amc.masterharperofpern-第89部分
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ramed by a tangle of dark curly hair。
〃 Spirited at just four Turns；〃 said Kale with an indulgent smile。
〃Lord Kale； as MasterHarper of Pern I implore you to follow the examples of the other Lord Holders in the west； to train men to defend this Hold。 To set up a border guard with beacons to alert。。。〃
Kale held up his hand； smiling in condescension。 〃My people are very busy with ordinary tasks； Master Robinton。 It is spring； you know； and we've herds to manage and young animals to train to saddle。〃
〃Did it never occur to you that your fine runner…beasts would be invaluable to Fax when he needs to cover the plains to Telgar？〃 Robinton said insistently。
〃Oh； e now； Master Robinton； he buys our runner…beasts； and that's good for Ruatha；〃 Kale replied with a laugh。 〃More klah？ Surely you have time to stay the night。 Ruatha Hold would be honoured。〃
Suddenly Robinton wanted to put distance between himself and this trusting fool。 He got purposefully to his feet； about to refuse； when he saw the weary look on Macester's face and the man's obvious inclination to spend a night in the fortable surroundings of one of the major Holds。
〃And we are extremely grateful for the courtesy；〃 he said as graciously as he could。
The door to Kale's private office was still open after his daughter's entrance and the sounds of a struggle； man against a furious animal； could be heard。
〃He's at it again；〃 Macester said under his breath as both he and Robinton moved to the door。 Kale； curious； followed them out to the broad outer court where Big Black was attempting to take chunks out of the Ruathan who had hold of his reins。 Robinton noted wryly that none of the escort had taken charge of the beast。
〃That's a splendid animal；〃 Kale said； pausing on the top step to take in the scene。 〃Circle him； Jez；〃 he called to the handler。 〃One of Tarathel's mountain breeds； isn't he？〃
〃Yes；〃 Robinton agreed； dispassionately watching the beast's antics。 He felt for a sweetener lump in his pocket and； finding one； stepped forward； speaking in soothing tones and reaching for the reins as a very wary Jez circled。
〃Easy now； there's a fine lad。〃 His voice got through to Big Black and the animal extended his nose towards the MasterHarper； seeking the treat he expected。
〃Quite a handful；〃 Kale remarked。
〃Until you're in the saddle；〃 Robinton said； rather pleased he could say that honestly in front of a noted rider like Lord Kale。
Kale chuckled。 〃Now； Macester； if you'll have your men lead your mounts up to the beasthold〃 … he pointed up the lane to the left … 〃we'll see to your fort。〃
〃And if your healer would check Master Robinton's arm；〃 Macester said； ignoring Robinton's protest； 〃I would be easier。〃
〃Your arm？〃 Kale was all concern。 〃Surely it was only a glancing blow。。。〃
〃Which required seven stitches；〃 Macester said in a growl。
So Kale hurried the Harper back into the Hold and shouted for the healer。
〃I had so hoped to hear some new music this evening。。。〃 the Lord Holder began wistfully。
〃Oh； you will； you will；〃 said Robinton； dismissing his injury。
〃You've Struan here。。。〃 He grinned at the prospect of seeing his old dorm…mate； now a very petent journeyman。 〃And I understand Lady Adessa plays harp as well as any harper。〃
〃But your wound 。。。〃
〃Didn't touch my throat； Lord Kale。〃 And mentally Robinton reviewed the sort of songs that might alter Kale's indolence。 He could but try。 In ordinary times … and these were definitely not … Kale would be the ideal Lord Holder； tolerant； easy…going and affable； immersed in his Hold's business and sure of its continuing prosperity。
After Robinton's wound was tended to； he climbed to the Drum Tower； greeted the young holder on duty there； and asked for and received permission to signal the Harper Hall of his imminent return。
The child； Lessa； appeared briefly at the beginning of the evening's entertainment； but fell asleep in her father's lap： Robinton was amused； since he'd been singing a rousing song which had occasioned much stamping of heavy boots and rhythmic clapping。 One of the nearby holders who had been invited to the evening meal was clever with spoons and joined the other players。
Ruatha's main Hall； with its excellent acoustics； was marvellous to play in； though Robinton rather thought the wall…hangings helped。 He sat opposite the largest one； a stunning spectacle of dragonriders hovering above what was obviously Ruatha Hold； though the design of the facade had been improved since the tapestry was hung。 There were queens too； their riders carrying long wands from which flame spewed； matching the ones used by the crews on the ground。 He could even make out the Fort Hold device on the ground crews' shoulders； so detailed was the scene。
Lady Adessa had certainly taken Hold here。 He recalled the Hall from a previous visit with Lord Ashmichel； and at that time the chamber had been dark and dingy。 What was the old saying about new spouses and brooms？
Robinton found a little tune dancing in his head； in petition with the one his fingers were playing。 His left arm was not bothered by his playing； he had briefly worried that the muscles or the tendons might have been damaged by Gifflen's knife。
The next morning； after a good sleep in a wide and fortable bed； Robinton felt well rested for the remainder of his journey。 He only wished； as Jez gave him an experienced leg up to Big Black's back； that he had been able to get more cooperation from Lord Kale。 At least the Holder had agreed to setting up border patrols along the Nabolese border and erecting fire beacons on the heights。
〃I doubt they will ever be used；〃 Kale had said in parting； leaving Robinton sighing as he turned the black's head south and east to the main ford of the Red River。
On the way back； spouses and brooms did a stately dance in the MasterHarper's mind as he took the instance and tried to make it musical。 Melodies seemed to plague him at the most inauspicious moments； but he was grateful for the return of such spontaneity。 He used it as a gauge to check his grasp on the essence of his responsibilities。
Nip returned to the Hall several weeks later； looking gaunt and weary。
〃You're staying until Master Oldive says you're fit for it；〃 Robinton said； escorting Nip to the healer premises beyond the Harper Hall。
〃It？〃 Nip said； grinning up at his MasterHarper with mischief as he tried to keep up with Robinton's long stride。
〃Whatever it is you'll be up to next。〃 Robinton shortened his steps in deference to Nip's exhaustion。
〃Let me report first； Rob；〃 said Nip； trying to wriggle free。
〃I won't listen to a word until you are gone over； washed； and fed；〃 Robinton said firmly。
Nip knew when to give in to a superior。
Master Oldive mented on the number of bruises and scrapes； and the two swollen and empurpled toes on one foot。
〃He must bounce；〃 the Master said with a sly grin after he had pleted his examination。 The spinal deformation which marred the Healer's back and had brought him to the Hall in the first place seemed to fascinate Nip； who kept trying not to look at it。 Long since； Oldive had bee impervious to such observations。
〃Sound； if contused； but no lasting harm that a good hot bath； a double portion of whatever Silvina has in the hearth pot and several days in bed will not cure。〃
〃Several days？〃 Nip would have jumped from the examining table but for the restraining hands of both healer and harper。 〃I wouldn't mind a bath； I can tell you；〃 he said more meekly； rubbing dirt…encrusted fingers together。 〃And some decent food。〃
So he was given both； and he probably did not notice that Oldive； who joined him and Robinton in Silvina's little office； slipped something in his klah。 He had finished his meal before the drug took effect； he was just pushing back the final dish of sweet pudding when he abruptly sagged down to the table top； his face just missing a splash of the pudding sauce that had spilled there。
〃Good timing there； Oldive；〃 Robinton mented。
〃Yes；
