amc.masterharperofpern-第55节

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　　　〃Sorry；　Rob。〃
　　　〃No　need　to　be。。。　love；〃　he　said；　experimenting　with　using　the　word　in　her　presence。
　　　〃That's　what　I　especially　love　about　you；　Rob。　Your　perceptions　and　understanding。　Merdine。。。　was　not　an　understanding　man。　Not　the　way　you　are。　And　I　think　…　on　balance　…　that's　very　important　in　creating　a　good　harmony　for　a　long　life　together。〃
　　　They　would　have　explored　that　topic　much　further　except　that　they　both　heard　voices　along　the　hallway　outside　the　workshop。
　　　They　had　straightened　themselves　and　their　clothing；　and　Robinton　pretended　to　tighten　a　string　on　the　harp。　The　voices　talked　on；　their　owners　continued　past　the　workshop。　But　that　interlude　was　over。
　　　〃I'll　carry　it　for　you；〃　Robinton　said。
　　　〃Then　we　will　both　explain　its　significance　to　my　sister；〃　she　said　firmly。　〃Not　that　she'll　need　much　explanation　when　we　walk　in　with　this　beautiful　instrument。〃
　　　Nor　did　they。　Juvana　was　delighted；　saying　this　was　the　best　birthing　day　gift　her　little　sister　could　possibly　have。　There　wasn't　another　harper　in　the　family；　so　it　was　about　time　there　was　one。
　　　〃Melongel's　been　wondering　when　you　would　declare　yourself；　Robinton；〃　she　added；　giving　him　a　sly　sideways　glance。
　　　〃And　what　gave　him　the　need　to　wonder？〃　Robinton　asked。　He　had　prided　himself　on　keeping　his　feelings　under　control。
　　　〃Oh；　I　thought　he　should　consider　the　matter；〃　Juvana　said　airily；　〃especially　since　my　baby　sister　has　been　sighing　over　you　for　some　time。　He　won't　object。〃
　　　Melongel　didn't。　He　already　knew　of　the　Telgar　Blood　connection　of　Petiron；　and　the　fact　that　Merelan　was　a　MasterSinger　of　Pern…wide　prestige　made　no　bar　to　an　espousal。
　　　〃But　the　summer's　ahead　of　us；　the　busiest　season　for　journeymen　harpers；〃　he　said　more　severely；　since　he　did　not　permit　pleasure　to　interfere　with　duty。　〃Autumn　Equinox　would　be　a　better　time　for　espousal　than　Summer　Solstice。　We　will；　however；　announce　the　pact　tonight　and　spare　Robinton　petition　for　dances。〃
　　　Melongel　could　not　spare　Robinton　either　the　teasing　or　the　envy　of　those　who　had　also　hoped　to　espouse　Kasia。　But　the　public　announcement　of　their　intention　made　their　lives　far　more　fortable。
　　　Rob　had　sent　a　formal　announcement　to　his　parents　…　at　Juvana's　suggestion。
　　　〃Mothers　need　to　know　such　things；　Robinton；〃　she　said；　smiling　with　just　a　touch　of　maternal　condescension。　〃You're　old　enough　to　choose　your　own　partner；　but　even　if　your　relations　with　your　father　are　poor；　you　should　include　him。〃
　　　Robinton　stared　at　her；　shocked。　He'd　never　mentioned　anything　about　his　father。
　　　〃That's　just　it；　Rob；〃　Kasia　put　in　gently；　touching　his　arm　and　peering　into　his　face。　〃You　don't　mention　Petiron；　ever。　But　you　mention　your　mother　at　least　forty　times　a　day。〃
　　　〃I　don't。。。　that's　exaggeration；〃　he　said；　but　he　relaxed　and　smiled　at　her　teasing。　〃I　don't　want　you　to　think　that　I　don't　admire　Petiron's　music。。。〃
　　　〃That's　what　I　meant；〃　Juvana　said。　〃He's　never　your　father。　Always　Petiron。〃　She　paused；　watching　the　shock　on　his　face。　〃It　gives　a　clue　to　those　who　have　your　good　interests　at　heart。　Not　something　a　casual　person　would　look　for。〃　She　wrinkled　her　nose。
　　　〃Then；　too；　I've　met　your　father　and　I　agree：　he's　a　remarkable　poser。　It's　your　songs；　however；　that　everyone　sings。〃
　　　Robinton　didn't　know　what　to　say；　since　he　had　no　idea　that　he　had　given　himself　away　simply　by　not　mentioning　a　subject。
　　　〃You've　heard　me　go　on　and　on　about　my　father；〃　Kasia　said；　now　earnestly　trying　to　ease　the　shock　of　their　casual　disclosure。
　　　〃Mind　you；　I　can　see　why　he'd　be　hard　to　emulate。〃
　　　〃Nonsense；　I'd　far　rather　have　music　I　can　hum　or　whistle　than　those　intricate　and　…　yes；　I'll　say　it　…　tortured　musical　forms。〃
　　　Robinton　couldn't　stifle　a　nervous　chuckle　at　Juvana's　remark。
　　　〃There；　that's　better；〃　Kasia　said。　〃If　I　ever　meet　him；　I'll　be　oh　so　punctilious　and　formal。　Now　your　mother。。。　she's　a　dear　and　loving　person。〃
　　　Robinton　gawked　at　her。　〃How　do　you　figure　that？　Have　you　met　her？〃
　　　〃Not　really；　but　I've　heard　her　sing。　And　her　face　is　so　expressive　that　she　must　be　loving。　And　if　she　brought　you　up　the　way　you　are　now；　she's　a　dear。〃　Then　she　gave　him　a　warm　hug　and　a　loving　kiss　before　she　relaxed　against　his　arm。　He　covered　her　hand　with　his。
　　　〃Should　I　ask　the　MasterHarper's　permission？〃　he　asked。
　　　〃You're　a　journeyman；〃　Juvana　said；　lifting　one　shoulder。
　　　〃You've　the　permission　of　your　contract　holder　and　have　officially　announced　your　intent。　But　I　think　it　would　do　no　harm　to　tell　Master　Gennell。〃
　　　〃I'd　like　to　tell　the　whole　world；〃　Robinton　said；　beaming　down　at　Kasia；　still　marvelling　that　she　would　love　him。　That　was　when　the　music　poured　into　his　head　and　he　knew　exactly　how　he　could　publish　his　happiness。　Sonata　to　Sea…Green　Eyes；　he　would　call　it；　and　he　hung　on　to　the　lyrical　line　as　he　often　did　when　there　was　no　opportunity　to　write　music　down。
　　　〃As　Kasia's　sister　and　as　your　Lady　Holder；　I　will　expect　you　to　e　to　me　with　any　problems　you　might　encounter　as　you　start　your　lives　together；〃　Juvana　said；　ing　to　the　real　purpose　of　her　interview　with　the　pair。　〃I　have　already　discussed　this　with　Kasia；　and　she　will　protect　herself；　which　is　her　duty；　until　such　time　as　you　are　settled　enough　to　contemplate　children。〃
　　　Robinton　blushed。　He　and　Kasia　had　not　discussed　the　natural　oute　of　their　love…making　and　he　realized　that　he　had　been　remiss　in　this　regard。
　　　Juvana　went　on。　〃I　offer　the　suggestion　that　you　should　spend　several　years　enjoying　each　other's　pany；　consolidating　your　new　relationship；　especially　since　it　is　unnecessary　for　either　of　you　to　need　children　to　help　in　your　professions。〃　She　was　quite　matter…of…fact；　and　Robinton　knew　that　she　spoke　mon　sense。　〃You're　both　young。　You　have　time。　I　have　told　Kasia　that　I　would　gladly　foster　any　child　of　yours　should　your　work　make　it　impossible　to　give　that　child　the　advantages　of　a　permanent　home。〃
　　　Robinton　managed　to　stammer　out　his　astonishment　at　such　a　magnificent　offer：　an　honour　that　he　had　never　imagined　being　offered　him。　Usually　it　was　the　grandparents　who　offered　fostering；　or　a　very　close　friend。　To　have　his　child　fostered　at　Tillek　Hold　would　be　a　privilege。
　　　〃That's　an　incredible　offer；　Juvana；〃　he　said；　getting　his　wits　together。　〃I'd　like　to　think　I'd　be　a　sufficiently　good　father　that　a　child　would　not　need　more　than　his　parents　to　reassure　him；　wherever　we　went。〃
　　　Juvana　regarded　him　solemnly　for　a　moment。　〃Yes；　you　would　want　to　be　a　good　father。　And　I　think　you　would　be。　I've　watched　you　with　the　slow　ones；　and　you're　kind　and　patient；　though　some　of　their　antics　would　be　enough　to　drive　me　to　sea　in　a　leaky　boat。〃
　　　Kasia　laughed。　〃Juvana　gets　seasick　just　looking　at　a　rocking　boat。〃　〃This　is　all〃　…　he　gestured　with　the　hand　Kasia　was　not　holding　to　indicate　being　overwhelmed　…　〃rather　more　than　I　thought　espousing　entailed。〃
　　　〃That's　why　there　are　such　wise　women　as　myself；〃　Juvana　said　portentously；　grinning　to　take　any　sting　out　of　her　tone。　〃So　we'll　plan　the　formal　vow…taking　for　the　Autumn　Equinox。　I　doubt　our　parents　can　e。。。〃
　　　〃If　they　wouldn't　mind　riding　a　dragon；　I　think　I　can　arrange　conveyance；〃　Robinton　said；　wondering　at　himself　for　speaking　out　since　he　had　been　delighted　her　parents　lived　as　far　away　as　Nerat　and　he'd　be　unlikely　to　meet　them。　But　that　was　just　faint…heartedness　on　his　part；　and　silly　of　him；　since　he'd　been　reassured　by　Melongel；　as　well　as　Juvana；　that　Kasia's　parents　had　no　objection　at　all　to　a　harper　in　the　family。
　　　〃Can　you　arrange　such　a　ride？〃　Juvana　was　surprised。
　　　〃Yes；　sister　dear；〃　Kasia　said；　beaming　on　her　intended。　〃He's　been　friends　with　F'lon；　bronze　rider　of　Simanith；　ever　since　he　and　his　mother　spent　a　winter　at　Benden　Hold。〃
　　　〃Really？　How　useful。〃
　　　〃You　wouldn't　mind　a　dragonrider？〃
　　　〃Who　could　possibly　be　so　dense　as　to　ignore　that　sort　of　a　connection？〃　Juvana　asked　parenthetically。　Robinton　thought　of　Fax。　And　he　had　occasionally　encountered　the　notion　…　from　men　who　knew　little　beyond　their　cotholds　…　that　the　Weyr　and　the　dragonriders　were　an　encumbrance；　maintained　long　past　their　usefulness。
　　　〃I'll　see　if　F'lon　is　willing。　I　think　he　might　like　to　e　to　the　espousal。〃
　　　〃I　think　my　parents　would　very　much　enjoy　ing　a…dragonback；〃　Juvana　said　wistfully。　〃Is　it　as　exciting　as　I've　heard？〃
　　　Robinton　was　quite　happy　to　give　her　a　full　accounting　of　his　various　trips　a…dragonback。
　　　He　and　Kasia　enjoyed　the　next　two　seven…days；　until　they　were　separated　by　his　duties　as　the　Turn　moved　into　summer；　fair　weather　and　long　days　when　the　journeymen　had　to　travel　to　the　outlying　holds　to　make　sure　the　Teaching　Ballads　were　being　correctly　taught　and　sung。　Mumolon　and　Ifor　envied　Robinton　his　smooth…paced　Ruathan　runner；　so　he　volunteered　to　take　the　furthest　assigned　sweep。
　　　〃If　I　can　travel　faster　and　more　smoothly　than　you　can；　it's　only　right　for　me　to　go　further；〃　he　said；　grinning。　It　also　meant　longer　distances；　which　he　could　use　to　work　on　his　sonata。　He　had　done　no