amc.masterharperofpern-第39部分
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Because he spent so much of the dinner…time looking about the dining hall； he did notice that Journeyman Shonagar was seated to one side。 But there was nothing especially unusual about Shonagar's presence： journeymen were constantly in and out of the Hall on errands； on reassignments； or to ask advice of their Masters。
The sweet and klah had been served； and Robinton managed to get those down with no trouble。
Then he heard a chair being shoved back and Master Gennell was on his feet； tapping his glass for attention。 The room was already still； breaths universally bated。
〃Ah； I see that I have your attention。〃 His grin swept from the
Masters' tables； across the journeymen's and towards the apprentices。
〃So； Master Washell； send out for the extra chairs。〃
This task was customarily done by the first…term apprentices； who scurried out and rattled back in； each carrying a chair which they set in the spaces the journeymen made at their tables。 Twelve！
Now； who would be seated in them in the next few minutes？ There were nineteen in the final term of their apprenticeship。 All of them managed to look calm and indifferent； as befitted trained harpers。
It was also the custom for those who walked to be escorted ritually from their lowly apprentice bench to a chair at the journeymen's tables。
Gennell took a list from his pocket and pretended to have trouble reading it。
〃Journeyman Kailey。〃
The former apprentice jumped to his feet； and a grinning journeyman instructor immediately strode across the room during the applause。 Then everyone had the beat and began the traditional sing…song chant： 〃Walk； Kailey； walk。 It's time to go ahead。 Walk； Kailey； walk。 Into your new life。 Walk； Kailey； walk。〃
〃You'll be going to Wide Bay Hold in Keroon；〃 Gennell said； his voice rising easily above the chanting and the clapping。
And so it went for the next ten as well； ending with the popular Evenek who had two journeymen jostling each other good…naturedly to do the honours。 Evenek's lyrical tenor voice had often been matched with Merelan in duets； and now she clapped loudly at the announcement of his assignment to Telgar Hold； a prestigious posting。
That left one chair … and eight more possible journeymen。
Gennell waited until Evenek was seated and had been congratulated by those around him。
〃To be a harper requires many talents； as you all know。 Some of us are endowed … unfairly …〃 he put in； grinning charmingly around； 〃with more than a sufficient share。〃
Robinton looked over those remaining at the fourth…term tables。
Really； Kailey and Evenek had been the top men： none of the others were 'unfairly' talented。
〃However； when the fundamentals of our craft have been well and truly learned； I insist that we hold no one back from the rank they are entitled to by knowledge and ability and； in this case； rare talent。〃
The room was buzzing： everyone trying to decide who the lucky one was。 The fourth…termers were just as puzzled。
〃Journeyman Shonagar； you claimed this right when you left the Harper Hall two Turns ago。 Exercise it。〃
Every head turned to watch Shonagar rise and； with the wicked half…grin for which he was well known； walk with measured step down the aisle to the third…term table。
When Shonagar stopped by him； Robinton felt paralyzed。 His mouth dropped and his eyes nearly bugged out。
〃Shut your mouth； pull your eyes in； and get up；〃 Shonagar muttered in an undertone。 〃That gets you even； the only way you could。〃 Even as he spoke to Robinton； Shonagar's grin widened at the surprise and shock which had hushed the hall。
Robinton was still trying to assimilate what he'd just heard … his name announced as journeyman … when Shonagar plunged a hand under his arm and； with a heave； got Robinton to his feet。 〃Wallet Walk； Robinton！〃 With that； Shonagar turned him and started propelling him to the journeymen's table。 〃Walk； Robinton； walk。〃
〃And none too soon；〃 Master Washell shouted； jumping to his feet and smacking his big hands together over his head； urging people to join him。 Bosler stood； clapping in rhythm with the reluctant journeyman's stride。 Betrice was up； as were the other Masters at the table； Ogolly and Severeid； and the kitchen workers crowded in at the serving doors； adding their noise to the general furore。 The only two not on their feet were Robinton's parents： his mother was weeping； and his father seemed to be too stunned and stony…faced to move。 Robinton knew then； as Shonagar had told him； that he had got back at his father in the only decent way he could … by success。
〃Walk； Robinton； walk。〃
Unashamed of the tears streaming down his face and swallowing the lump in his throat； Robinton walked the tables； bearing himself as proudly as he could despite the tendency of his knees to wobble。
Still steering him； Shonagar pushed him past the head table。
Through her tears his mother shot him an exultant look and a weak smile before she had to wipe her cheeks again。 Neither of them looked at Petiron。
Installed in the final chair； Robinton was still shaking so badly that he could barely accept the congratulations of the other new journeymen。 He noticed that they all had rank knots on their shoulders； and then he felt Shonagar slip one up his arm and to his shoulder。
〃Journeyman Robinton will go to Master Lobira at High Reaches； where it's hoped this sensible fellow will keep Master Lobira out of more trouble；〃 Gennell announced； and then called for glasses and wine for the new journeymen。 Sometime in that interval Petiron slipped from the room； but Merelan did not。 And that was as it should be； Robinton thought。
Chapter NINE
And so Robinton headed off to his first official assignment with five full packs； even though he had stored some childish mementoes in the Hall's vast cellars。 His mother insisted that he drum a request to F'lon。
〃It won't hurt your reputation at all for you to arrive on drugonback；〃 she said firmly。
〃It's showing off； Mother；〃 he insisted。
〃Others have requested conveyance；〃 she went on； helping him pack up everything in his little room。
Whenever he returned to the Hall； he would bunk in the journeymen's quarters。 He hadn't so much as laid eyes on Petiron since the night before； but that didn't surprise him。 He was now separated from his father； both as parent and teacher。 His relief was intense； his concern for his mother immense。 She seemed so frail； and her hands trembled slightly as she wrapped his pipes and put them in one of the packs。 Well； this parting was hard on them both。
〃You'd need three pack animals to carry all this junk；〃 she said； sniffing。 But she gave him a big smile when he bent to see if she was crying。 〃Oh； I shall miss you； my dear son。〃 She put both hands on his arms and looked up at him with misted eyes。 〃I shall miss you most frightfully； but I am also so very glad that you've been promoted out of your father's way。〃 〃What … I mean； did he say。。。 anything？〃
〃No。〃 She gave a little laugh； turning back to stuff the last few things away。 〃He hasn't even spoken to me。 And that's a sign of his total rejection of your making journeyman。〃 She shrugged。 〃He'll get over it； though I don't think he'll ever forgive Gennell for doing it while he was out of the Hall。〃
〃Shards！ I hadn't thought of that！〃 Robinton cringed at the thought of Master Gennell plagued by his father's dislike。
〃Now； now； Robie； Gennell's well able to cope with your father's foibles。 As I am。 He'll simmer a while； and then go on and write it out in more music for me to sing。〃
Robinton clutched his mother's arm and made her look up at him。 〃You will be careful； won't you； Mother？ And not give too much to his music？〃
She patted his cheek lovingly。 〃I'll be good； and rest。 How can I not？ With Ginia； Betrice and Lorra all at me … and your father。 I didn't mean to scare him； but I think I have。 He'll be much more careful of me now。 He does love me； you know； most possessively。 That's what all this has been about。〃
Robinton nodded and then emb
