amc.masterharperofpern-第40节

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　　　In　the　fuss　to　thank　them　all　for　ing；　he　kept　glancing　at　the　very　pretty　brunette　who　was　also　pretending　to　be　posed；　a　state　belied　by　the　flush　that　kept　ing　and　going　on　her　cheeks。
　　　Then　he　put　a　name　to　her　face。
　　　〃The　turns　have　done　you　well；　Silvina；〃　he　said；　holding　out　a　hand　to　Lorra's　youngest　daughter　while　still　embracing　his　mother。
　　　〃And　you're　not　so　bad　yourself　now；　Harper；〃　she　said　pertly；　grinning。
　　　〃You've　filled　out　a　great　deal；〃　Merelan　said；　patting　his　chest　and　feeling　the　muscles　in　his　arm。　〃You're　even　taller；〃　she　added　with　a　sort　of　accusatory　wonder；　as　if　he　had　no　right　to　alter　his　appearance　while　separated　from　her。
　　　〃Master　Lobira　worked　me　hard；〃　he　said；　pretending　weariness。
　　　〃Nonsense；〃　Kubisa　said　in　her　forthright　fashion。　〃You　look　in　fine　shape。　In　fact；　you've　improved　quite　a　bit。〃
　　　Betrice　appeared　in　the　doorway。　〃Ah；　he　has　e。　Good。　Lorra's　laid　a　spread　for　you；　and　we're　all　waiting　to　see　if　she's　done　you　proud。　e　in；　e　in；　Robie。〃　She　grabbed　his　hand　away　from　Silvina　and　led　him　in。
　　　Robinton　released　his　mother　only　when　they　were　in　the　small　dining　room　and　he　could　settle　her　in　a　chair　Just　as　he　was　about　to　seat　himself；　Master　Ogolly　came　rushing　in。
　　　〃Oh；　I　did　want　to　be　on　time；〃　the　Archivist　said　peevishly。　〃My　dear　boy；　it's　so　good　to　see　you！〃　Then　he　looked　at　the　laden　table　and　beamed。　〃How　marvellous。　I'll　just　stop　for　a　cup　of　klah；　and　maybe　one　of　those　little　cakes；　but　I've　got　such　clumsies　as　apprentices　this　Turn。　You　don't　know　how　much　I　miss　your　neat　copying；　Robie。　Oh；　I　should　give　you　your　full　name　now；　shouldn't　I；　Journeyman　Robinton？〃
　　　〃You　can　call　me　what　you　will；　Master　Ogolly。　I'm　always　yours　to　mand。〃
　　　〃Master　Gennell　will　want　to　see　you　sometime　this　afternoon；　Rob；〃　Betrice　said；　〃when　his　class　is　over〃
　　　〃Any　ideas　about　where　I'm　to　be　posted　next？〃　He　winked　at　Betrice　to　assure　her　that　he　didn't　expect　her　to　tell　him。
　　　〃Oh；　we'll　keep　you　busy　enough；〃　she　assured　him　with　a　mock　scowl。
　　　The　conversation　went　to　general　topics；　such　as　who　had　been　posted　where；　and　Robinton　asked　after　his　old　dorm…mates　who　now　were　journeymen　too；　and　heard　about　Shonagar's　latest　wrestling　successes。　That　made　him　think　of　Fax。
　　　〃What's　wrong；　Rob？〃　his　mother　asked；　a　gentle　hand　on　his　arm；　as　she　caught　his　change　of　mood。
　　　〃Nothing；〃　he　said。　His　response　didn't　fool　her；　but　he　didn't　feel　that　Fax's　delinquency　in　educating　his　holders　was　a　subject　for　this　table。
　　　When　he　did　have　a　chance　to　bring　the　subject　up　to　Master　Gennell　during　his　interview　with　the　harper；　Gennell　nodded　soberly。
　　　〃Lobira　has　acquainted　me　with　that　situation。　Unfortunately；　without　Faroguy's　consent；　the　Hall　can　do　nothing。〃
　　　〃But　that's　not　right；〃　Robinton　protested。
　　　Gennell　nodded　again；　sympathetically。　〃We　can　only　do　so　much；　Rob；　and　are　wiser　not　to　trespass　where　a　harper's　life　might　be　endangered。〃
　　　Robinton　blinked　in　surprise。　〃Endangered？〃
　　　〃There　have　been　such　problems　before；　lad；　and　there　will　be　again；　but　somehow　it　es　right。　As　long　as　Fax　keeps　his　ideas　to　his　own　hold；　I　can　do　nothing。　Nor　is　it　wise　to　do　so。　That's　something　you　learn　as　you　go　on。　Cut　your　losses　when　you　have　to。　One　small　hold　in　the　northern　lands　is　not　as　vital　as　a　larger　one　nearer　home；　as　it　were。　And　I'm　assigning　you　to　shed　the　light　where　there　has　been　darkness。　Now　…〃　Gennell　swivelled　and　pointed　to　a　peg　〃…　that's　your　new　assignment。　And　I　think　you'll　do　quite　well　there。　You　got　a　fine　remendation　from　Lobira；　and　he's　not　easy　to　please。　But　first　。。。　Petiron　is　away　for　several　days；　so　you　might　like　to　relax　and　spend　some　time　with　your　mother。〃
　　　〃She's　not　well？〃　Robinton　leaped　on　the　wording。
　　　〃Yes；　yes；　she's　fine；　lad。　No　need　to　fret　about　her　as　you'll　discover；〃　Gennell　said。　He　sounded　so　sincere　that　Robinton　relaxed。　〃There's　a　ship　due　in　at　the　Fort　Harbour　and　you　can　passage　on　that。。。　and　let's　not　prevail　too　much　on　a　dragonrider's　favour　for　transport。〃
　　　〃F'lon　insisted。。。〃
　　　〃Now；　now；　I'm　not　faulting　you；　Rob；　but　I　think　it　better　that　you　arrive　at　Benden。。。〃
　　　〃Benden？〃　Robinton　couldn't　believe　in　such　luck。
　　　〃Yes；　Benden　…　but　arrive　this　time　without　benefit　of　Simanith's　wings。　That　young　lad　is　a　thorn　in　Lord　Maidir's　side　…　both　he　and　that　father　of　his；　the　Weyrleader。〃
　　　〃But；　when　Mother　and　I　were　there；　Lord　Maidir。。。〃
　　　Gennell　held　up　his　hand。　〃As　I　said；　it　would　be　better　if　you　didn't　arrive　on　dragonwing。　I　don't　want　you　considered　an　alarmist　too。　Harper　Evarel　is　looking　forward　to　your　assistance。
　　　He's　retiring　soon　and；　if　you　suit　Lord　Maidir　…　in　fact；　he　asked　if　you　were　available　now　…　you'll　probably　stay　on　there。〃
　　　Robinton　forbore　to　ask　further　questions；　knowing　that　he　could　find　out　for　himself　what　the　situation　was。　It　was　very　odd　that　the　Weyr's　own　Hold　was　doubting　the　Weyrleaders。
　　　F'lon　had　expressed　himself　on　this　score　during　the　informal　party。　The　young　bronze　rider　had　also　given　him　something　more　to　think　about　as　they　crossed　the　courtyard　to　the　waiting　Simanith。
　　　〃That　pretty　girl　…　Silvina　…　fancies　you；　lad；〃　he　said。　〃She　wouldn't　give　me　the　time　of　day；　but　she　couldn't　keep　her　eyes　off　you。　Don't　let　a　good　opportunity　pass　you　by；　Rob。〃　And　F'lon　winked　as　he　clapped　the　harper　on　the　back　before　taking　the　jump…step　he　always　used　to　reach　Simanith's　forearm。　And　then　he　was　waving　farewell　from　his　bronze's　back。
　　　Robinton　was　so　surprised　by　the　ment　that　he　had　no　time　to　tell　F'lon　that　he'd　known　Vina　as　a　child　and　she　was　probably　just　happy　to　see　him　again。　She　was　much　too　young；　anyhow。　He　retreated　a　good　dragon…length　to　avoid　getting　dust　and　grit　in　his　eyes　when　Simanith　leapt　upwards。　But　later　that　night；　after　he　and　his　mother　had　caught　up　on　some　of　his　more　amusing　adventures　at　High　Reaches；　he　was　too　restless　to　sleep。　Though　she　had　told　him　his　room　was　ready；　he　had　insisted　that　he　sleep　in　the　journeymen's　acmodation。　He　knew　she　was　disappointed；　that　she　wanted　to　see　to　his　fort　herself　and　enjoy　his　proximity。　What　he　couldn't　say　was　that　his　old　room　would　bring　back　far　too　many　memories　he　had　no　desire　to　recall。　Or　maybe　she　understood　that；　because　she　didn't　press　him。　Casually　she　mentioned　that　Petiron　was　doing　special　music　for　a　Tillek　Holder　espousal；　and　that　was　why　the　Hall　seemed　almost　deserted。　She　had　also　noticed　Silvina's　intentness。
　　　〃She's　grown　into　such　a　lovely　young　woman。　A　nice　rich　contralto。　Have　you　written　any　songs　for　that　voice？〃
　　　〃Yes；　actually；　I　have；〃　Robinton　said；　reaching　for　the　leather　folder　which　contained　his　scores。　It　gave　him　something　to　divert　her　from　thinking　more　about　Vina's　so…called　interest　in　him。　〃In　fact；　I've　copied　out　the　best　of　my　new　tunes　for　you。〃　He　put　an　emphasis　on　the　word　'tunes'　…　Petiron's　sarcastic　name　for　them。
　　　〃Now；　Rob。。。〃　His　mother　gave　him　a　reproving　look。
　　　That　was　when　he　told　her　about　Master　Lobira's　laughing　fit；　and　she　was　appropriately　amused　by　the　incident。　She　insisted　on　looking　at　all　his　new　songs；　and　played　them；　singing　along　half…voice；　although　occasionally　singing　out　fully　for　the　ones　she　particularly　liked。　He　hummed　along　with　her　because　he　couldn't　help　himself：　singing　his　own　songs　with　his　mother　was　a　pleasure　long　denied　him。
　　　〃Ah；　dear　love；　you　have　such　a　knack　for　song　and　ballad；〃　she　said　when　she　had　gone　through　them　all。　〃And　you've　developed　so　much。。。〃　She　sighed。　And　Robinton；　deciding　she　was　tired；　gathered　up　the　scores；　telling　her　that　she　must　rest。
　　　There　was　something　about　his　mother　that　was　different；　not　quite　right；　despite　all　the　assurances　he　had　been　given。　He　gave　her　a　goodnight　hug　and　kiss。
　　　〃I've　several　days　before　I　have　to　take　ship；〃　he　told　her。
　　　〃Where　did　Gennell　assign　you？〃　〃You　didn't　know？〃
　　　She　laughed。　〃Gennell　keeps　his　own　business　to　himself；　but　he　did　assure　me　that　it　was　a　posting　worthy　of　your　abilities。〃
　　　She　was　delighted　when　he　informed　her　that　he'd　been　assigned　to　Benden。
　　　〃I'd　hoped　that　you　might　be。　I　know　Evarel　is　thinking　about　retiring；〃　she　said；　hugging　him　fiercely。　Then　she　gave　him　a　mock　coy　glance。　〃Why；　I'd　even　thought　of　asking　Gennell　if　he　wouldn't　consider　you；　but　that　would　be　favouritism。〃
　　　〃And　my　mother　wouldn't　stoop　to　that？〃　he　said；　teasing　her　lightly。　〃Even　for　her　own　son？〃
　　　〃I　have　my　scruples；　dear；〃　she　replied；　affecting　a　prim　manner。
　　　Silvina　served　him　dinner　first　at　the　journeymen's　table；　gave　him　larger　portions　than　she　gave　the　others；　and　hung　around；　asking　him　about　High　Reaches　and　being　not　quite　a　nuisance。　Two　or　three　harpers　he　didn't　know　very　well　grinned　at　him　until　he　became　a　little　unfortable　about　her　attentiveness。
　　　She　was　pretty　…　prettier　than　Sitta　or　Marcine　…　but　he　wasn't　going　to　be　around　long　enough　to　get　to　know　the　adult　Vina。
　　　Anyway；　Mast