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rising； 〃if you've any questions after you've settled in； I prefer my harpers talking to me rather than plaining to each other。 One last item； though； since this Hold's main source of ine is from fishing； I'd like it if you could see your way clear to learn as much of this different lifestyle as you could。 Never hurts。 Even the hull of a ship has two sides。〃
Robinton groaned： he was getting mighty tired of that reference！
But he had to grin at Minnarden； who was clearly delighted with his new journeyman's adventure。
Minnarden then retrieved from the shelf behind him a squared…off； leather…bound record book and slid it across the table to Robinton。
〃If you haven't memorized the Charter； you'd better； and study the examples of some of the more mon infractions。〃 Minnarden grinned。 〃That aspect of our job can be quite interesting at times。。。〃 He paused to sigh。 〃And at others； about as infuriating as dealing with the dumbest； most insubordinate； mentally deficient adolescent male。〃 Melongel's middle children … he had nine … were part of the chores group that Robinton was to rehearse。 Bright； intelligent and curious； the two boys and one girl were musical enough so that any of the three could have apprenticed in the Harper Hall。 His oldest； just a turn younger than Robinton； was Oterel … a rangy； awkward lad needing to grow into his bones。 Oterel was delighted to have Groghe share both his room and his duties； for he already had stewardship responsibilities； which went more swiftly with help。
And then there was Kasia； Lady Juvana's youngest sister； who was living at Tillek Hold。
Robinton felt a decided attraction at his first meeting with the attractive young woman。 In the previous Turn； she had tragically lost her lover to a storm at sea off Nerat coast； half a month before their espousal。 Her parents had sent her to Juvana to ease her grief。
It was the aura of sadness which caught his eye； the sorrow that lurked in her lovely sea…green eyes。 And the tremulous smile which； only occasionally； briefly lifted it。 But she was cheerful； helpful and kind； with a real understanding of the trials of her younger nieces and nephews。 She was obviously their confidante； as well as her sister's。 She had prehensive recollection and was able to e out with astonishing bits and pieces of information which she had tunnelled away in her retentive memory。
〃I just remember things；〃 she said with a little shrug when Robinton asked her if she knew all the words to an old Teaching Song； one he was revitalizing。 Which she did … word perfect。 〃I can't say why I know that particular ballad； but you'll find it on the second shelf from the top on the right…hand side of the library。〃
And sure enough； there it was； with Kasia grinning with delight at her accuracy： an occasion when the sadness disappeared。 He became determined to lift the shadow pletely。 He was chagrined to discover that he was not the only young man in the Hold who had the same ambition； including his fellow harpers。
Robinton was only twenty； a fact he kept hidden since he didn't look so young and could cite five turns of active harpering。
Neither Mumolon nor Ifor knew that he had been fifteen when he walked the tables to collect his journeyman's knot。 Minnarden knew； and probably Melongel； but his youth was not a factor in assigning him difficult tasks … especially after the wall incident。 If Ifor and Mumolon suspected； it didn't matter to them as he performed his duties too well to encourage criticism。
Kasia was several turns older … and looked younger： except for the harboured grief。 However； that age difference and her continued mourning for her lost lover were the reasons why Robinton was hesitant in discovering if the sudden； keen attraction was mutual。 Their ordinary tasks often brought them together。 In that he was luckier than the others who sighed over her。
He contented himself with enjoying her pany； her bright humour； her lovingness； and sparring with her in duels of memory and； often； song。 She had had excellent training： she sang with a sweet light soprano and played fiddle and pipe。 She was envious of his harp； which she played middling well； not having an instrument of her own。 So he concocted the notion of making one for her in his spare time。 Tillek's port shipped quantities of timber； as well as storing it for the building of hulls。 He made himself agreeable to the local MasterCarver； an acplished carpenter named Marlifin who was only too happy； when requested； to find him well…seasoned and unusual woods。 Tillek Hold had a well…equipped workshop； as most large establishments did； so Robinton had only to start his project。 He did ask Marlifin to do the carving of the forepillar in patterns of the flowers which Kasia had said she loved。 Robinton couldn't carve fancywork without mining a lot of good wood； and this harp had to be special。 It was going to take long enough as it was。 After several faulty starts and not a few cuts on his hands； he did manage to carve the harmonic curve and the neck； which would hold the pegs to tune the strings of the harp 。。。 when he got that far。
He also took Minnarden's advice to learn more about a fishing hold and found great favour with Melongel； and incidentally with Kasia； when he volunteered to go out on a fishing run with Captain Gostol； whom he had met at the Harper Hall。 Kasia shipped out on the same voyage as galley cook and panion to Gostol's daughter； Vesna； who was going for her second's ticket。 There were two other women in the crew of fourteen； for the Northern Maid was the length of a queen dragon。 The female sailors surprised Robinton。 Being harper…trained； he was accustomed to women having equal status as performers and posers； but it had never occurred to him that other Crafts also promoted women to positions of trust and responsibility。 He was astonished to find them fishing； since that was a hard life： he discovered just how hard on that trip。 Fortunately his immunity to sea…sickness was a great mark in his favour。 He straggled to help lower and haul in the trawling nets； slipped on fish guts； laughed when he got up covered with gore and slime … and was teased for the stench of him until the job was done and he could change。 If he wasn't considered able to stand a watch； he was available to heat soup or klah in the galley for those who did。
Of course； Kasia's post was the galley； though she was also a dab hand at gutting and salting the catch。 So they had time to talk。
He was as subtle as he could be； light…hearted； and finding odd bits and pieces of humorous things to tell her； to dispel the sadness which still lurked。 And of an evening； or sailing to another likely spot to fish； he would manage to place himself close to her while they helped pass the time by singing。 He toned down his heavier baritone to blend with her light voice in duets or choruses。 He also picked up a few local work…songs； favoured by the Tillek Fishmen。
The most vivid memory he had of that seven…day was the sight of ship fish who were in the habit； Captain Gostol said； of acpanying the fishing vessels。
〃That's old Scarface； that is；〃 the captain said； pointing to one whose bottle…nose was indeed scarred。 〃Got hisself caught somewhere。〃
〃Are they singing？〃 Robinton asked； hearing sounds when the leaping shipfish were airborne。
〃New； just the sounds they make； shooting the air out of them blow holes；〃 Gostol said。 〃Though I've known instances when a man blown overboard's been rescued by 'em。〃 He paused and tilted his head mid…ships。 〃Storm was too fierce to save that 'un's man。 Shame； too。 Good fisher。 Nice girl。 She shouldn't pine too long； ya think？〃 And now he cocked his head at Robinton； a sly grin on his rugged； weather…worn face。
Robinton laughed。 〃Considering how many fellows e round to see her at Tillek Hold； it's only a question of her pointing a willing finger。〃
〃So you say； do you？〃 Then Gostol pointed。 〃She's got another young'un since last time I saw her。 That one with the mottled rostrum。 See her？〃
The shipfish was in fact almost hovering in the air； squeaking； crackling at the humans； who she knew were admiring her。 Her baby； half her size； was doing its best to match her leap。
〃Do the same ones swim in these waters all the time？〃
〃Think so。 Recognize 'em certainly。〃 The captain gave an uncharacteristic sigh。 〃Like watching them。 Sometimes；〃 he said； leaning his forearms on the rail； 〃I think they sort of〃 … he made a slanting motion with his thick…fingered tight hand … 〃ease us one way or t'other； and we follow； 'cos they seem to know where the fish are schooling。〃
〃Really？〃 Robinton leaned his arms on the rail too； as if he could get closer to the leaping shipfish who were still clicking and squeaking at him； almost as if they were saying something he just couldn't quite catch。
〃They're good luck； they are。 No fishman ignores them。 Always give 'em something from each net。〃 The captain stood up； peering over the rail； his stance alert。 〃Watch！ Yup！ We're sailing tight into a mess a' bordos。 Good eating； bordo。 Good for saltin'。〃 And he started forward； shouting orders to the crew to be ready to drop the nets。
Robinton could actually see the school over the starboard side of the Northern Maid。 The sleek thick bodies were grey…striped； as long as his forearm； with bulging eyes on either side of their blunt heads。 He'd never seen such a concentration of fish。 Oh； he'd fished as a child down at Pietie Hold but had never seen a multitude。
However did they wend their way without accident？ Did they have a leader' the way some of the herd…beasts did？ Or an instinct similar to dragons； who never interfered with each other even when they came out of between in wing formation？ He was fascinated。
When Gostol roared out the mand to lower the nets； Robinton went forward to lend a hand。
That was actually the last fair day of the run； for the clouds closed in and they had to work in a driving rain； making a difficult job even more arduous。 Robinton was exhausted； his muscles protesting their abuse and his hands raw。 So； when they finally had time to relax over a late meal and he was asked to play； he brought out his faithful pipe as being the easiest for his sore fingers。
He could not help but be relieved when they sailed back into the deep natural harbour which made Tillek the best port on the long western coast。 There were long rows of terraced cots carved out … or built out from … the several levels of cliff above the harbour。
Some fishmen could anchor their ships right in front of their cot…holds。
Floats that rose and fell with the tides gave access to stairs； some cut deeply into the cliffside。
As the Northern Maid slid past the breakwaters which extended the arms of the U…shaped harbour； folk waved to the sailors who were making right and tight the sheets and lines； preparatory to docking。 Gostol was allowing his second to bring his ship in； and Robinton； knowing how important it was for Vesna to plete the manoeuvre satisfactorily； was holding his breath for her when Kasia joined him。 She had changed from her rough…weather gear into a long skirt and a thick woolien jumper against the chilly wind； her hair was newly braided。 Her eyes didn't seem quite as shadowed。
Maybe she had sailed with them to dissipate the last vestiges of her sorrow for Merdine。 She had actually mentioned his name at one point during the voyage。
〃Breathe； Rob；〃 she said； laughing at him and lightly clasping her hands around his left arm。
The use of a short name for him made him catch his breath twice in a row。 Did that mean she liked him？
〃Will she make it？〃 he asked。 Kasia had more experience with such things than he。
〃The ship's just making enough way； so that I think she'll nudge the dock and e to a full stop。 Which is exactly what she should do。〃
The Northern Maid did seem to be moving but imperceptibly； the smallest hint of a wake visible on this side of the bow。
Kasia laughed； leaning into him； as he unconsciously exhaled as if his breath could give the ship just that touch more forward motion。 They were n