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he had told him his room was ready； he had insisted that he sleep in the journeymen's acmodation。 He knew she was disappointed； that she wanted to see to his fort herself and enjoy his proximity。 What he couldn't say was that his old room would bring back far too many memories he had no desire to recall。 Or maybe she understood that； because she didn't press him。 Casually she mentioned that Petiron was doing special music for a Tillek Holder espousal； and that was why the Hall seemed almost deserted。 She had also noticed Silvina's intentness。
〃She's grown into such a lovely young woman。 A nice rich contralto。 Have you written any songs for that voice？〃
〃Yes； actually； I have；〃 Robinton said； reaching for the leather folder which contained his scores。 It gave him something to divert her from thinking more about Vina's so…called interest in him。 〃In fact； I've copied out the best of my new tunes for you。〃 He put an emphasis on the word 'tunes' … Petiron's sarcastic name for them。
〃Now； Rob。。。〃 His mother gave him a reproving look。
That was when he told her about Master Lobira's laughing fit； and she was appropriately amused by the incident。 She insisted on looking at all his new songs； and played them； singing along half…voice； although occasionally singing out fully for the ones she particularly liked。 He hummed along with her because he couldn't help himself： singing his own songs with his mother was a pleasure long denied him。
〃Ah； dear love； you have such a knack for song and ballad；〃 she said when she had gone through them all。 〃And you've developed so much。。。〃 She sighed。 And Robinton； deciding she was tired； gathered up the scores； telling her that she must rest。
There was something about his mother that was different； not quite right； despite all the assurances he had been given。 He gave her a goodnight hug and kiss。
〃I've several days before I have to take ship；〃 he told her。
〃Where did Gennell assign you？〃 〃You didn't know？〃
She laughed。 〃Gennell keeps his own business to himself； but he did assure me that it was a posting worthy of your abilities。〃
She was delighted when he informed her that he'd been assigned to Benden。
〃I'd hoped that you might be。 I know Evarel is thinking about retiring；〃 she said； hugging him fiercely。 Then she gave him a mock coy glance。 〃Why； I'd even thought of asking Gennell if he wouldn't consider you； but that would be favouritism。〃
〃And my mother wouldn't stoop to that？〃 he said； teasing her lightly。 〃Even for her own son？〃
〃I have my scruples； dear；〃 she replied； affecting a prim manner。
Silvina served him dinner first at the journeymen's table； gave him larger portions than she gave the others； and hung around； asking him about High Reaches and being not quite a nuisance。 Two or three harpers he didn't know very well grinned at him until he became a little unfortable about her attentiveness。
She was pretty … prettier than Sitta or Marcine … but he wasn't going to be around long enough to get to know the adult Vina。
Anyway； Master Gennell rose to his feet and started the ceremonies which made apprentices into journeymen … always a marvellous occasion。 His new posting was included； and he saw how proud his mother was when it was announced。 He wondered what his father would have said。
So he travelled by ship； runner…beast and foot to Benden； a journey which not only made him appreciate the speed of transport a…dragonback； but impressed on him the size of the continent which until then had only been a map and not actual lengths he had set foot on。
He discovered that he could sail without getting seasick … which pleased the captain no end when the storm made half the crew too nauseated to work and Robinton was pressed into service。 And he saw the Dawn Sisters for the first time。
He'd e on deck just at dawn and noticed the bright spark in the sky。
〃That can't be a star；〃 he said。
And one of the dog…watch sailor said with a grin。 〃We calls 'um the Dawn Sisters。 Why； I dunno。 We sees 'em just as clear at dusk； too。 Only from this latitude； though。 You won't see 'em up north where you es from。〃
〃Amazing；〃 Robinton said； leaning against the cabin housing； unable to take his eyes from the shining spot。 Then； abruptly； the sun raised itself above the horizon and the spot winked out。 He meant to e back and test the sailor's word that the phenomenon occurred at dusk as well； but he forgot about it。
He liked Ista Island with its herd of smaller isles … what he saw of it sailing past the coastline … and admired the black diamond beach around the little off…shore island； which was no more than an old volcano sticking its crater head up out of the water。 He found he could manage a runner…beast adequately to help drive burden…beasts and other runners to their destination； and all his travels up the High Reaches mountain tracks made the rest of his journey more of a delight than a problem。 Especially since； as a harper； he was wele in any small hold where； in return for an evening's songs； he got the best meal available as well as the best bed。
Except for one night when he had left the drovers who'd sold him an elderly but sturdy pack…beast to carry his possessions； and was proceeding on his own。 He was nearly to the Benden Hold borders； the head drover had told him； and remended the inland road as being the shorter way。 He'd passed a Runner Station mid…afternoon； but decided to travel as far as he could that night。 As the sun was nearly down over the mountains； he was beginning to look around for any shelter； even an old Thread halt； when he came across a runner trace。 These were always laid out as the straightest distance between two points； so he switched to the narrow； mossy trace and was ascending a hill when he saw lights ahead； off to his left； snug against a forest。 The trace was bisected by a wider road that appeared to lead directly to the hold； so he turned； his elderly pack animal moaning in protest。
〃It's near by。 Not much further； and you can eat； too。〃
The animal groaned on a different note。 If Robinton hadn't been so tired and hungry； he'd have been amused at the variety of sounds the beast could make。
As he approached the cothold； he smelled tantalizing odours ing from within and his stomach growled。 So did several canines within the cot。 The pack…beast gave off a loud； slightly fearful protest。
〃They're inside and can't hurt you；〃 he told the beast as he resettled his tunic； pushed his hair neatly behind his ears； and courteously rapped at the door。
〃Who's there？〃 a sharp male voice demanded； and then told the canines to shut their fuss。 〃Can't hear over the noise。〃
A female voice murmured something。
〃A traveller； in need of a night's lodging；〃 Robinton said。
〃Can you pay？〃
〃Certainly。〃 A harper was expected to sing and entertain for supper。
He would usually offer a half…mark； but was always refused。
The door opened a crack； but he couldn't see the face of the man； the light being behind him。
〃Who be you？〃 the man asked。
〃Robinton's my nam