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ravel dust。 Been long on the way？〃
〃Yes； and fully appreciate the size of this continent now in a manner I had not experienced。〃
〃Yes； well； there's that； isn't there？〃
Robinton reflected that Raid had been born in a mould and not altered the framework one bit in his nearly thirty Turns。 Well； there is something to be said about predictability for a harper's purposes； he thought。
〃Your father's well？ And Lady Hayara？〃 he asked politely。
〃My father is much bothered by joint…ail。〃 Raid frowned with concern。 〃Our healer can relieve the disfort only for short periods of time。〃 He sighed and； also characteristically； did not mention his father's second wife。
But she had been alerted by the return of the work party and was sailing into the hall … a woman whose proportions seemed to be a permanent appearance of late pregnancy。 Her smile when she recognized Robinton … and she had no trouble doing so … was all he could wish for； both as a returned guest and a new harper。
Talking away furiously； which permitted her to ignore Raid beyond a brief nod； she called for a drudge to take Robinton's carisaks to his quarters； then urged him into the hall where food and drink were being brought in and set on a table。 She ordered chairs to be set for her and the harper； and apologized for Lord Maidir's absence； and told him that Maizella was about to be espoused to a fine young holder； and said that she was glad he had e so that he could plan the music because she really didn't have anything new； and if Robinton did； that would be splendid … but only music which had a tune that people could enjoy。 Then she realized what she had said and started apologizing about his father's sooo impressive music； but really that sort of thing wouldn't do for such a happy occasion； would it？
At some point during that monologue； when she stopped to draw a breath； Raid said that he would inform Lord Maidir of the harper's arrival and see when it would be convenient for Robinton to present himself officially to the Lord Holder。 He would also apprise Harper Evarel that his journeyman had arrived。
Breath taken； Lady Hayara； whose ebullience had not altered； brought him up to date on how many students there were currently； and told him that Maizella； in her spare time； was conducting lessons with Harper Evarel； who was nearly as crippled with joint…ail as her spouse but carrying on bravely until Robinton could arrive； and exclaimed how happy Evarel would be to have a trained assistant because … she didn't know why … the holders seemed to be breeding enormous families。
Robinton managed to stifle a laugh。 He had counted up the number of offspring she had presented to Lord Maidir in the Turns since Rob and his mother had been at Benden Hold： she was a fine one to talk about large families； with seven more in the intervening Turns； making a total of ten。 Small wonder that Raid said little to her。 She was presenting him with problems； although undoubtedly Raid would delegate the more responsible males to assist him； while espousing the girls as creditably as possible。 Robinton just hoped there wasn't an ambitious and scheming nephew in Benden Hold； too。
Then； his klah finished； he said that he would go to the schoolrooms and see if he could help Master Evarel。
〃But you've just arrived from a long and terrible journey。 He won't be expecting you to pitch in。。。 right away！〃
〃I shall see what Evarel wishes； Lady Hayara； but I assure you that I have travelled at a leisurely enough pace and been well treated by everyone on the way。〃
So he thanked her again for the wele and the refreshment and would have used the back stairs when she called him sharply back and pointed to the main ones at the side of the hall。
〃Journeyman Robinton； kindly remember your new status；〃 she said with a hint of dismay。 〃You are not a child any more。〃 It was the closest he had ever heard her e to disapproval。
He bowed and； muttering something about old habits dying hard； strode across the floor to the appropriate staircase。
Master Evarel was quietly delighted at his arrival … and at his willingness to get right to work if that was required； for the older man's hands were badly gnarled with the joint…ail and obviously paining him。
〃Maizella usually plays for me； but she's away this morning；〃 Evarel said in a gruff tone； leading Robinton to suspect that the harper's voice was also going。 He had sung bass： it was the tenor range that was apt to go first。 〃That is； if you're not fatigued。。。〃
〃I'm fine； Master Evarel。 I'd be happy to assist。 Perhaps I should have pushed on last night。。。〃
〃No； no； the last part of the track could be dangerous at night。〃 Evarel put up a hand to reassure Robinton even as he passed the guitar over。 The youngsters in the room giggled and squirmed in their seats at the change…over； looking at the lanky journeyman with eager expressions。
Just as he was singing them through the first verse of the first Teaching Ballad； he heard the drums and paused to listen to the brief message： 〃Harper Safe。〃
It took him a moment to realize that the message concerned him。
That made him feel even more wele than ever … to be the subject of drum talk。
And thus began Robinton's second stay at Benden Hold。
At Evarel's request； Robinton's effects had been put in the room he had shared with his mother during their previous stay at Benden Hold。 It was Evarel's apartment； which he apologetically offered to share； if Robinton had no objections。 His spouse had died some Turns back and he felt odd about having such a large apartment all to himself。 Robinton was more than pleased because； while the inner rooms at High Reaches had been only one corridor away from outside； he much preferred having outer wall acmodation。
It was silly to feel the constraint of rock when that was actually all he'd known in his life； and when so many folk lived long； healthy lives quite contentedly in the inner passages of the bigger Holds and Halls； but he did like to be able to look out whenever he chose。 He also felt closer to his mother in rooms they had occupied together in one of the happiest spells of his boyhood。
Being journeyman in a busy Hold was a considerable change from that earlier time； and yet Robinton was not the sort of personality who could abide idleness。 If he wasn't instructing； taking his Drum Tower watches … Hayon； the oldest of Hayara's brood； was technically in charge of that part of the Hold's routine duties … or taking a few days to travel to the corners of the Hold to tutor small holder groups； he busied himself mending instruments； repairing music sheets and copying those which Evarel's pain…racked hands had been unable to keep in good shape。
When the cold weather deepened； Lady Hayara arrived with the Hold's healer； Master Yorag； bringing the basin of warm wax to ease the frozen joints of the old harper's hands and his knees。 She helped rub in the herbal oils which increased daytime mobility。
〃I do wish you'd reconsider the Neratian offer；〃 she would invariably say when she entered。 〃It is freezing here； and the cold is simply not good for your joints。〃
〃I'll be fine； Lady Hayara； I'll be fine；〃 old Evarel insisted； adding most mornings； 〃now that Robinton's here to assist。〃
Then he began to add； 〃And he's halved my work and taken over all the difficult tasks。〃
By Turn's End； when a chest congestion kept him in bed for six days running； and Robinton was beside himself to keep the water bottles warm enough to give him some fort； Evarel succumbed to the inevitable and said that perhaps he ought to spend the rest of the winter where it was a trifle warmer。
Lady Hayara ordered up the travel wagon and had Robinton send drum messages to holds on the southern route to have team changes and fresh drivers ready so that Evarel would make the journey in the most fort she could secure for him。 Maizella and Hayon were sent along as his escort。
As Robinton carried the gaunt old MasterHarper down to the conveyance； he wondered why Benden hadn't requested a dragon and rider。 He had seen dragons in the sky； but none had touched down at Benden Hold as they used to do； and none had been invited for any of the dinners which Lady Hayara loved to give with the least excuse。 Robinton had been too busy to visit F'lon on his own； to discover the Weyr's viewpoint on the coldness between Hold and Weyr。 Then he answered his own question； as he realized that the cold of between would have been the worst possible course for the sick man； not to mention the difficulty involved in hoisting him to the dragon's back without additional pain。
The travel wagon's narrow body was well sprung and well padded and would pass on most of the normal trails。 Such vehicles had bee quite popular during the long Interval。 And most holders kept good teams ready in the beasthold or in a nearby paddock for travellers' needs。 This wagon was also fortably sized： 〃Lady Hayara wide； which means the two of us will fit；〃 Maizella said with a touch of malice； although Robinton had noticed that she was now on better terms with her father's second spouse than Raid was。
Robinton watched with a lump in his throat as the old man left。
Lady Hayara was openly weeping。
〃He's taught all my children； you see；〃 she admitted as Robinton gave her a steadying hand up the steps to the Hold。 〃And I really don't think he should e back … even in the warmer weather。〃
And so it was that Evarel did not return to Benden Hold。
Robinton slid into the vacancy and started quietly training three of the brighter Hold children to be his assistants。 One lad was harper material； if he was not much mistaken。 Robinton had a sixth sense for that： he likened it to the green dragon's ability to perceive rider potential in youngsters。 He did wish that somehow or other he could find a girl as talented。 His mother would so enjoy having another voice to train as she had Halanna and Maizella。
A Turn and a half later； S'loner's Chendith flew Jora's Nemorth and a clutch resulted。 Not a large one； but six bronzes； three browns； five blues and six greens。 F'lon would still e to visit Robinton whenever he chose； seemingly oblivious to the bad feeling between S'loner and Maidin
F'lon had been quite caustic about the long wait for Nemorth to e into season。 He blamed it on Jora's own immaturity and fearfulness。
〃This business of Jora being afraid of heights is inhibiting her queen； of all stupidities！〃 F'lon paced up and down Robinton's apartment； waving his arms about in frustration。 〃I personally know that Nemorth was glowing as bright as a gold nugget when Jora takes it in her head to be violently nauseated and faint。 Naturally that put the poor queen off； making her nearly frantic with worry over her rider。〃 F'lon kicked at a chair in his way； venting his disgust with the Weyrwoman。 〃Frankly； I'll be surprised if we ever get Nemorth in the air to mate。〃
When the mating flight did occur； Robinton tactfully did not ask for any details the next time F'lon appeared at Benden Hold。 F'lon made only one reference to the event。
〃S'loner had no great joy in the day。 We all hope Chendith had more。〃 He spoke in such a neutral tone that Robinton couldn't tell if F'lon had got over his disappointment； but the bronze rider had an infinite capacity to ignore what he wished。
F'lon was shortly able to report that Nemorth was showing unmistakable signs that she was in egg。 He even appeared happy to be able to make such an announcement。
〃All in all； considering the way Jora carries on； I'm just as glad that I don't have to put up with her nonsense and carryings…on。 S'loner's wele to them。〃 He grinned maliciously。
In his capacity as Hold harper； Robinton was invited to the Hatching and the Impression。 And impressive that was for the sensitive harper。 He had never seen such joy； or felt so touched by another's elation。 Each new bonding added to the impact； and he found himself wishing desperately that somehow he could have been both harper and rider。 He was in tears； and unashamed； by the end of the Hatching。 Even F'lon；