amc.masterharperofpern-第77部分
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He threw on pants and shirt and followed her； filled with dread。
The end was unexpectedly peaceful。 He held one of Merelan's hands and Petiron the other； and she managed a feeble smile and a press of her gaunt fingers。 Then she sighed； as Kasia had done； and was still。 Neither man could move。 Neither wished to relinquish the lifeless hand he held。
It was Ginia who gently unwrapped their fingers and laid first one hand； then the other across her frail chest。
Petiron broke first； sobbing bitterly。 〃How could you leave me； Merelan？ How could you leave me？〃
Robinton looked up at the man who was his father and thought that Petiron was taking Merelan's death as a personal affront。 But Petiron had been possessive of her all her life。 Why should he change at her death？ And yet； Robinton felt immense pity for the man。
〃Father。。。〃 he said； rising slowly to his feet。
Petiron blinked and looked at his son as if he shouldn't be there。
〃You must leave。 She was all I ever had。 I must be alone with her in my grief。〃
〃I grieve； too。 She was my mother。〃
〃How can you possibly know my pain？〃 The older man clutched at his chest； fingers digging into fabric and flesh。
Robinton almost laughed。 He heard an inarticulate sound e from Ginia and held up his hand to answer for himself。
〃How could I possibly know； Petiron？ How can you say that to me？ I know far too well how you must feel right now。〃
Petiron's eyes widened and he stared at his son； remembering。
Then his sobbing renewed； his spirit so devastated by Merelan's death that Robinton； moving without thought； came round the bed and took his father in his arms to fort him。
Petiron never wrote another note of music。 Merelan had been his inspiration。 Her death altered him as she could have wished he had altered during her lifetime。 He and Robinton never became friends； but Petiron grew easier in his son's pany。 Master Gennell remarked on how much grief had mellowed the man。 The apprentices and journeymen studying position might not have agreed； for he was as difficult as ever to satisfy； but none of them could fault the depth and knowledge he was able to drill into their heads。
Master Gennell took up where Minnarden had left off in Tillek Hold； bringing Robinton on in his Mastery studies。 Gennell worked him ruthlessly on Charter clauses and mediation techniques； had him read endless accounts of arbitration and Conclave proceedings。
Such intense study； and Gennell turned into a drill master as exacting as Petiron； was a good way to distract a heart that was grieving； and Robinton was truly grateful to his Master。 Robinton was resident in the Hall when Betrice died of a sudden failure of her heart。 So he was able to help Master Gennell deal with that loss。 The entire Hall felt it； from the youngest apprentice to Petiron； and Halanna； now a sedate and plumply happy spouse and mother； put in an unexpected appearance。
〃I owe that woman a great deal；〃 she said。 〃Almost as much as I owed your mother； Master Robinton。〃 She gave him an odd glance out of the corner of her eye。 〃In spite of what a nasty child I was then； it was those two who finally stuffed some sense in my conceited head。 May I sing for her； with you？ And for Merelan？ I've always kept my voice going； you know。〃
〃I didn't know； but I'm glad you have。 My mother would be pleased；〃 Robinton replied and he meant it。
So Halanna sang the music Petiron chose for the occasion； and her voice was warmer and more expressive than it had ever been while she had trained at the Harper Hall。 In fact； it was such a fine voice that Master Gennell； once he had dried his eyes； wistfully mented that it was a shame there were so few women training at the Harper Hall these days。
〃Can't you find us some； Robinton； in your travels？〃 Master Gennell asked。 〃To be sure； your mother was unusually dedicated； but here's Halanna still singing and I understand that Maizella does too。 Find me some new females； will you？〃
〃You may be sure I'll look；〃 Robinton replied fervently。
Anything to bring back the twinkle in his Master's eyes。
And he did look； listening to many hopeful girls as well as boys and trying to interest the better voices in ing to the Harper Hall to be trained。
Robinton attained his Mastery the following Turn and continued to be sent by Master Gennell to handle difficult Holders； substitute for ailing harpers or to attend Gathers in distant holds。 He was also requested as an arbiter in Hold and Hall。 When he could； he drummed to Benden Weyr and asked for F'lon's assistance … and listened to the dragonrider talking about his son； Fallarnon； who was being fostered by Manora； the dignified weyr girl Robinton had noticed when S'loner and Maidir died。 It was no surprise to Robinton to learn that； three Turns after Fallarnon's birth； she gave F'lon a second son： Famanoran。
F'lon had two worries。 The first； and more important； was that the lazy Nemorth would never get off her couch in the queen's weyr for another mating flight so that he could bee Weyrleader in place of the four…man leadership of C'vrel； C'rob； M'ridin and M'odon。 The second was that no one would take him seriously about the threat posed by the 'upstart Lord Holder Fax'。
Jora seemed to favour C'vrel； which further infuriated F'lon。
〃Ever since S'loner took Lord Maidir between； C'vrel's been afraid to 'annoy' the Lord Holders。 I can understand him treading quietly around Raid … and there's another hide…bound idiot。。。〃 He glared at Robinton when the harper made a mild protest。 〃Well； he is。 Does everything the way his father did。。。 only Maidir was not only far more tolerant but also fairer…minded。 He does send a scrupulous tithe to the Weyr； for which we are all grateful。〃 F'lon grimaced。 〃I hate being beholden to the man！〃
〃It is his duty；〃 Robinton said mildly。
F'lon scowled。 〃Well； we'll teach him his duty when I've flown Nemorth。〃 Now his grimace was darker。 〃I dread it； I do； Rob。 Jora's a fat slug。 We oversee what Nemorth eats so she'll be able to climb to a decent height for her flight。。。 but she has to be bullied into the air。 Jora！〃 He raised his hands skyward in disgust and frustration。
〃Imagine having a Weyrwoman who's afraid of heights！〃
〃I've often wondered how that happened；〃 Robinton murmured。
F'lon snorted。 〃My father fancied her over the other candidates。 There were only four； so low has the Weyr sunk in the estimation of the people of Pern it is pledged to protect。〃
That made Robinton sit up。 〃The Red Star's returning。。。〃
〃No。〃 F'lon pushed that notion away with one hand。 〃Not yet。 For which I am grateful。 Not for another three decades； by my reckoning。〃 〃You'll be an old rider by then。〃
〃I'll have two sons to take over for me； should I happen to fail。。。〃 F'lon showed his white teeth in a challenging grin。 Then his expression turned grim again。 〃They'll know what the Weyr stands for。 They'll know … from me …〃 he declared； prodding his chest； 〃what dragonriders are meant to do。〃
〃What's the latest on Fax？〃 Robinton would never dignify the man with his assumed title。 As it was； there never had been a Council of Lord Holders； CraftMasters and the Weyr to confirm his holding at High Reaches； usurping Bargen； if the young Lord Holder still lived。
〃Oh； he's busy。〃 F'lon's grin turned wickedly malicious。 〃Still can't get any male issue； and he's ploughing any pretty girl he can find。 Isn't safe to be female in High Reaches any longer。 And his duelling？ Ha！〃 He raised both hands again。 〃He's got a grand way to rid himself of any who'd oppose him。 He insults a man to the point of a fight。。。 and he always wins。 Then he puts those oafs and dimwits of his in any prosperous hold。。。 and continues to encroach whenever he can。〃
〃I'd heard。〃
Robinton had spied Gennell's invisible minion from time to time in his travels and patently ignored him。 They had met； more formally； in Master Gennell's office on two occasions。
〃Call me Nip； if my lack of name offends you；〃 the runner had said with an amused grin。 〃I nip in and out； you s
