amc.masterharperofpern-第52部分
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dn't vote on the matter of Raid's suitability。
〃Oh； I also picked up MasterHarper Gennell and Lord Grogellan from Fort。 Gennell's asking for you。〃
〃Yes； he would be。〃 Robinton drew his knees up so that he could throw the covers off his legs。 He had not bothered to strip off his clothing； and now he could scarcely appear in such wrinkled garments。
〃Take your time。 Have a quick bath。 You need it。〃 F'lon's ever whimsical sense of humour prompted him to hold his nose in demonstration。
〃Yes； I do； don't I？〃 Robinton was aware of the reek of wine and sweat about his person。
〃Gennell didn't seem in a hurry。 Just asked where you were。 Hayon said you were catching some rest。〃
〃How's Hayon taking his father's death？〃
〃He's been marvellous with Lady Hayara and the others； but I can't think he likes having Raid in charge now。 Don't think I would either；〃 F'lon said bluntly and left the room。
Robinton stripped off the dirty clothing； grabbed clean garments from his chest and strode to the bath； grateful that he didn't have to vie with others to use the mon one down the hall。 The hot water was stimulating； and he felt much better as he pulled on trousers and wriggled his arms into the clean shirt。 He took his shoulder cords from the old shirt and attached them； making certain they were properly hung。 Then he rough…dried his hair before he gathered it back with a thong。 He really should have it trimmed。 Later。。。
F'lon wandered in just then； having filled Robinton's klah mug。
〃Now you look respectable； as befits the Hold harper。〃
〃Why don't you get some sleep？〃 Robinton suggested； pointing to his empty bed。
F'lon looked in that direction and sighed。 〃That's the best idea you've had so far。 Call me if you need me；〃 he said； gulping down the last of his klah and beginning to roll down the tops of his flying boots。
Robinton heard the thud of the first one as he was closing his door。
The Hold was teeming with quiet people； talking in the corridors or in small groups in the hall as Robinton descended the front stairs。
Trestle tables had been set up and were loaded with plates of bread and bowls of fruit and slices of meat which had been rolled up for easy eating。 He spotted Master Gennell talking to other Masters； flown in from their Halls to attend to the sad duty of succession。
Gennell saw him and waved for him to join them。
As Robinton obediently wove his way through the assembly； he looked about for Fax； or at least Faroguy and whichever son had acpanied him。 He assumed the Lord Holders must be convening somewhere else； but he did spot Farevene standing in the entrance hall； looking around uneasily。 Then Naprila came up to the young Holder and Robinton had reached the Masters。
Gennell introduced him to the Masters surrounding him： Smith； Weaver； Fishman； Farmer and Miner。 He already knew MasterHealer Ginia； and she nodded soberly in greeting。 More Masters would assemble for the Council meeting； these were but the first arrivals。
〃Give us your account of what happened last night； Robinton；〃 the MasterHarper said； and Robinton did； pleased that his wits had been aided by the klah and the bath so that he was able to make his report concise。
〃Dreadful thing！〃
〃Terrible tragedy to lose both a Lord Holder and the Weyrleader。〃 〃And at such a time … right after a Hatching！〃 〃Who will take over at the Weyr？〃 They all looked at Robinton。
〃I believe that will be decided in the traditional way when the queen mates again；〃 the young harper replied。
〃But the Weyr can't be without leadership for several turns；〃 the MasterFishman protested。
〃There are older riders： C'vrel； C'rob and M'ridin；〃 Robinton said。 〃They were taking charge last night。〃
〃It's not as if there were Threadfall to worry about；〃 the MasterMiner said。
The MasterWeaver snorted。 〃All too true； not that that S'loner wasn't drumming up alarms。 Didn't take any serious notice of that； I can tell you。〃
Robinton forbore to speak up in such pany； but he did notice that all the other Masters but his own seemed in agreement on that point。
〃Jora is a young woman；〃 the MasterFarmer went on。 〃I wouldn't be concerned with Weyr management if Carola were still alive。 She knew what was what。〃
〃Weyr management；〃 Master Gennell pointed out politely； 〃is the concern of the Weyr。 Not ours。 I presented my condolences to the bronze rider who conveyed us。〃
Robinton nodded。 〃That was F'lon； a son of S'loner。〃
〃It was？〃 Ginia exclaimed in surprise。 〃Amazing。 I don't think we need worry about the Weyr if that is the standard of rider presently handling its affairs。〃
Robinton told himself he must remember to tell F'lon that he had one admirer among the Masters。
Just then； Raid approached and greeted them all with weary courtesy； thanking them for ing so quickly。 〃I've had seats for the entire Council placed in the small dining room； if you'd like to proceed；〃 he said。 〃Robinton； will you show them the way？〃
〃Are we all present and accounted for then？〃 the MasterWeaver asked； glancing about the crowded room。
〃The last have arrived and are prepared to proceed；〃 Raid said； bowing and moving off towards the refreshments； where Maizella was pouring wine assisted by Cording。 Hayon was standing near by； looking dolefully into his glass； Rasa and Anta beyond him。
Robinton duly led the Masters to the small dining room； which was just about large enough to acmodate the numbers。
〃Wait here； Rob； in case we need to send for someone；〃 Gennell said； pausing as the rest of the Craftmasters filed in。
Robinton nodded。 Send for whom？ There were no other Weyrleaders who traditionally officiated at such a meeting。
〃It's started？〃 a familiar voice asked with a touch of amused malice。
Robinton turned his head slowly to regard Fax and gave him a cool look。
〃I believe so；〃 he said in a flat； unequivocal tone。
〃You're harper here； are you； Robinton？〃 〃Yes。〃
Fax regarded him steadily； amusement still keen。 〃And no corpse to lay to rest； either。 Convenient； that。〃
Robinton refused to rise to the bait and looked straight ahead； hoping Fax would go away。 〃I'll leave you to your duty； then；〃 Fax said。 Swivelling on one heel； he made a leisurely return to the Hall。
Raid was confirmed within the hour； and then Robinton was sent to find out if any of the dragonriders he had named were present in the Hold。 The Council begged the favour of a few words with any of the bronze riders。 Robinton wondered as he went in search if he should send someone to wake F'lon。 But he found M'ridin； C'vrel； C'gan and C'rob in the courtyard； as well as the girl he had seen speaking to the Weyrleader。
〃Manora here；〃 C'rob said； indicating the girl； 〃says that the Weyrleader was unwell at dinner。 She overheard Maidir asking to be conveyed home； and S'loner said he'd do it because he wanted an excuse to leave。 He'd been having pains in his arm rather more often than he admitted； even to Tinamon。〃
She looked both uneasy and dignified； her eyes were still red from tears。 But she nodded； confirming what C'rob reported。
Robinton escorted them all to the Lord Holders。 Fax sauntered along in their wake； smiling enigmatically when Robinton firmly closed the door in his face。
When the Lord Holders concluded their interview with Manora and the bronze riders； most of them left the small dining room for the refreshments available in the hall。 But； of the group who remained； Robinton saw Lord Faroguy and was startled by the change in the man。 He looked almost bloodless with fatigue； as if he had little energy and substance； barely responding to whatever Lord Melongel； of Tillek Hold； was saying to him。
Then Farevene bustled down the hall； carrying a tray of food and drink。 Giving Robinton a nod of recognition； he hurried up to his father and Lord Melongel。 Melongel took the nearest glass of wine and passed it to Faroguy； then watched anxiously as the older man sipped and smiled in appreciation of the courtesy。
〃There may be need for another Cou
