amc.masterharperofpern-第66部分

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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　around　and；　despite　his　advantage　of　height；　he　couldn't　find　them。
　　　At　Melongel's　gesture；　he　unwrapped　the　parcel　as　gatherers　politely　skirted　the　two　stationary　men。
　　　The　cloth　was　new；　the　smell　of　the　dye　acrid；　and　when　he　had　removed　it　he　gasped　as　he　held　up　the　wooden　bowl。
　　　〃Elegant！〃　Melongel　said。　〃Truly　elegant。〃
　　　They　both　examined　it　with　their　fingers；　feeling　the　thin；　smooth　wall　and　then　discovering　the　band　of　tiny　flowers　which　ringed　the　top；　so　perfectly　done　that　they　seemed　to　blossom　from　the　wood　rather　than　having　been　carved　from　it。
　　　〃A　beautiful　gift；　Harper。　And　deserved。〃
　　　Then　Melongel　touched　Robinton's　sleeve　and　indicated　that　they　should　proceed。　They　were　not　far　from　the　Court　Hall　and　the　knots　of　anxious　men　and　women　looking　their　way。　Carefully　re…wrapping　his　gift；　Robinton　matched　strides　with　the　shorter…legged　Lord　Holder；　and　they　were　soon　being　smiled　into　the　building　by　those　they　would　shortly　be　judging。
　　　Good　fortune　seemed　to　favour　Robinton　that　day。　They　were　hearing　the　representations　and　alibis　of　a　holder　who　had　been　delinquent　in　managing　his　fields　and　cot　when　a　messenger　slipped　in　and　handed　Lord　Melongel　a　message。　He　read　it；　gave　a　sniff　and　then；　with　a　slight　grin　on　his　face；　handed　it　over　to　the　harper　to　read。
　　　〃You　may　leave。　Other　duties　take　precedence；〃　Melongel　murmured。
　　　Reading　the　note；　Robinton　wasn't　at　all　sure　if　he　should　take　the　excuse　to　leave。　The　message　told　him　that　F'lon　had　arrived　with　Holder　Bourdon　and　his　spouse；　Brashia；　who　were　awaiting　him　in　Juvana's　apartment。　He　dreaded　meeting　Kasia's　parents　far　more　than　he　dreaded　being　bored　by　the　court　proceedings。　When　he　did　not　immediately　rise；　Melongel　gave　him　a　stern　look。　And　so　he　pushed　back　his　chair；　nodded　to　Minnarden　and　to　the　faltering　holder；　and　left。
　　　The　first　thing　he　saw　outside　the　Court　Hall　was　everyone　looking　up　at　the　Hold　heights　and　pointing　out　the　bronze　dragon　settling　himself　in　the　sun。　Like　rider；　like　dragon；　Robinton　thought　as　Simanith　made　quite　a　show　of　extending　his　gleaming　wings　before；　with　a　smart　crack　of　the　tips；　he　folded　them　to　his　back　and　sprawled；　his　shorter　front　legs　overlapping　the　edge。
　　　F'lon　was　lounging　against　the　front　entrance　to　the　Hold　and　grinned　as　he　saw　the　harper　hurrying　towards　him。
　　　〃I　brought　them　safely　here；〃　he　said；　slapping　Robinton　on　the　shoulder　and　then　holding　him　off　to　inspect　the　new　clothing。
　　　F'lon　whistled　and　his　amber　eyes　gleamed　with　mischief。
　　　〃Someone's　taught　you　a　thing　or　two。　The　lovely　Kasia；　perhaps？〃
　　　〃I'm　well　able　to　choose　my　own　clothes；〃　Robinton　said。　Then　he　asked　in　a　lower　voice；　as　F'lon　hurried　him　into　the　Hold；　〃Why　did　you　have　to　bring　them　here　so　early？〃
　　　〃Early？　It's　not　early　by　my　time；　lad。　Don't　worry。　I'll　see　that　they　don't　rough　you　up。〃
　　　When　Robinton　started　to　cross　the　hall　to　the　stairs；　F'lon　neatly　hauled　him　in　another　direction。
　　　〃This　way；〃　he　said；　and　then　pushed　Robinton　towards　the　side　room　which　served　as　a　private　interview　chamber。　〃And　here　he　is；〃　F'lon　announced　triumphantly；　pausing　at　the　threshold　to　let　Robinton　enter　on　his　own。
　　　〃Ah；　Robinton；〃　Juvana　said；　rising　to　greet　him　and　bring　him　towards　her　mother　and　father　who　were　seated　on　the　high…backed　couch。
　　　Swallowing　fiercely；　Robinton　managed　a　nervous　smile　at　Holder　Bourdon；　a　grizzled　man　with　deeply　tanned　skin。　His　green　eyes；　slightly　darker　than　Kasia's；　were　tilted　just　like　hers。　His　spouse；　a　sweet…faced　woman　with　fading　brown　hair；　gave　Robinton　a　lovely　smile　and　jumped　up　eagerly。
　　　〃Oh；　Journeyman；　you　cannot　know　how　pleased　we　are！〃　she　exclaimed；　ing　forward　and　seizing　Robinton's　free　hand。
　　　Bourdon　had　been　about　to　speak；　but　now　he　closed　his　mouth；　made　a　gesture　of　helplessness　and　let　her　go　on。　〃We've　been　so　worried　that　she　would　mourn　Merdine　for　ever　。。。〃　Her　face　clouded　briefly；　then　her　marvellous　smile　came　out　again。　〃And　when　she　wrote　to　tell　us〃　…　she　turned　to　her　spouse　for　confirmation　and　Bourdon　gave　a　patient　nod　…　〃we　were　overjoyed；　but　never　did　we　expect　to　be　able　to　attend　her　espousal　so　far　away　from　Mardela。　And　at　a　very　busy　season。〃　Bourdon　nodded　again。
　　　〃My　pleasure；　I　assure　you；　to　assist　my　good　friend　in　every　way；〃　F'lon　said；　bowing。
　　　Holder　Bourdon　cleared　his　throat。　〃Kasia　says　you're　fortable　at　sea；　too？〃
　　　〃Well；　I　don't　get　sea…sick；〃　Robinton　admitted。
　　　〃And　not　too　proud　to　help　gut　and　salt　either；　she　says。〃　〃e；　sit；　Robinton；〃　Juvana　said；　gesturing　for　him　to　take　the　other　double　couch。　〃I　can't　imagine　that　you'd　mind　leaving　Court　Hall　today。。。〃　She　gave　him　a　sly　sideways　glance。　〃Your　mother　has　already　met　my　parents　and　is　upstairs；　keeping　Kasia　from　a　case　of　nerves。〃
　　　〃Kasia's　nervous？〃　Robinton　only　just　managed　to　keep　his　voice　from　betraying　his　own　nervousness。
　　　Juvana　chuckled。　〃It's　her　privilege。　My；　but　you　look　every　bit　as　gorgeous　as　she　does。　Clostan？〃
　　　〃Hmmm；〃　Robinton　admitted；　shooting　a　glance　at　F'lon；　who　blinked　and　then　rolled　his　eyes　over　his　friend's　prevarication。
　　　〃And　what's　this？〃　Juvana　asked；　touching　the　wrapped　bowl　Robinton　still　held。　〃An　espousal　gift　already？〃
　　　Eager　for　something　to　discuss；　Robinton　showed　the　bowl　and　explained　how　pleased　he　was　that　Saday　had　taken　him　at　his　word。
　　　〃Oh；　the　wall　people；〃　Brashia　said；　and　Robinton　groaned；　wishing　he　could　make　a　better　impression　on　Kasia's　family。　〃Kasia　told　us　how　clever　you　were　then。〃
　　　Bourdon　chuckled。　〃Got　a　quick　head　on　your　shoulders。　No　harm　in　that；　lad。〃
　　　A　kitchener　arived　with　a　tray　of　refreshments；　klah　and　wine　with　little　cakes　and　biscuits。　Robinton　leaped　to　his　feet　to　help　her　settle　the　tray。　Then；　as　Juvana　asked　what　her　parents　wished　to　drink　at　this　hour；　he　busied　himself　passing　cups　and　glasses　and　the　plates　of　food；　regaining　some　poise　in　that　simple　act。