amc.masterharperofpern-第26节

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honour　even　if　they　were　both　still　fatigued　by　their　exertions。　Even　Falloner　was　not　his　usual　self；　silent　in　his　father's　presence。
　　　〃I　shall　sleep　all　week；〃　Merelan　said　as　they　waved　farewell　to　the　bronze　rider　and　Chendith。　〃But　what　a　splendid　evening；　Robie。　That　was　a　glorious　performance。　I　know　I've　never　sung　so　well　before；　and　you　were　fabulous。　I　only　hope　that　you　keep　that　treble　a　while　longer。〃　She　sighed　and　ruffled　his　hair　as　they　climbed　the　steps　into　the　Hold。　〃And　have　a　mature　voice　too；　of　course。〃
　　　Lady　Hayara　arrived；　waddling　awkwardly　since　she　was　nearly　at　the　end　of　this　pregnancy。　〃I　was　sure　they　would　keep　you　overnight　when　you　didn't　arrive　at　a　decent　hour；〃　she　said　as　she　acpanied　them　into　the　Hold　and　towards　the　main　stairs。　〃You　look　exhausted。。。　did　it　go　well？　You　have　a　glow　about　you；　you　know。　Do　you　need　anything？　I　won't　go　up　the　stairs　with　you　today；　I　think。〃　She　gave　a　breathy　sigh　and　fanned　her　face　with　her　hand。　〃I　had　hoped　to　be　delivered　on　time　this　time。。。〃
　　　miserating　with　the　Lady　and　assuring　her　that　they　were　all　right；　Merelan　led　her　son　up　to　their　quarters；　her　shoulders　sagging　only　when　they　were　out　of　Hayara's　sight。
　　　〃Singing　like　that　certainly　takes　it　out　of　one；　doesn't　it？〃　his　mother　said　as　they　entered　their　quarters。　〃Oh！〃
　　　They　both　saw　the　roll　of　a　large　message　on　the　table；　its　origin　obvious　by　the　Harper…blue　band　spiralling　its　length。　Her　hand　hesitated　above　the　tube　just　a　moment；　but　then　she　grasped　it　firmly　and　broke　the　seal　as　she　seated　herself。　She　pulled　out　a　sheaf　of　music　and　spread　it　open。　Robinton　saw　her　face　pale　and　her　fingers　shake　slightly　as　she　read　the　brief　message　attached　to　it。
　　　〃No；　it's　not　from　your　father。〃　She　looked　at　the　music　before　finishing　the　note。　〃It's　from　Master　Gennell。　Hand　me　my　guitar；　Robie。〃
　　　He　uncased　it　instantly；　surprised　at　her　urgency。　It　was　then　that　he　realized　his　mother　had　not　sung　any　of　his　father's　positions　in　the　Hold　or　in　the　Weyr。　He　knew　that　she　was　probably　the　only　singer　who　could　technically　handle　the　difficult　works　Petiron　wrote。　Seeing　her　struggle　a　bit　to　stop　the　score　from　rolling　up　again；　he　planted　his　hands　on　the　edges。
　　　She　struck　the　opening　chord；　paused　to　tune　the　strings　slightly；　and　began　again。　Halfway　through　the　first　page；　she　looked　up　at　her　son；　confused　and　surprised。
　　　〃This　isn't　at　all　like　your　father。。。〃　She　peered　closely　at　the　script。　〃But　it　is　certainly　his　writing；〃　she　said；　and　continued　playing　the　notes。
　　　Robie　followed　the　music；　deftly　shifting　the　pages　from　one　to　the　next。　He　almost　missed　one　turning　because　he　too　became　touched　by　the　plaintive　melody；　the　minor　chordings；　the　whole　tenor　of　the　music。　As　the　last　of　the　guitar　notes　died　away；　mother　and　son　looked　at　each　other；　Merelan　perplexed　and　Robinton　anxious。　He　wanted　her　to　like　it；　too。
　　　〃I　think　I　can　say；〃　she　began　slowly；　〃without　fear　of　contradiction〃　…　a　little　smile　turned　up　the　corners　of　her　mouth　…　〃that　this　is　the　most　expressive　music　your　father　has　ever　written。〃　She　wrapped　both　arms　around　her　guitar。　〃I　think　he　misses　us；　Robie。〃
　　　He　nodded。　The　music　had　definitely　been　melancholic；　where　his　father　usually　wrote　more。。。　more　positive；　aggressive　music；　full　of　embellishments　and　variations；　with　wild　cadenzas　and　other　such　flourishes。　Rarely　as　simple；　and　elegant；　a　melody　as　this。
　　　And　it　was　melodic。
　　　She　picked　up　Master　Gennell's　note。　〃Master　Gennell　thinks　so；　too：　〃Thought　you　ought　to　see　this；　Merelan。　A　definite　trend　towards　the　lyric。　And；　in　my　opinion；　quite　likely　the　best　thing　he's　ever　written；　though　he'd　be　the　last　to　admit　that。〃'　Merelan　gave　a　little　laugh。　〃He'll　never　admit　it；　but　I　think　you're　right；　Master　Gennell。〃　She　looked　at　her　son。　〃What　do　you　think；　dear？　About　the　music？〃
　　　〃Me？〃　Flustered；　he　didn't　know　what　to　say。　〃Are　there　any　words　to　it？〃
　　　〃Why　don't　you　write　some；　dear？　Then　it　would　be　a　father…and…son　collaboration。　The　first；　perhaps；　of　many？〃
　　　〃No；〃　Robinton　said　thoughtfully；　though　he　wished　with　all　his　heart　right　then　that　there　could　be　a　chance　his　father　would　use　words　he　had　written。　〃I　think　you'd　better　add　the　words；　Mother。〃
　　　〃I　think；　my　son；　we'll　both　work　on　the　proper　lyrics。〃　She　ruffled　his　hair；　her　eyes　sad　despite　the　slight　smile　on　her　lips。　〃If　we　can　find　appropriate　ones。。。〃
Chapter　EIGHT
　　　Robinton　didn't　know　what　his　mother　wrote　in　her　reply　to　Master　Gennell；　but　she　did　explain　to　her　son　that　she　had　to　serve　out　her　contract　with　Benden　Hold。　She　also　wanted　to　give　C'gan；　the　Weyrsinger；　more　training。　He　was　musically　sound　enough；　but　needed　to　develop　more　confidence　in　his　harpering。　She　would　also　insist　that　a　good；　voice…training　harper　be　assigned　to　Benden　Hold　when　apprentices　walked　the　tables　to　journeyman　status　this　summer。　Benden　deserved　the　best　there　was。
　　　〃For　a　variety　of　reasons；〃　she　said。　〃However；　I　think　we'll　bring　Maizella　back　with　us　to　the　Hall。　She'll　profit　more　from　working　with　various　Masters　now　that　she's　learned　the　basics。〃　She　gave　one　of　her　enigmatic　smiles。　〃She　can　sing　with　Halanna。〃
　　　Robinton's　opinion　wasn't　asked；　but　he　would　have　much　preferred　a　longer　term　at　Benden　Hold　…　and　not　just　because　of　his　friendship　with　Falloner；　Hayon　and　the　others。　He　didn't　really　want　to　go　back　to　the　Harper　Hall；　even　if　…　when　an　excited　Maizella　started　quizzing　him　about　his　home　…　he　suddenly　missed　his　friends　there；　even　Lexey。
　　　Maizella's　parents　were　delighted　to　think　that　the　MasterSinger　even　suggested　the　idea　for　their　daughter。　That　was　after　Lady　Hayara　gave　birth　to　another　son。
　　　〃I'd　have　preferred　another　girl；〃　she　admitted　to　Merelan　when　she　and　Robie　dutifully　visited　her。　〃It's　so　much　easier　just　to　marry　them　off　suitably　than　have　to　worry　about　all　the　rivalry　among　boys　to　succeed。　I　mean；　I　know　that　Raid　will　make　a　good　Lord　Holder　but。。。〃　And　she　never　finished　her　sentence。
　　　Falloner　had　spent　one　evening　explaining　to　Robinton　why　it　was　better　to　be　in　Weyr　or　Hall　because；　if　you　were　a　male　in　line　for　succession　in　a　Hold；　you　had　to　guard　yourself　against　jealous　brothers　and　cousins。
　　　〃But　don't　the　Lord　Holders　all　get　together　in　one　of　their　Councils　and　decide？〃　Robinton　asked；　and　got　a　snort　for　his　ingenuousness。
　　　〃Sure；　they　decide；　but　it's　usually　the　strongest　one　they　pick；　the　one　who's　survived　long　enough　to　present　himself　as　a　candidate。　Mind　you；　at　the　Weyr　there's　some　scheming　and　displaying　when　there's　a　queen　to　mate。〃　A　shrewd　look　came　over　the　weyr　lad's　face。　〃But　no　one　dies；　of　course；　because　dragonriders　can't　fight　to…the…death　duels；　and　a　real　smart　rider　can　make　certain　his　bronze　gets　the　queen　ahead　of　the　others。〃
　　　〃How？〃
　　　Falloner　gave　him　a　patient　look。　〃There　are　ways；　there　are　ways！　That's　how　my　father　beat　out　all　the　other　bronze　riders　when　Feyrith　rose　the　last　time。　Carola　wanted　C'rob　in　her　weyr；　but　Spakinth　wasn't　as　clever　as　Chendith。　Not　by　half；　he　wasn't。　And　Feyrith's　clutch　by　Chendith　was　much　larger　than　her　last　one　by　Spakinth。〃
　　　〃I　thought　the　Weyrleader　stayed　Weyrleader。。。〃　Robinton　mentally　reviewed　all　the　songs　he　knew　about　dragonkind。
　　　〃Only　as　long　as　his　dragon　flies　the　queen；〃　Falloner　said；　shaking　his　head。
　　　〃I　wish　you　could　e　back　to　the　Harper　Hall　with　me；〃　Robinton　suggested　shyly。
　　　〃No　way；〃　Falloner　said。　〃I'll　be　back　at　the　Weyr。　I　don't　want　to　be　away　too　long；　you　see。〃
　　　〃Why？　There're　no　eggs　on　the　Hatching　Ground　…　and　besides；　you're　not　old　enough　yet。〃
　　　〃Only　another　Turn　to　go；〃　Falloner　said；　as　cocky　as　ever。　〃Not　that　it　hasn't　been　great　getting　to　know　you；　and　your　mother's　terrific。　She's　made　sure　I'll　be　more　visible　now。〃
　　　〃Visible？〃　It　seemed　to　Robinton　that　Falloner　would　do　better　to　efface　himself　instead　of　getting　into　so　much　trouble　that　he　had　to　be　sent　away　from　the　Weyr　so　the　Weyrwoman　would　calm　down。　Robinton　never　did　find　out　what　his　friend's　offence　had　been。
　　　〃Yes；　I　can　help　C'gan　now　that　I　can　read　and　copy　music　…　almost　as　well　as　you　can。〃
　　　〃You　learn　quickly；〃　Robinton　said　generously。
　　　〃I　have　to；〃　Falloner　said；　quite　serious；　〃if　I'm　to　be　Weyrleader　in　the　next　Pass。　C'mon；　I'll　help　you　finish　packing。　You've　sure　got　more　than　you　came　with。〃
　　　〃Everyone's　been　very　kind　to　me；〃　Robinton　admitted。
　　　〃Why　not？　You're　stepping　on　no　one's　toes　here。〃
　　　Robinton　had　a　lump　in　his　throat　the　next　afternoon　when　he　had　to　say　goodbye　to　all　those　he'd　met　at　Benden　…　especially　Falloner　and　Hayon。
　　　〃Don't　worry；　Rob；〃　Falloner　murmured　in　his　ear　as　they　stood　by　Spakinth's　side；　watching　as　the　carisaks　were　heaved　up　and　over　the　bronze's　back。　〃As　soon　as　I've　a　bronze　dragon；　I'll　e　and　visit。　Promise。〃
　　　〃I'll　expect　you；〃　Robinton　told　him；　grinning　broadly　to　keep　the　tears　back。
　　　〃Up　you　get；〃　C'rob　said　and　flung　him　up　the　bronze's　side。
　　　Robinton