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！
ows； and the sun was shining in his eyes。 But he felt rested enough and sprang from his bed。 The day was so clear that he fancied he could see the High Reaches shore across the wide bay。。。 which reminded him that he hadn't heard whether Lord Faroguy had accepted Lord Melongel's invitation to e to his espousal day。 Not that it was his alone； he corrected himself； for others would be taking vows at this Gather as well。 As he dressed； he groaned as he thought of having to waste this morning at the Gather Court； but at least it would keep him too occupied to worry about anything else。
He joined Clostan at the table for breakfast； and the healer inspected him critically in his new clothing。
〃Yes； I did you a favour； old thing；〃 Clostan said； sniffing a little as he turned back to his bread and cheese。
〃You're looking splendid yourself；〃 Robinton replied； now able to recognize good tailoring when he saw it。
Clostan glanced down at himself； as if he couldn't remember what he had put on that morning。 〃Oh； well enough。 I may change for the dancing。 That is；〃 he added； nudging Robinton in the ribs and rolling his eyes slyly； 〃if I'm allowed to dance with the fair spouse Kasia。〃
〃Since it's you and I owe you a favour； I'll let you dance with Kasia when I have to play。〃
〃What？〃 Clostan affected great horror and surprise。 〃They make you do a set on your espousal day？〃
Robinton hushed him。 〃I'm a harper。 I take my turn。 You wouldn't turn away a sick person today； would you？〃
〃Well； I'd change my clothes first；〃 Clostan replied； flicking an errant crumb off his sleeve。 〃I'll hold you to that dance；〃 he said； rising。 〃I do have rounds to make now。〃 And he was off。
Lord Melongel； looking austere in dark brown with just a piping of gold at the neck and sleeves； entered the dining hall。 An approving smile appeared on his face as he noted Robinton's new clothes。
〃You are looking the part； that's certain；〃 he said。 〃Oh； a message was drummed in yesterday from High Reaches。 Lord Faroguy regrets。〃
〃Well； I didn't think he'd be able。 Is he well？〃
Melongel frowned slightly； rubbing at his chin。 〃Now that's the oddity。 I've known Faroguy a long time。 Had many messages from him； and he always enquires after Juvana。 She spent a Turn with Lady Evelene； you know。 Odd that he didn't this time。〃
Robinton felt a surge of concern。 〃If he is ill； could the message have e from someone else？〃
〃Farevene would have asked； too。〃 Melongel frowned。 〃Well； we've enough to do today without adding other problems。 I see you've finished your meal； so we'd best adjourn to the Court Hall。 We've a full morning。〃
Robinton rose； suppressing a sigh。 Unlike some of the larger Holds； Tillek used a stone building closer to the centre of the Holding for such proceedings … right in the middle of the Gather； which was already in full swing。 Both official CraftHall and independent booths were doing a good business。 The entire fishing fleet was moored in the harbour or alongside the wharves； and distant sails indicated that the home crowd would swell even more with the passengers ing in from up the coast。 Melongel and Robinton had to slow their steps to the crowd's pace； with people either smiling a greeting or nodding courteously as Lord Holder and harper passed。
Robinton felt a tug on his sleeve and was surprised to see Pessia at his side； and； beyond her； the gaggle of Sucho； Tortole； Valrol and Klada； who peered out from behind the protective bulk of her father until Robinton's eyes fell on her； and she ducked away。
〃Good Gather day to you； Lord Melongel；〃 Pessia said with a polite jerk of her head； and then she looked right back at Robinton； a proud if shy smile on her face。 〃You did a great deal for us； and especially Saday。 This is for you and your spouse。〃 She threw a cloth…wrapped parcel at him and； before he could prevent her； ran off； the others following like leaves blown from a tree in a high wind。
〃Your wall folk？〃 Melongel asked。
〃Yes。〃 Robinton tried to see in which direction they had run； but there were too many people milling around and； despite his advantage of height； he couldn't find them。
At Melongel's gesture； he unwrapped the parcel as gatherers politely skirted the two stationary men。
The cloth was new； the smell of the dye acrid； and when he had removed it he gasped as he held up the wooden bowl。
〃Elegant！〃 Melongel said。 〃Truly elegant。〃
They both examined it with their fingers； feeling the thin； smooth wall and then discovering the band of tiny flowers which ringed the top； so perfectly done that they seemed to blossom from the wood rather than having been carved from it。
〃A beautiful gift； Harper。 And deserved。〃
Then Melongel touched Robinton's sleeve and indicated that they should proceed。 They were not far from the Court Hall and the knots of anxious men and women looking their way。 Carefully re…wrapping his gift； Robinton matched strides with the shorter…legged Lord Holder； and they were soon being smiled into the building by those they would shortly be judging。
Good fortune seemed to favour Robinton that day。 They were hearing the representations and alibis of a holder who had been delinquent in managing his fields and cot when a messenger slipped in and handed Lord Melongel a message。 He read it； gave a sniff and then； with a slight grin on his face； handed it over to the harper to read。
〃You may leave。 Other duties take precedence；〃 Melongel murmured。
Reading the note； Robinton wasn't at all sure if he should take the excuse to leave。 The message told him that F'lon had arrived with Holder Bourdon and his spouse； Brashia； who were awaiting him in Juvana's apartment。 He dreaded meeting Kasia's parents far more than he dreaded being bored by the court proceedings。 When he did not immediately rise； Melongel gave him a stern look。 And so he pushed back his chair； nodded to Minnarden and to the faltering holder； and left。
The first thing he saw outside the Court Hall was everyone looking up at the Hold heights and pointing out the bronze dragon settling himself in the sun。 Like rider； like dragon； Robinton thought as Simanith made quite a show of extending his gleaming wings before； with a smart crack of the tips； he folded them to his back and sprawled； his shorter front legs overlapping the edge。
F'lon was lounging against the front entrance to the Hold and grinned as he saw the harper hurrying towards him。
〃I brought them safely here；〃 he said； slapping Robinton on the shoulder and then holding him off to inspect the new clothing。
F'lon whistled and his amber eyes gleamed with mischief。
〃Someone's taught you a thing or two。 The lovely Kasia； perhaps？〃
〃I'm well able to choose my own clothes；〃 Robinton said。 Then he asked in a lower voice； as F'lon hurried him into the Hold； 〃Why did you have to bring them here so early？〃
〃Early？ It's not early by my time； lad。 Don't worry。 I'll see that they don't rough you up。〃
When Robinton started to cross the hall to the stairs； F'lon neatly hauled him in another direction。