amc.masterharperofpern-第58节

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You've　broad　shoulders。。。〃　Clostan　flicked　fingers　at　them。　〃You've　a　trim　waist〃　…　he　couldn't　pinch　much　there　…　〃and　long　shanks。。。　Show　them　off。〃　Clostan's　trousers　tended　to　cling　to　his　strong；　muscular　legs；　just　missing　a　tension　that　might　be　considered　lewd。　〃Especially　during　your　espousal。。。　show　all　the　girls　what　a　fine　one　they　missed　out　on。　And　allow　Kasia　to　be　proud　of　you。〃
　　　〃Because　I　show　off？〃　Robinton　had　demanded；　almost　indignant。
　　　〃I　can't　imagine　you　ever　showing　off；　Rob；〃　Clostan　had　said；　shaking　his　head　in　mock　despair。　He　grinned；　a　smile　which　showed　his　excellent　white　teeth　and　echoed　in　his　dark　eyes。　He　turned　serious　then　and　grabbed　up　the　swatch　of　materials　the　tailor　had　on　hand。　He　held　them　up　to　Robinton's　face　to　see　how　they　looked　against　the　weather…tan　the　harper　had　acquired　over　the　summer。　〃Hmmm；　yes。　I　know　what　Kasia's　wearing；　so　we　must　also　consider　her　colours。　Can't　clash。　Hmmm。　I　think　this　rich　resset　shade　of　the　brocade。。。〃
　　　〃Brocade？〃　Robinton　was　aghast。　He　was　prudent　with　his　marks；　and　he　had　brought　the　sum　he　felt　adequate　with　him。　But　brocade。。。
　　　〃Well；　you　can　hardly　appear　in　something　shabby　for　your　espousal；　can　you？〃　Clostan　remarked　in　disgust。　〃Look　at　it　this　way；〃　he　said；　mastering　his　impatience；　〃you'll　be　able　to　wear　this　to　Gathers　for　turns　before　it　frays。〃　He　robbed　the　sample　roughly　between　his　fingers；　and　then　pulled　both　ends　of　the　swatch　to　show　its　strength。　〃You'd　have　to　spend　far　more　to　match　it　for　quality　over　the　same　period　of　turns。　Good　clothing　is　an　investment。〃　〃And　you　make　many；〃　Robinton　said；　stung　to　retort。
　　　Clostan　gave　him　a　slightly　malicious　grin。　〃I　may；　but　they　have　all　been　wise　choices；　and　I　can　change　to　fit　the　mood　of　the　day　and　the　weather　of　the　season。　Besides；　it　heartens　my　patients　to　see　me　well…dressed。〃
　　　Dispassionately；　and　because　it　was　his　espousal　to　Kasia；　Robinton　fingered　the　swatch　and　then　held　it　against　his　face；　noting　that　the　rich　russet　shade　did　enhance　his　skin　colour。
　　　〃Tailored　correctly；〃　…　Clostan　gestured　for　the　tailor　to　take　measurements　…　〃you'll　be　glad　you　took　the　time　and　effort。　And　you　might　consider　a　few　new　shirts　too；〃　he　added；　waving　another　set　of　colours。　〃You've　only　three。〃
　　　Robinton；　extending　his　arms　for　their　measure；　was　half…tempted　to　clout　Clostan　for　his　manners。　Then　he　started　to　laugh。
　　　At　himself。
　　　〃And　a　new　pair　of　pants。　The　ones　you　came　with　are　all　but　threadbare　…　in　embarrassing　spots　…　since　you　rode　out　of　here；〃　Clostan　added；　peering　down　at　Robinton's　backside。
　　　Since　the　harper　had　that　very　morning　realized　that　Clostan's　observation　was　all　too　true；　he　also　ordered　shirts　and　pants；　including　one　of　leather　which　would　take　the　harder　wear。　He　had　secretly　coveted　the　leather　pants　he　had　seen　Ifor　and　Mumolon　wearing。
　　　When　he　returned　for　the　fitting；　he　had　been　very　pleased　with　the　result　and　admired　himself　in　the　tailor's　long　mirror。
　　　Furthermore；　they　all　fitted　so　fortably　that　he　wondered　why　he　had　never　thought　of　having　tailor…made　clothing　before。　But　it　had　been　as　easy　to　find　something　in　a　Gather　stall　that　was　reasonably　priced　and　fitted　…　more　or　less。
　　　He　was　grateful　to　Clostan　and　brought　him　a　skin　of　good　Benden　wine。
　　　〃Well；　you　do　me　proud；〃　Clostan　said；　gratefully　accepting　the　skin。　〃The　one　drawback　with　this　Hold　is　its　wretched　wine。〃　With　which　sentiment　Robinton　totally　agreed。
Chapter　THIRTEEN
　　　Smiling　over　that　episode；　he　opened　the　glowbasket　over　the　new　worktop　which　he　and　Kasia　had　had　such　fun　finding　and　setting　up　in　their　room。　He　snagged　the　sonata　from　where　his　mother　had　left　it　on　the　music　stand　and；　taking　pen　and　a　new　square　of　hide　…　Kasia　had　said　she　was　going　to　make　sure　he　always　had　good；　fresh　writing　materials　…　he　began　to　make　a　copy　of　the　sonata　for　his　mother　to　take　back　to　the　Harper　Hall。　Maybe　Petiron　would　even　see　it　and　find　few　faults；　since　it　was　written　in　a　classic　style。　He　grinned　ruefully　even　as　his　fingers　flew　across　the　sheet：　Robinton　could　not　really　see　his　father　approving　of　anything　his　son　wrote。
　　　He　looked　back　over　the　score；　to　be　sure　he　had　annotated　it　properly；　and　mused　over　Kasia's　possible　reactions　to　it　when　she　heard　it　the　first　time。　If　she　was　even　half　as　pleased　as　his　mother。。。
　　　He　paced　back　and　forth；　paused　to　pour　himself　a　glass　of　wine；　and　then　went　back　to　the　table　and　proceeded　to　copy　out　his　Kasia　songs。　His　mother　would　like　them　too。　She　might　even　want　to　sing　a　few　as　encores　to　recitals。　He　finished　those；　drinking　as　he　worked；　and　rolled　up　the　music　with　a　neat　ribbon　tying　the　packet；　ready　to　give　to　his　mother。　He　had　a　final　glass　of　wine　and　then；　realizing　that　dawn　was　not　far　away；　took　himself　back　to　bed　and　willed　himself　to　sleep。
　　　Despite　his　late…night　activities；　Robinton　was　up　at　dawn：　he'd　forgotten　to　close　the　curtains　over　the　small　round　windows；　and　the　sun　was　shining　in　his　eyes。　But　he　felt　rested　enough　and　sprang　from　his　bed。　The　day　was　so　clear　that　he　fancied　he　could　see　the　High　Reaches　shore　across　the　wide　bay。。。　which　reminded　him　that　he　hadn't　heard　whether　Lord　Faroguy　had　accepted　Lord　Melongel's　invitation　to　e　to　his　espousal　day。　Not　that　it　was　his　alone；　he　corrected　himself；　for　others　would　be　taking　vows　at　this　Gather　as　well。　As　he　dressed；　he　groaned　as　he　thought　of　having　to　waste　this　morning　at　the　Gather　Court；　but　at　least　it　would　keep　him　too　occupied　to　worry　about　anything　else。
　　　He　joined　Clostan　at　the　table　for　breakfast；　and　the　healer　inspected　him　critically　in　his　new　clothing。
　　　〃Yes；　I　did　you　a　favour；　old　thing；〃　Clostan　said；　sniffing　a　little　as　he　turned　back　to　his　bread　and　cheese。
　　　〃You're　looking　splendid　yourself；〃　Robinton　replied；　now　able　to　recognize　good　tailoring　when　he　saw　it。
　　　Clostan　glanced　down　at　himself；　as　if　he　couldn't　remember　what　he　had　put　on　that　morning。　〃Oh；　well　enough。　I　may　change　for　the　dancing。　That　is；〃　he　added；　nudging　Robinton　in　the　ribs　and　rolling　his　eyes　slyly；　〃if　I'm　allowed　to　dance　with　the　fair　spouse　Kasia。〃
　　　〃Since　it's　you　and　I　owe　you　a　favour；　I'll　let　you　dance　with　Kasia　when　I　have　to　play。〃
　　　〃What？〃　Clostan　affected　great　horror　and　surprise。　〃They　make　you　do　a　set　on　your　espousal　day？〃
　　　Robinton　hushed　him。　〃I'm　a　harper。　I　take　my　turn。　You　wouldn't　turn　away　a　sick　person　today；　would　you？〃
　　　〃Well；　I'd　change　my　clothes　first；〃　Clostan　replied；　flicking　an　errant　crumb　off　his　sleeve。　〃I'll　hold　you　to　that　dance；〃　he　said；　rising。　〃I　do　have　rounds　to　make　now。〃　And　he　was　off。
　　　Lord　Melongel；　looking　austere　in　dark　brown　with　just　a　piping　of　gold　at　the　neck　and　sleeves；　entered　the　dining　hall。　An　approving　smile　appeared　on　his　face　as　he　noted　Robinton's　new　clothes。
　　　〃You　are　looking　the　part；　that's　certain；〃　he　said。　〃Oh；　a　message　was　drummed　in　yesterday　from　High　Reaches。　Lord　Faroguy　regrets。〃
　　　〃Well；　I　didn't　think　he'd　be　able。　Is　he　well？〃
　　　Melongel　frowned　slightly；　rubbing　at　his　chin。　〃Now　that's　the　oddity。　I've　known　Faroguy　a　long　time。　Had　many　messages　from　him；　and　he　always　enquires　after　Juvana。　She　spent　a　Turn　with　Lady　Evelene；　you　know。　Odd　that　he　didn't　this　time。〃
　　　Robinton　felt　a　surge　of　concern。　〃If　he　is　ill；　could　the　message　have　e　from　someone　else？〃
　　　〃Farevene　would　have　asked；　too。〃　Melongel　frowned。　〃Well；　we've　enough　to　do　today　without　adding　other　problems。　I　see　you've　finished　your　meal；　so　we'd　best　adjourn　to　the　Court　Hall。　We've　a　full　morning。〃
　　　Robinton　rose；　suppressing　a　sigh。　Unlike　some　of　the　larger　Holds；　Tillek　used　a　stone　building　closer　to　the　centre　of　the　Holding　for　such　proceedings　…　right　in　the　middle　of　the　Gather；　which　was　already　in　full　swing。　Both　official　CraftHall　and　independent　booths　were　doing　a　good　business。　The　entire　fishing　fleet　was　moored　in　the　harbour　or　alongside　the　wharves；　and　distant　sails　indicated　that　the　home　crowd　would　swell　even　more　with　the　passengers　ing　in　from　up　the　coast。　Melongel　and　Robinton　had　to　slow　their　steps　to　the　crowd's　pace；　with　people　either　smiling　a　greeting　or　nodding　courteously　as　Lord　Holder　and　harper　passed。
　　　Robinton　felt　a　tug　on　his　sleeve　and　was　surprised　to　see　Pessia　at　his　side；　and；　beyond　her；　the　gaggle　of　Sucho；　Tortole；　Valrol　and　Klada；　who　peered　out　from　behind　the　protective　bulk　of　her　father　until　Robinton's　eyes　fell　on　her；　and　she　ducked　away。
　　　〃Good　Gather　day　to　you；　Lord　Melongel；〃　Pessia　said　with　a　polite　jerk　of　her　head；　and　then　she　looked　right　back　at　Robinton；　a　proud　if　shy　smile　on　her　face。　〃You　did　a　great　deal　for　us；　and　especially　Saday。　This　is　for　you　and　your　spouse。〃　She　threw　a　cloth…wrapped　parcel　at　him　and；　before　he　could　prevent　her；　ran　off；　the　others　following　like　leaves　blown　from　a　tree　in　a　high　wind。
　　　〃Your　wall　folk？〃　Melongel　asked。
　　　〃Yes。〃　Robinton　tried　to　see　in　which　direction　they　had　run；　but　there　were　too　many　people　milling　arou