amc.masterharperofpern-第13部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
age to her father； Halibran； saying she was being abused。 Petiron admitted that he had slapped her； to stop her hysterical ranting … to which everyone in the Hall had been audience。 Any Master was permitted to chastise a student for inattention or failure to learn assigned lessons。
When MasterHarper Gennell and Healer Journeywoman Betrice interviewed her about the impropriety of her actions； not to mention the content of the message； she was defiantly tearful。
〃No one understands me in this place。 I'm being humiliated at every turn； and I had expected so much from you！〃 she said。 〃So much； and you're like everyone else after all！〃
Betrice later told Merelan that she almost laughed out loud at such a performance。
〃No one has humiliated you； young woman；〃 Gennell replied； as stern as Betrice had ever seen him。 〃You were weled； and the very best instructors assigned。 You have been paid a high pliment by Master Petiron； who wrote a part especially to show off your voice … scarcely a humiliation； but an honour you seem unable to appreciate。 You will apologize to Master Petiron for your unresponsiveness。。。〃
〃Apologize？〃 Halanna rose from the stool in amazement。 〃I am the daughter of a Holder； and I apologize to no one。 He's to apologize for slapping me； or。。。〃
〃That's enough out of you；〃 Gennell said； and turned to his spouse。 〃She's to be quartered in an appropriate room and given only basic rations。〃
That was more easily said than done。 It took Gennell； Betrice and Lorra to get her； screeching and straggling； up to the third storey of the Harper Hall to one of the spare rooms used by messengers or overflow guests。 She refused to eat the food supplied at mealtimes and actually emptied the first three pitchers of water until her thirst got the better of her histrionics。 Since it took nearly six days before her clandestine message brought results； she got hungry enough to devour what she was given； though she refused to apologize or promise to remedy her attitude。 Such interviews usually resulted in her hurling threats and promises of just retribution at those trying to talk sense into her。 Even MasterHealer Ginia had no luck in trying to talk sense into the girl。
The sentry on the Fort Hold eastern tower spotted the ten armed men racing up the harbour road and blew the alarm； which alerted both Lord Grogellan and the Harper Hall。 Having been informed of the illegal drum message； Grogellan assembled a larger force from his sons； nephews and armsmen to meet the newers just as they turned into the Harper Hall quadrangle。 Master Gennell； Betrice； Ginia； Petiron and Merelan were waiting on the broad steps； while every apprentice； journeyman and Master had found some vantage point from which to view the confrontation。
As Halibran and his troops halted their runners； he had no trouble locating his 〃abused' daughter who was screeching at the top of her lungs from an upper window。
〃She's been at it again； father；〃 one of Halibran's riders said in disgust。 〃She was the one abusing； I've no doubt。〃 The resemblance to his sister was obvious； and he was not the only young blond male in the group with a similar cast of countenance。
Halibran； dismounting； waved the young man to hold his tongue。 Not a major holder； though a wealthy one from the produce of his lands and the mines under them； he had none of his daughter's arrogance as he mounted the steps and held out his hand to the MasterHarper。
〃Since she is sequestered； I assume that Halanna has not seen fit to apologize。 Let me do so in her stead；〃 he said； allowing everyone to heave sighs of relief。
Master Gennell； however； shook his head slowly。 〃It is her place； not yours； Holder Halibran； to make restitution for her behaviour and her refusal to accept the usual necessary disciplines of the Harper Hall。 She has much to learn。〃
The screeching； which the new arrivals were pointedly ignoring； took on a shriller note。
〃The fault lies in me；〃 Halibran said with a weary sigh。 〃Her mother died at her birth； and with six brothers she has been much cosseted。〃
The brother who had spoken gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head and then looked away。 The other two managed not to grin； but it didn't escape anyone that they had probably tried to get their father to school his daughter's behaviour。
〃What did happen that made her send such a message？〃 Halibran asked。
Gennell opened his mouth； but it was Petiron who stepped forward and answered。
〃She is musically almost illiterate； Holder Halibran；〃 he said in a flat and firm voice； 〃although I know Harper Maxilant to be a petent musician。〃
〃Maxilant did suggest that the Hall might succeed where he was failing；〃 Halibran said； raising both gloved hands in helplessness； his answer directed more to Gennell than to Petiron。 〃I should not have sent you our problem。〃 He turned back to Petiron。 〃And？〃 〃When she repeatedly refused to learn a simple score。。。〃
No one of the Harper Hall group so much as batted an eye at Petiron's remark。
〃。。。 and started to rant in an hysterical fashion； I slapped her。 Once。〃 And Petiron put up one finger in emphasis。
Everyone on the steps nodded。
〃We all heard the entire argument；〃 Master Gennell said； pointing to the studio windows。 〃And the single slap。〃
〃She'd need more than one；〃 a brother said。
〃We shall take her off your hands；〃 her father said in an almost meek tone； though it was obvious that he was probably not one whir less proud than his daughter。
〃Nonsense；〃 Master Gennell said； just as Petiron stepped forward to protest。 〃With your permission； we shall continue to discipline her … firmly … until she realizes that such behaviour gets her nowhere in either her relationships with others or in learning the lessons you asked us to teach her。〃
Halibran was astonished； the brothers muttered among one another。
〃That is too fine a voice to be misused；〃 Master Gennell said； glancing up in the direction of the outraged cries。 Strips of clothing flapped out of the window and drifted to the ground。 〃Or abused。 We have disciplined recalcitrant students before now。 She may be。。。〃 and Master Gennell paused significantly； 〃unusually obdurate； but give me leave to doubt she is beyond redemption。〃
〃I'd say she is；〃 one brother murmured； and received a buffet on his leg from his glaring father。
〃Give us until the Spring Equinox； Holder Halibran； and you will be pleased with the change。〃
〃How do you propose to achieve that？〃 the holder asked； tucking his gloved thumbs into his thick riding belt and regarding not only Gennell but the others on the top step。
〃If you would make it。。。 exceedingly。。。 plain to her；〃 Gennell said； 〃that such antics cut no ice with you； that you will no longer condone her behaviour or rescue her from its consequences； she will soon capitulate。〃
Halibran considered as he removed his gloves； stowed them in the saddle bag and flexed his fingers。 〃If she does； it will be the first time in her life；〃 he said； 〃but it had better e now。〃 He opened and closed his fists。
The expression of profound satisfaction was mirrored by all three brothers and； indeed； the other six men of the party。
〃I'll lead the way；〃 Gennell said affably and； as Betrice and Ginia fell into step with Holder Halibran； they disappeared into the Hall。
〃Is that the girl you said had a superb voice； Petiron？〃 Grogellan asked； moving up to the steps from where he and his men had been a witness to the interview。
The oldest brother； recognizing that this was the Lord of Fort Hold； respectfully dismounted and gestured for the others to do so； inclining his upper body politely to one of higher rank。 Just then Halanna's voice rasped to an even higher note； almost a wail； and Petiron winced。
〃If she keeps on forcing the upper register like that；〃 Washell remarked to no one in particular； 〃she may end up soprano instead of alto。。。 if she's any voice left at all。〃
〃Hmmm；〃 was Grogellan's reply； as he turned his head up to the window。 〃She certainly shouldn't be allowed to carry on like that。〃
