amc.masterharperofpern-第15部分
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〃I'm glad you think so；〃 she said； and if her tone was a little dry； Petiron missed it as he was surrounded by those wishing to congratulate Masterposer and MasterSinger。
Chapter FOUR
Of Halanna's family； only the second brother； Landon； was able to attend the TurnOver performance since Halibran had unavoidable hold obligations。 She was glad enough to see her brother； and he seemed more affectionately inclined towards her。 Patently impressed by her demeanour as well as her singing； he remarked several times that he didn't recognize his own sister； she'd changed so much for the better。
Merelan took him to one side after his third loud pronouncement。
〃I wouldn't make so much of her 。。。 good behaviour； Landon；〃 she said kindly。
〃But she has improved；〃 he protested。
〃Yes； but do you have to rub it in？〃
〃Oh； yes。〃 He rubbed his tanned chin and gave Merelan a charmingly penitent smile。 〃I see what you mean。 But she's certainly turned inside out； and not before time； if you ask me； though you didn't。 When she was a toddler； she was such a sweet thing。。。〃 His voice trailed off。 〃Who's that？〃 he asked； suddenly suspicious as he noticed a young man in elegant TurnOver finery leading his sister on to the dance floor。
Merelan recognized one of the younger Ruathan nephews； Donkin； who was currently fostering with Lord Grogellan。 As he had a good strong tenor voice； he usually joined the Harper Hall chorus。 He'd been no more attentive to Halanna than half a dozen others brought in for the TurnOver performance。 But； being from Ruathan Bloodlines； he'd be quite acceptable to the most particular of fathers as a possible spouse。
〃Ruathan； you say？〃 Landon echoed； quite able to recognize Donkin's suitability。 〃Is she showing any preference？〃 〃Not that we've observed。〃 〃Still keeping your eye on her？〃
〃No more than we keep our eyes on any of the young women in our care；〃 Merelan replied pointedly。
〃She has learned her lesson； then？〃
Merelan thought his attitude was a shade arch； but he was himself young and had spoken to and treated his sister kindly since his arrival。 〃She has learned a good deal more about the mechanics of both producing her voice and music in general。 She has proved a good student。〃
〃My father said she may stay on； if you think she should。〃 Now he sounded less self…confident； and there was a hint of a plea in his tone。
〃She has scarcely begun to learn the repertoire suitable for her range；〃 Merelan told him willingly。 〃And she has learned to play flute and gitar well enough to do ensemble work。 We would certainly like to train her as far as she is willing to go。〃
〃She'll be willing； I fancy；〃 said Landon； his eyes watching Halanna going through the steps of the dance with the agile Donkin。 The two were obviously enjoying themselves。
Halanna was smiling more tonight than she had done since her father's disciplining。 And about time； too； Merelan thought。
〃e； Landon； you can't spend all your time as observer。 I'd be happy to introduce you to any number of girls here。〃
〃I'd like to dance with you； if you'd permit it； MasterSinger。〃 He managed not only a charming smile but a graceful bow。
Merelan glanced about to check on Robie； playing with some other children his own age at the edge of the dance floor； and Petiron； who was explaining something … with considerable gesturing … to one of the harpers home for TurnOver。 Eventually he would remember that she loved to dance and oblige her； but she was quite willing to start with Landon。 〃I'd love to dance； Holder Landon；〃 she said and took his offered hand。
One of the features of the TurnOver celebrations was that everyone got a chance to play or sing … even those as young as Robinton and the other nursery children。 They performed a song on the second day； each of them using a percussion instrument： tambourine； chimes； triangles； tom…toms； cymbals and the hand…bells。 Robie had been chosen to beat the tempo on the small drum with the knucklebone； and Merelan glowed with pride at the fine and plex rhythm he managed。
She was disappointed that Petiron was too deep in discussion with Bristol； the Telgar harper； to notice Robinton's performance。
Bristol； like Petiron； was a poser； though his interests lay more in balladic works for the guitar than in full chorus and orchestra。 His work was easy to remember and enjoyable to sing … though Merelan grimaced even to think so disloyally。
She was rather surprised； and certainly gratified； to see Bristol speaking to Robie later that afternoon。 Robinton； his little face serious； was explaining something to the harper； who paid him the courtesy of attentive listening。 If only Petiron would do the same。。。
She reminded herself that this was TurnOver and the new Turn was nearly on them。 Just one more day of freedom from the usual routine。 She was pleased with her hour's recital of the old traditional airs which had been part of these festivities since Fort Hold was founded。 She'd had no trouble holding her audience； and the applause had been generously prolonged though she had kept her encores to three。 As MasterSinger she knew when enough was enough。 There were plenty of other performers to take the TurnOver stage。
Halanna had given young Donkin quite a few dances each evening； but she also partnered other lads； and Merelan was glad to see the girl relaxing and enjoying herself。 Maybe that would restore the vibrancy which had initially characterized her rich voice。
But Merelan had overheard Halanna saying something to her brother which puzzled and alarmed her。
〃Petiron's very strict and makes you measure up to his standard；〃 the girl told Landon with a little grimace。 Then she added in an entirely different； almost spiteful tone； 〃I can't wait until he realizes that that kid of his has far more talent in his little finger than he's got in all his fancy notes and difficult tempo。〃
How had Halanna known of Robie's innate musicality？ She'd never paid any attention to him： in fact； she had steadfastly ignored his existence when she knew the child was in the next room during her lessons with Merelan。 And what satisfaction would Halanna take when the father discovered his son's talent？
That problem caused Merelan not a few anxious hours； though she kept telling herself that surely Petiron would be delighted to realize his son was musically inclined。 'Inclined' was an understatement： Robinton seemed to absorb music as some children absorbed food。 She was also aware that the child kept a cache of meticulously written tunes and airs： Washell and Bosler had told her so； saying that the music was 'delightful'。 Then there were the glances they had exchanged。 She had been so pleased to hear their good opinion of Robie's progress that perhaps she had failed to realize the significance of their exchange。 That was when she first saw the drum he had made and used in the percussion orchestra at TurnOver。
〃Master Gorazde helped；〃 he had informed her when he brought the drum home； 〃but I painted。。。〃 He ran a rather dirty finger along the blue and red lines which not too raggedly decorated the rim。
〃An' I cutted the skin oh so careful。〃 His eyes had rounded as he used a pretend knife in his hand to demonstrate how hard it had been to cut the hide。 〃An' I nailed it。〃 His mother did note that the brass nails were well aligned。 〃Master Gorazde had me make dots where the nails go so they'd look even。〃 He ran a finger along the shiny line。 〃Hard work。〃 And he grinned up at her。
〃Lovey； I don't know when I've seen a better one。 I'll bet you could sell it at the Harper Gather stall！〃
He clutched the drum to him； which took some doing because it overlapped his chest。 〃No； not this one； my first 'stument； and I gotta improve a lot before Master Gorazde'll put a Harper stamp on it for sale。〃
With a pang to her heart； Merelan said nothing as he put it carefully on the shelf near his father's worktop。 Maybe Petiron would notice and ment on it。
Two days later it was no longer in view； and she looked for the drum and finally found it hidden in his clothes
