按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Fun？〃 Kasia protested； giving her sister a stern look。 〃In the weather we had？〃
Robinton felt left out of this exchange； but told himself not to be silly。 Just because he was besotted with Kasia； it didn't mean he could expect her undivided attention。 And she might not wish to ascribe more to that quick kiss than the whimsy of the moment。
Gloomily he added to himself that it might only have been the elation of getting home。 There were other men； as he'd told Gostol； who showed a keen interest in Kasia。 What did he； a journeyman harper； really have to offer a girl of good Blood？
So he plunged back into the work he was contracted to do and tried not to think of ways to intercept Kasia in her daily rounds。 But it was hard and they did seem to keep meeting … in the halls； on the steps； certainly in the schoolroom and for meals。 She accepted his pany at table as readily as she accepted that of Valden； who was soon to take over a new hold created in the forested lands above Tillek … which Robinton devoutly hoped might be too isolated to attract a socially active girl。 Or Kalem； who was a journeyman shipbuilder with a cot of his own up the hill； so that Kasia would be near her sister。 Emry was exceedingly handsome and managed one of the Storage and Shipping holds for Melongel。
He evidently made plenty of marks； to judge by the fine clothing he wore： even what he wore when bringing reports to his Lord Holder was better than Robinton's best Gather wear。 And during the evenings； when Rob might have monopolized her pany； he had to play or sing with the other harpers。 He only had one or two dances with her； when Mumolon or Ifor took turns。 The other men had the whole evening in her pany； with no responsibilities。
It was frustrating； but he worked on the harp。 Her birthing day was in early spring and he wanted it ready by then； but he had to restrain himself from slighting any of the steps required in its making。
The glue had to harden on the sound box； he had carved the pegs and set the sharping blades； which would permit modulation and even changing keys。 He intended to tune the harp to C major。
He had to wait for the strings to arrive from the Fort SmithCraftHall； which specialized in extruding the fine wire needed。 Still； he spent less time working on the harp than he did looking at it … and thinking about how it would look in Kasia's lap； being touched by Kasia's hands。
Everyone in the Hold seemed anxious to celebrate Kasia's day with her； and Robinton desperately wanted to have privacy when he presented her with the harp。 He was beginning to think that such a gift would establish the depth of his feeling for her。 Which was what it was supposed to do； really。 It was scarcely on a level with the casual gifts that were generally presented on a birthing day。
Presenting it to her publicly would leave him open to teasing； as well as speculation about his affection for her。 Affection？ His love！
And the harp was a fine one。 He gave himself that much credit。 He did do good work … especially when his heart was in the doing。
So that he did not appear empty…handed in public； he had found some early berries in the woods above the Hold。 She made much of his thoughtfulness and exclaimed a lot over the pretty basket he had woven to hold them。 He managed to get a private word in her ear because； fortunately； it was customary to give a birthday girl an embrace and a quick kiss … if you were so inclined。 In Robinton's mind； there were too many so inclined。 He watched to see just how long she permitted the familiarity and rather thought she had clung just a moment longer to him。 So he took that chance to murmur in her ear that he had something special to give her but not in front of everyone。 Could she meet him in the workshop？
She nodded； her eyes dancing； and murmured； 〃After the meal；〃 before releasing him and turning to accept other tokens。 For she was popular。 There were presents from everyone； including a lovely b which Vesna had scrimshawed on the Northern Maid for giving her the moral courage she needed in getting her second mate's ticket。 There were the usual lengths of cloth； and scarves and bracelets。 Valden had presented a slim little belt knife with a blue leather sheath。 The most impressive gift was from her parents： a beautiful Gather outfit in a shade of delicate spring yellow； with stiff silver thread embroidering neck； hem and cuffs。 Various sea captains had obliged by passing it on around the continent on the Great Western Stream from Mardela Hold in Nerat until it arrived at Tillek； three days before her party。 Juvana had kept it hidden in her closet。
〃You must wear it tonight；〃 Juvana said。
〃Not tonight；〃 Kasia protested； her fingers running along the stylized embroidery。 I'll save it for the Gather。〃
〃Well； just try it on and let's see you in it；〃 Juvana insisted。
〃Later； not now；〃 Kasia said firmly and arranged her presents in a pile before sitting down to the midday meal。 As was customary； all the food offerings were known favourites of hers。
〃Everyone's making such a fuss over just a birthing day；〃 she said； colouring with embarrassment。
〃But it's your birthday；〃 her oldest niece protested。
Robinton could hardly eat。 But eventually the meal was over and he made a leisurely descent to the workshop。 And then paced and paced； waiting for Kasia to arrive。
When she did； she was flustered。
〃I couldn't get away！〃 she said。 〃Now what 。。。 oh！〃
He hadn't been able to think of anything appropriate to say to introduce the gift so he had been standing in front of it。 Now he moved aside and； with his best and most elaborate gesture； indicated it was hers。
〃Oh； Robie。。。〃
His name； said in just that voice and tone； was more than pensation for all his hard work。 On seeing it； her eyes had widened and then filled with tears as she stepped forward。 Almost hesitantly； she reached out to touch it； a fingertip following the line of the neck progressing around the ornamentation down the forepillar before she let her fingers run up the strings。
〃Oh！〃 she gasped again at the delicate sound it gave。
Impatient for her to use it； to hold it on her lap and give it voice； he pulled a chair over to her and practically sat her down； lifting the harp to her knee。
〃Oh； Robie； this is the most beautiful thing。 I've never had such a magnificent gift。 Even。。。〃 And she stopped short。 He suspected she might have been about to cite something Merdine had given her。 She gave him a quick glance and he smiled encouragingly back； though his mouth had gone very dry and he had a sick feeling in his stomach。 Then she lifted her hands； as he had seen her do in his mind during the long hours of woodworking； and struck a chord。 He had tuned the harp very carefully so that the chord sang tremulously on the still air of the empty workshop。 〃This is not just a birthing gift； is it； Rob？〃 she asked； turning to him； her wide eyes soft。
No shadows。 When he didn't … couldn't … answer； she said in the tenderest possible tone； 〃Is my eloquent harper wordless for once？〃
He swallowed and