amc.masterharperofpern-第34节

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right　smile　of　understanding　on　a　student's　face　when　knowledge　suddenly　seeped　in。
　　　〃I　think　I'd　like　that；　sir。〃　He　took　a　surreptitious　glance　at　the　map　but　then　realized　a　fact。　〃But；　Master　Gennell；　who's　going　to　take　instruction　from　someone　only　fifteen？　I　know　I'm　well　grown；　but。。。〃　He　flicked　his　hands　out　in　a　helpless　gesture。
　　　〃If　you're　assigned　to　work　under　a　more　experienced　teacher；　you'd　be　wele　anywhere；〃　Gennell　said；　rubbing　his　chin；　〃especially　if　you　promise　me　to　continue　writing　those　songs　and　ballads。〃
　　　Robinton　flushed。　〃I　can't　seem　to　stop　writing　them；〃　he　said　meekly。
　　　〃Good。　We　need　to　freshen　up　the　repertoire　with　catchy　tunes　and　musical　nonsense。　People　like　to　whistle　a　tune；　like　to　sing　a　new　song　and　find　harmonies。　You're　good　at　that。　I　expect　you　to　continue。〃
　　　〃As　long　as　it's　all　right。。。〃　Robinton　said　in　an　almost　unintelligible　murmur。
　　　〃It　is　more　than　'all　right'；　Robinton；　it　is　essential。　Now；　stop　colouring　up　like　a　glowbasket。　Learn　to　take　honest　praise　with　the　same　dignity　with　which　you've　received　criticism。〃　Abruptly；　Gennell　cleared　his　throat。　〃Well；　that's　decided；　but　I　wanted　to　know　if　you　wished　to　stay　on　in　the　Hall。　We'd　find　something　to　keep　you　busy　if　you　did；　though　your　mother's　much　better　since　she　came　back。〃
　　　Robinton　met　Master　Gennell's　concerned　grey　eyes　and　gave　a　grateful　smile。　〃I'm　your　apprentice；　sir；　you　can　assign　me　where　you　will。　Where　I'd　do　some　good。〃　What　he　didn't　add　hung　in　the　air：　Because　I　can't　do　any　good　here。
　　　〃Well　then；　that's　settled。　I'll　see　who　can　use　an　assistant　harper。〃
　　　Robinton　was　still　trying　to　absorb　this　astonishing　news　when　he　found　himself　out　in　the　corridor。
　　　To　be　utterly　truthful；　he　looked　forward　to　leaving　the　Harper　Hall　and　getting　away　from　the　constant　censorious　glances　of　his　father。　Privately　he　thought　this　was　what　was　eating　away　at　his　mother：　the　tension　and　having　to　placate　his　father　all　the　time。　He　wanted　to　get　on　with　his　own　life　…　without　constraint　and　with　an　enthusiasm　he　wasn't　able　to　give　scope　to　here　in　the　Harper　Hall。
　　　He'd　really　enjoy　being　away　…　and　as　Master　Gennell　had　promised　to　keep　him　informed　about　his　mother's　health；　he　could　go　with　an　easy　conscience。　It'd　be　so　much　better　for　her；　too；　if　she　didn't　have　to　worry　about　him；　had　a　reason　to　be　proud　of　him。
　　　He　went　back　to　putting　the　final　coat　of　varnish　on　the　lap　harp　he　was　making。　He　would　take　that　with　him；　he　thought；　though　originally　he　had　made　it　to　sell。　He　had　already　earned　quite　a　few　marks　at　Gathers　with　his　output。　When　Master　Jerint　asked　him　what　the　MasterHarper　had　wanted　him　for；　Robinton　shrugged　it　off。　〃Next　term's　duties；〃　he　said；　which　had　the　advantage　of　being　the　truth。
　　　Robinton　had　bee　so　adept　at　keeping　emotions　to　himself　that　it　had　bee　a　habit。　And　though　he　yearned　to　tell　his　mother；　he　knew　she　was　busy　with　lessons　this　afternoon。　He'd　just　have　to　hold　his　good　news　in。　It　was　something　to　relish；　anyway。　As　relieved　as　he　was　that　he　wouldn't　have　to　take　Theory　under　his　father；　he　was　most　excited　at　the　prospect　of　leaving　the　Hall　on　his　first　official　assignment。　He　also　knew　he'd　had　a　hint　of　something　the　oldest　apprentices　would　die　to　hear：　he　suspected　that　Master　Gennell　was　about　to　reveal　who　would　walk　the　tables　…　the　best　of　all　the　traditions　in　the　Harper　Hall。　The　announcement　of　who　had　made　journeyman　rank　could　be　any　day　now；　there　was　a　lot　of　talk　about　its　imminence　in　the　dorms。
　　　Sometimes　the　lucky　ones　were　warned　to　pack　what　they'd　need；　but　just　as　often　no　clue　at　all　was　given　until　Master　Gennell　called　out　the　names。　That　was　always　a　great　evening。　The　Masters　loved　to　surprise　the　fourths；　make　them　sweat　a　little　before　giving　them　the　reward　for　four　turns'　work。　At　least　he'd　have　time　to　warn　his　mother　of　his　leaving；　but　he　knew　she'd　be　pleased　for　him。　Even　being　assigned　as　assistant　harper　was　an　honour。
　　　Robinton　paused　in　his　varnishing；　whooshing　the　fumes　away　from　his　nose。　The　reek　was　stifling。
　　　〃That's　the　ticket；〃　Master　Bosler　said；　pausing　by　Robinton's　work　station。　He　gave　him　a　quick　pat　on　the　back。　〃One　of　the　nicer　ones　with　all　that　careful　inlaid　pattern。　And　the　skybroom　wood！　Very　good！　We　can　get　a　good　price　for　it　at　the　next　Gather。〃
　　　〃With　skybroom　wood　hard　to　e　by；　I　think　I　might　just　keep　it　for　a　while；〃　Robinton　said；　watching　Bosler's　expression。　Would　the　Master　have　an　idea　of　Robinton's　immediate　future？　He　knew　that　Master　Gennell　listened　to　the　opinions　of　his　Masters。　As　an　apprentice；　Robinton's　studies　were　governed　by　what　all　the　Masters　…　probably　his　father；　too　…　thought　of　his　progress；　so　maybe　Master　Bosler　was　aware　of　his　good　news。　But　no；　the　lined　face　and　keen　eyes　did　not　alter。
　　　So　much　for　that；　Robinton　thought　and；　with　a　smile　for　his　Master；　he　went　back　to　applying　the　varnish。　He　wasn't　using　a　quick…drying　type　because　he　wanted　to　avoid　any　brush　strokes。
　　　By　dinner…time；　his　mood　had　swung　in　the　opposite　direction　and　his　stomach　was　churning。　Maybe　it　had　been　Petiron's　idea　in　the　first　place；　removing　the　unwanted　son　from　the　Hall？　His　father　was　more　likely　to　suggest　he　go　drudge　for　someone　in　a　back…of…beyond　small　hold；　too　far　away　for　him　to　take　time　off　and　e　back　to　the　Hall。　It'd　be　ironic　if　Robinton　was　assigned　to　Master　Ricardy　at　Fort　Hold。　He　already　had　three　assistants　and　another；　elderly　harper　who　did　nothing　but　entertain　for　the　old　aunties　and　uncles　of　the　Hold。　No；　definitely；　Master　Gennell　wanted　him　to　help　teach。　That　had　been　the　crux　of　the　interview：　would　he　be　willing　to　teach？
　　　Though　the　dinner　was　one　of　Lorra's　better　ones；　Robinton　found　himself　unable　to　eat；　a　fact　immediately　noted　by　his　table　panions　who　were　well　aware　of　his　voracious　appetite。
　　　〃Inhaling　varnish　all　afternoon　has　put　me　off；〃　he　offered　as　explanation。
　　　Falawny　gave　him　a　startled　look。　〃First　time　in　three　turns　it　ever　has；〃　he　remarked。　〃Ah；　well；　more　for　us　certainly；　eh；　fellows？〃　And　he　speared　a　third　slice　of　roast　from　the　platter　being　passed。
　　　Robinton　hadn't　seen　any　packs　in　the　hallway；　so　no　one　had　been　warned　that　tonight　might　be　the　night　to　walk　tables。　He　sneaked　a　glance　at　the　fourth…term　table；　judging　by　the　way　dinner　was　being　consumed；　their　appetites　weren't　affected。
　　　Determinedly；　he　mopped　his　bread　in　the　gravy　and　ate　that；　though　his　stomach　toiled　with　either　hunger　or　nerves。　He　actually　hadn't　had　all　that　much　experience　with　either　condition。　He'd　never　gone　hungry；　and　he　refused　to　let　himself　get　nervous　just　over　a　hunch　that　tonight　might　be　the　night。
　　　He　shifted　about　on　his　chair　a　lot；　shooting　glances　at　his　mother；　but　she　was　busy　either　eating；　quite　normally；　or　chatting　with　Master　Washell　and　his　father；　who　bracketed　her　at　the　head　table。　Well；　maybe　she　hadn't　been　told。
　　　Because　he　spent　so　much　of　the　dinner…time　looking　about　the　dining　hall；　he　did　notice　that　Journeyman　Shonagar　was　seated　to　one　side。　But　there　was　nothing　especially　unusual　about　Shonagar's　presence：　journeymen　were　constantly　in　and　out　of　the　Hall　on　errands；　on　reassignments；　or　to　ask　advice　of　their　Masters。
　　　The　sweet　and　klah　had　been　served；　and　Robinton　managed　to　get　those　down　with　no　trouble。
　　　Then　he　heard　a　chair　being　shoved　back　and　Master　Gennell　was　on　his　feet；　tapping　his　glass　for　attention。　The　room　was　already　still；　breaths　universally　bated。
　　　〃Ah；　I　see　that　I　have　your　attention。〃　His　grin　swept　from　the
　　　Masters'　tables；　across　the　journeymen's　and　towards　the　apprentices。
　　　〃So；　Master　Washell；　send　out　for　the　extra　chairs。〃
　　　This　task　was　customarily　done　by　the　first…term　apprentices；　who　scurried　out　and　rattled　back　in；　each　carrying　a　chair　which　they　set　in　the　spaces　the　journeymen　made　at　their　tables。　Twelve！
　　　Now；　who　would　be　seated　in　them　in　the　next　few　minutes？　There　were　nineteen　in　the　final　term　of　their　apprenticeship。　All　of　them　managed　to　look　calm　and　indifferent；　as　befitted　trained　harpers。
　　　It　was　also　the　custom　for　those　who　walked　to　be　escorted　ritually　from　their　lowly　apprentice　bench　to　a　chair　at　the　journeymen's　tables。
　　　Gennell　took　a　list　from　his　pocket　and　pretended　to　have　trouble　reading　it。
　　　〃Journeyman　Kailey。〃
　　　The　former　apprentice　jumped　to　his　feet；　and　a　grinning　journeyman　instructor　immediately　strode　across　the　room　during　the　applause。　Then　everyone　had　the　beat　and　began　the　traditional　sing…song　chant：　〃Walk；　Kailey；　walk。　It's　time　to　go　ahead。　Walk；　Kailey；　walk。　Into　your　new　life。　Walk；　Kailey；　walk。〃
　　　〃You'll　be　going　to　Wide　Bay　Hold　in　Keroon；〃　Gennell　said；　his　voice　rising　easily　above　the　chanting　and　the　clapping。
　　　And　so　it　went　for　the　next　ten　as　well；　ending　with　the　popular　Evenek　who　had　two　journeymen　jostling　each　other　good…naturedly　to　do　the　honours。　Evenek's　lyrical　tenor　voice　had　often　been　matched　with　Merelan　in　duets；　and　now　she　clapped　loudly　at　the