amc.masterharperofpern-第68部分
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By then； three more couples had had their vows witnessed to choruses of cheers。
〃I need a drink；〃 F'lon announced and began herding them all out of the crowd and towards the Gather tables set around the dance square。 There were two tables set upon platforms on either side of the players' dais。 The right…hand one was for the newly espoused； and it was there that F'lon led his little group。
A beaming wineman met them halfway； his tray of glasses clinking against each other。
〃I know I shouldn't； but I'm serving the Benden wine； which the dragonrider said I must give you；〃 he said； leaning forward to murmur this treachery to them。 He beamed warmly at Kasia and held the tray out to her。 She couldn't seem to stop smiling； even as she sipped the deliciously cold； crisp Benden white。
They were all served and then took their places at the table as kitcheners rushed forward to serve them。
Robinton never remembered the rest of the table filling up。 It was all a blur of happiness： Kasia was his and he was hers； and his mother was here。 Her parents were quite nice folk； and he no longer felt uneasy with them； listening to the snippets of advice Bourdon was giving him about sailing。 But if F'lon didn't stop teasing him； he'd land him one in the jaw very soon； although Kasia laughed as hard at his witticisms as her parents and his mother。
The MasterSinger led off the singing with one of the love songs Robinton had written for Kasia； though his mother kindly did not mention that。 She was acpanied by Minnarden； Ifor； Mumolon and several local instrumentalists。 It was received with rapturous applause and determined shouts for more。 Brashia looked stunned as the truly lovely voice rose in joyous phrase and shook her head； murmuring； 〃She's every bit as good as they said； every bit！〃
〃Proud of your mother； aren't you？〃 Bourdon said； leaning across the table； his face flushed with pleasure and the good Benden wine。 〃Every reason to be。〃
〃And she of him；〃 Kasia said proudly； clasping both hands around Robinton's arm and resting her face against it for a moment。
Their legs were twined under the table so tightly that Robinton hoped no one could see under the cloth … and that he wouldn't be asked to stand。 Fortunately he wasn't。 Prepared as he was for the necessity of taking a turn； he was pointedly ignored by Minnarden when the musicians changed round。
His leg went to sleep twice under the table； and when Kasia had to leave briefly to use a facility； she limped the first few steps from cramp。 Brashia and Merelan went with her； reassuring Robinton … who couldn't bear her out of his sight … that she'd be fine with them。
As soon as the meal had been served to the main guests and the Lord Holders； those who wished to pay for their meal took places at the tables。 Many dispersed to wander about the booths and enjoy the fine weather。
The singing continued in a less formal fashion； as background entertainment。
〃Restless； love？〃 Kasia murmured when she caught Rob's fingers drumming the rhythm。
〃Oh； no； no； just habit；〃 he said。 〃Nothing can make me leave your side。 Not today or ever。〃
〃We will dance later though； won't we？〃 she asked； making her eyes wide and innocent。
〃Of course。 All night。。。〃
〃Not all night；〃 she murmured back； a sensual smile curving her lips。 And then she giggled at his expression。
Dance they did； and Robinton was only going to allow Lord Melongel； her father and Groghe to partner her。 He was furious with F'lon's teasing。
〃Don't be annoyed with him；〃 Kasia said； serious for a moment。
〃He is so fond of you； and I suspect all that foolery of his covers a far more serious problem he can't … won't … talk about。〃 She grinned。 〃The way he sighs； I'd say he might be in love。〃
〃F'lon？〃 Robinton was surprised。 The idea put a different plexion on F'lon's behaviour and Robinton regretted that he hadn't been more sympathetic。 He had seen F'lon looking very thoughtful and worried between his bouts of nonsense。 Today was not the day for him to enquire what bothered his friend； but he'd find time tomorrow。 Then he reminded himself that he and Kasia weren't likely to encounter F'lon on the morrow。
So he permitted the bronze rider to dance with Kasia and while he watched them dance； he spoke to Simanith。
What is troubling my friend F'lon； Simanith？
There was silence for so long that Robinton wondered if the dragon had heard him at all。
I hear。 I do not know。 Sometimes he doesn't tell me everything。
Simanith's tone； so like his rider's； sounded wistful and anxious。
He thinks a lot about Larna and he's not happy。
Larna？ The name sounded vaguely familiar； but it took Robinton most of the dance to remember： Larna had been an annoying little child； the old Weyrwoman's daughter。 F'lon had got into trouble with Carola； and his Weyr； over the way he treated the little girl。
But little girls grow up。 Robinton liked to think that this Larna had grown up into so pretty a girl that F'lon had lost his heart to her。
But then； lovers always wanted others to be in love； too。
Robinton sighed； and went off to claim Kasia for himself for the rest of the evening。
They managed to steal away unnoticed during one of the popular slow dances； and made it unencumbered out of the glow…lit dancing square and to the extraordinarily quiet Hold。 For a Gather； even the old aunties and uncles were out enjoying themselves； and all the kitcheners and drudges with them。
〃Look！〃 Kasia pointed to the heights； where twin globes of lightly whirling green showed them that Simanith was on watch。
She waved； and was startled when the bronze dragon blinked。
〃Make no mistake； the dragon can see everything that's going on；〃 Robinton said。 He waved too； and laughed when Simanith blinked again。
〃Does he know what's troubling F'lon？〃 Kasia asked。
〃He should； if anyone does；〃 he replied。 〃But he doesn't。〃
Then they were inside the Hold； most of the glowbaskets thriftily shut； just enough half…open to show them the way to the stairs。
〃You must take Clostan with you the next time you buy clothes；〃 she told him as they hurried up the stairs to their level。
〃When I've you to help me choose now？〃 He snorted at the very prospect of having anyone else。
They had to save their breath for the stairs and arrived； panting and gasping； at the top； Kasia giggling as Robinton handed her into their room； then firmly closed and locked the door。 Not even F'lon would have the nerve to bother them here。
Dawn saw them sneaking out of the Hold； carrying their sailing gear and running； hand in hand； down to the wharf where the sloop was awaiting them。 They could see bundles of sleeping folk sprawled across chairs or tables； and some under as well。 Banners flapped lightly over the few booths still left in the Gather square。
As they were stowing their gear； laughing； whispering and evading any notice； Robinton glanced up at the Hold heights。 No dragon was indolently sprawled there。
Robinton couldn't remember if he'd said goodbye to his mother。
He thought he must have； for he knew he had remembered to express his gratitude to Kasia's parents。
While Kasia went aft to take her place at the tiller； he untied the painter as Captain Gostol had shown him； jumped lightly to the bow and pushed the sloop away from the thick piles。 Then he went to hoist the sail； which immediately began to fill。 Kasia trimmed the sheet until the sail was nicely taut against the wind； and he made his way astern to sit beside her in the cockpit。
A fishman； ing up from the cabin of a larger ship； waved lazily at them as they made their way across the wide harbour and out into Tillek waters。 He was the last person they saw for eight days and nights。
Their world became the sloop and the water and the sky which； for the first three days； was brilliantly blue as only autumnal skies could be in that latitude。 Not that it mattered to them what the weather was like： they were with each other。 Among other things； they both loved freshly cau
