　rider　is　C'rob。　Cortath　and　Kilminth　say　do　not　fear　us。
　　　〃I'm　going　to　get　to　ride　you？〃　Robinton　asked；　his　voice　nearly　a　squeak　in　his　excitement。
　　　〃You're　certainly　getting　to　ride　my　dragon；〃　the　rider　said。
　　　Robinton　tried　to　crane　his　head　around　and　look　up　at　C'rob。
　　　〃Yes；　I　am；〃　he　said。　Then　he　realized　he　was　holding　on　to　the　neck　ridge　in　front　of　him　in　a　fierce　grip；　and　instantly　relaxed。　〃Oh；　I　beg　your　pardon！　I　didn't　hurt　you；　did　I？〃
　　　Of　course　not；　the　ridge　is　there　to　hold　on　to；　Spakinth　said　in　the　same　instant　that　C'rob　laughed　and　said：　〃You　won't　hurt　a　dragon　that　way；　lad。〃　And　then　he　leaned　to　one　side　and　regarded　Robinton　with　raised　eyebrows。　〃But　then　Spakinth　is　telling　you；　too；　isn't　he？〃　The　rider　seemed　surprised。
　　　Robinton　grinned　back；　flexing　his　fingers　around　the　ridge　just　for　the　feel　of　it。　〃Cortath　and　Kilminth　have　spoken　to　me；　too。〃
　　　〃Have　they。。。〃　And　then　C'rob's　attention　was　taken　by　Merelan's　arrival　behind　him。　〃Just　hang　on　to　my　belt　there；　MasterSinger；〃　the　rider　said。　〃I've　your　son　safely　tucked　forward。〃　〃Then　may　we　leave？〃
　　　Robinton　thought　his　mother　must　be　as　excited　as　he　was　to　be　mounted　on　a　dragon；　because　her　voice；　when　she　answered；　was　quavery。
　　　In　the　next　instant；　his　head　was　thrown　back　against　C'rob's　chest　as　Spakinth　sprang　upwards。　Robinton　barely　heard　himself　let　out　a　whoosh　of　'Ohhhhhh'　over　the　noise　the　wings　made。。。　like　all　the　sheets　in　the　Harper　Hall　flapping　in　the　wind　on　the　laundry　line。
　　　He　squealed　again　as　Spakinth　circled　eastward；　spiralling　higher；　the　tall　roofs　of　the　Harper　Hall　buildings　diminishing　so　fast　he　hadn't　breath　for　a　second　cry　of　amazement　as　the　spiral　took　them　high　over　Fort　Hold's　massive　precipice。　Briefly　he　saw　white　faces　turned　skywards　and　wondered　if　they　could　recognize　him　perched　in　front　of　the　dragonrider　on　bronze　Spakinth。
　　　〃Don't　be　afraid；　now；　Robinton；〃　C'roh　said；　almost　shouting　in　his　ear。　〃We're　going　between。。。〃
　　　And　then　they　were！　Robinton　held　his　breath；　far　more　terrified　of　the　awful　cold　nothingness　around　him　than　of　the　worst　of　his　childish　nightmares。
　　　I　am　here。　You　ride　me　with　C'rob　and　the　woman。　I　will　keep　you　safe；　young　Robinton。
　　　And　before　a　scream　of　fear　could　rise　in　Robinton's　throat；　they　were　out　of　the　cold　and　the　black　and　wheeling　above　another　Hold　cliff。
　　　〃That's　Benden　below　you；　lad。〃　C'rob　patted　his　shoulder。　〃And　not　a　peep　out　of　you。　Nor　did　you　wet　your　breeches。〃
　　　Robinton　was　stunned　by　such　a　shocking　suggestion　and　stiffened　under　C'rob's　hand。　Very　quietly；　so　that　not　even　Spakinth　could　hear　and　think　badly　of　him；　Robinton　knew　that　just　a　moment　longer　in　frigid　between　and　he　might　well　have　disgraced　himself。
　　　Many　do；　young　Robinton；　but　never　you。
　　　And　young　Robinton　sat　up　straighter　and　loosened　the　vice…like　grip　he　found　he　had　taken　on　the　neck　ridge。　He　hoped　dragons　didn't　bruise；　and　he　smoothed　the　places　where　his　fingers　actually　had　made　an　imprint。　Spakinth　said　nothing　as　he　was　busy　landing；　which　required　powerful　back…winging　to　set　himself　down　just　in　front　of　the　steps　up　to　the　smaller　outer　court　of　Benden　Hold。
　　　〃They're　here！　Spakinth　and　C'rob　brought　them。　She's　e！〃　And　out　of　the　wide…open　front　door　spilled　a　crowd　of　children。
　　　Spakinth　curved　his　neck　and　lowered　his　head　towards　those　racing　down　the　steps。
　　　Always　noisy；　always　noisy；　the　dragon　said；　more　to　himself　than　to　either　his　rider　or　Robinton。　Robinton　was　later　to　learn　that　C'rob　had　fathered　five　children　at　Benden　Weyr；　and　consequently　his　dragon　was　well　able　to　handle　the　swarm　which　converged　on　him；　stroking　his　hide　and　his　eye　ridges　when　he　lowered　them　enough。
　　　Then　Lord　Maidir　and　Lady　Hayara；　who　was　carrying　one　child　and　obviously　pregnant　with　another；　came　out　to　wele　the　MasterSinger　and　her　son。　As　Merelan　slid　down　Spakinth's　side；　C'rob　settled　Robinton　between　the　next　two　ridges　up　so　that　he　could　stan