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ey followed those carrying Melongel's body to the Northern Maid。
〃I did。 Do you concur？〃
〃It's all a bit too convenient； isn't it？ A previously sound； sure…footed animal going into convulsions and rolling on its rider？〃 Groghe snorted。 〃Runner…beasts don't eat lur…weed and holders clean it out of their fields whenever it sprouts。 So someone would have had to put it in the animal's manger on purpose。〃
Robinton nodded agreement and then had to take his place with Minnarden on the prow of the ship to harp Melongel to his last resting place。 When the last harp note was whipped by the breeze； as Melongel's body slid into the sea； he must have only thought he heard another harp's last dissonant strum。
He bowed his head and others respected his solitude。
During the next Turn； Robinton kept wondering what would happen next。 Fax made no further obvious moves to extend his holdings。 Not that Nip； or Robinton； trusted him。 Oterel； confirmed at the Conclave following his father's funeral； enlarged the guard posts along his borders。 That had been Nip's advice； filtered through Robinton。 The MasterHarper also remended that Oterel make as many tours of his border with the High Reaches as he could to reinforce the determination of his folk。 Since most of the border holders； like Chochol； had succoured refugees from Fax's initial expansion； they were only too eager to ply。
In the spring of that Turn Silvina informed him that she was pregnant with his child。
〃I will espouse you；〃 he began。
〃Oh no； you won't； because I do not care to be the spouse of the MasterHarper of Pern。〃
〃What？〃 Robinton tried to pull her into his arms； but she stepped back； her expression severe。
〃I am。。。 very fond of you； Rob。 We suit each other。。。 in an informal arrangement。 But I will not espouse you。〃 She shook her head for emphasis。 Then； taking pity on him； she approached； putting a gentle hand on his arm。 〃Kasia。。。 is the name you call at night。。。 and she is still your spouse。 I will not pete with a。。。 dead woman。〃 Then she shook herself and smiled kindly at him。
〃You will be a good father； Rob； and the child will lack for nothing between us。〃
He argued off and on； especially when he caught her being sick in the mornings； but she was adamant。 She supported her argument with instances from Betrice's life with Gennell。
〃You love the Harper Hall more than you could possibly love。。。 another woman。 It might have been different if Kasia had lived； but I think not；〃 Silvina said in her down…to…earth manner。 〃My mother loved harpers； all harpers。 I think I have inherited this fatal tendency。 I do care for you； Rob。。。〃
〃As you've often shown。〃 He grinned affectionately at her； finally beginning to see what she meant by her insistence on independence。
〃As you know； but I'd rather not be tied。 I don't really think I'm cut out for sexual loyalty。〃 She gave him a very wicked grin。 〃There are so many of you to love！〃
That he knew of no others with whom she had formed any sort of relationship was immaterial。
So he made sure everyone in the Hall and Hold knew that he acknowledged the unborn child and that Silvina had his affection and support。 And； as often as he could manage in his myriad duties； he spent time with her。
When he told F'lon； the Weyrleader was delighted； and asked how many lullabies he had posed。 Kasia was not mentioned and； for once tactful； F'lon asked if there would be an espousal； too？
〃No。〃 Robinton made a rueful face。 〃I asked and she refused。〃 F'lon regarded him for a long； thoughtful moment。 〃I give her full marks for her wisdom。 You'll make a loving father but a terrible spouse。 Think of all the。。。 ah。。。 friendships you'd have to forgo！〃
Robinton managed a creditable laugh。 There was no sense in denying the fact to F'lon that Robinton was enthusiastically weled by many holder girls for the pleasure he gave above and beyond the music he played。
Robinton tried to stay in the Hall as much as he could towards the end of Silvina's pregnancy。 The winter was a stormy one and so there were few calls on him to mediate。 He taught more classes than he had for many months and was pleased with the way the boys would work for him。 The elaborate music of his father had to be put aside since there were no coloraturas available； though he managed to get Halanna to e and sing at Turn's End； reworking a ballad so he could sing with her。 Once again he tried to entice her back to the Hall； even offering her a Mastery； but she turned him down。
〃What？ Live in this cold all the time？ I think not； Rob； though it's kind of you to offer me the post and the honours。〃
〃The Harper Hall will get the reputation that girls； and women； are not wanted here；〃 he said； continuing his argument。
She only smiled。 〃If my daughter is at all musically inclined； I'll send her to you； I promise。〃
〃Even if she isn't？〃 Robinton asked； pleading。
〃You！〃 and Halanna left him with that ambiguous remark。
In the middle of a blizzard Silvina was delivered of a fine big boy in due course； and Robinton was besotted with the infant at first sight of him。 If Silvina seemed unusually subdued； he at first put it down to the rigours of the final month of pregnancy and the delivery。 Then he began to realize that this infant was unusually quiet； sleeping and eating fitfully； and only occasionally wailing in a thin； petulant way。
〃All right； Silvina； what's wrong with him？〃 Robinton asked； as the baby briefly waved his fat arms and then sank into unwinking silence。
She gave a long； sad sigh。 〃The cord was around his neck when he was born。 Ginia said he didn't get enough air to breathe normally。〃
Robinton stared at her； disbelief foremost even as he admitted to himself the hideous fact that this child of his was obviously not normal。
〃And？〃 he asked quietly； slowly sinking to the nearest chair； seeing once again his pleasant dreams turning to ashes。
〃He will be 。。。 slow；〃 she said。 〃I've seen the same sort of thing before。 There've been two cot babes the same way。 But they are sweet。 And docile。〃
〃Sweet？ And docile？〃
Robinton tried hard to absorb what that would mean in terms of his child。 He buried his head in his hands and tried not to think of what could have been。 How ironical！ That his first … and only … child would be sweet and docile instead of the curious； interested； clever； tall； fine straight child he had yearned for！
〃Oh； Robie； you cannot know how sorry I am。〃 Silvina's fingers twined in his hair。 〃Please； don't hate me。 I so wanted to give you a。。。 fine child。〃
〃How can I hate you； Vina？〃 He glanced sideways at the baby。
〃Or him。 I'll care for you both。。。〃
〃I know you will； Rob。〃
There was little more he could say； just then。 Over the months of Camo's first Turn； he kept looking for signs that his condition might have been exaggerated and the bright intelligence which should have been his legacy might somehow blossom。 He was even somewhat encouraged when Camo first smiled at him。
〃He knows your voice； Rob；〃 Silvina said sadly。 〃He know