amc.masterharperofpern-第83节

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　a　skin；　as　well　as　a　saddlebag　full　of　travel　meat　roll。　Everyone　was　so　busy　trying　to　air　their　own　hindsight　wisdom　that　no　one　noticed　him　sneaking　in　and　out。
　　　〃Here。。。〃　And　he　stopped；　seeing　Nip　propped　against　a　tree　fast　asleep。
　　　He　sat　down；　hoping　the　courageous　little　man　would　rouse　to　tell　him　what　he　had　in　mind。　The　gleam　in　Nip's　eyes　had　suggested　that　his　devious　mind　had　already　thought　of　several　interesting　ways　to　harass　Fax。
　　　Robinton　was　almost　half…asleep　himself　when　he　heard　his　name　called。　So　he　left　the　wine…skin　and　the　full　bag　of　food　and　retraced　his　steps。
Chapter　NINETEEN
　　　Some　good　did　e　of　that　disagreeable　confrontation　with　Fax。
　　　MasterSmith　Fandarel　withdrew　all　Masters　from　the　'seven　holds'。　Other　CraftMasters　followed　that　example。　Fax　had　been　too　busy　congratulating　himself　over　the　acquisition　of　Ruatha　Hold　to　realize　what　was　happening。　Now　he　plained　bitterly；　offering　inducements　to　the　Masters　to　return。　Nor　did　he　dare　retaliate　against　those　journeymen　who　remained：　as　many　as　could　do　so　had　slipped　away　before　he　knew　they　had　left。　Even　the　MasterMiner　at　Crom　had　removed　himself　and　set　up　a　new　headquarters　for　his　Craft　in　one　of　the　SmithHalls　at　Telgar。　Despite　substantial　rewards；　Master　Idarolan；　who　had　succeeded　Gostol　as　MasterFishman；　refused　to　lay　any　keels　for　Fax　to　replace　the　ships　which　had　so　mysteriously　disappeared　from　the　High　Reaches　fishing　villages。　All　that　were　left　were　small　sloops　or　ketches；　which　were　restricted　in　cargo　space　or　range。
　　　The　only　Hall　that　did　not　withdraw　skilled　assistance　was　the　Healer　Hall。　MasterHealer　Oldive　quietly　stated　that　such　a　measure　went　against　the　very　purpose　and　grain　of　his　Craft。　He　was　respected　for　it；　as　were　those　of　his　Hall　who　remained　to　succour　the　ill　and　injured。　And　there　were　many　of　them。
　　　〃Fax　hadn't　counted　on　the　loss　of　Masters；〃　Robinton　said；　thoroughly　pleased。　Of　course；　harpers　had　long　since　been　driven　away　or　hunted　down　by　Fax。　Indeed；　it　had　bee　almost　a　crime；　Nip　said；　to　admit　to　owning　an　instrument；　much　less　playing　or　singing。
　　　〃The　man　is　determined　to　make　life　as　miserable　as　possible。　He's　succeeding　rather　well　…　a　fact　which　will　eventually　go　against　him。〃
　　　〃We　hope；〃　Robinton　remarked　drily。
　　　〃Oh；　wait　and　see；〃　Nip　said　with　unusual　optimism。
　　　〃I'm　waiting。〃
　　　While　the　MasterHarper　waited　over　the　next　five　turns；　he　busied　himself　improving　all　within　his　Hall。　He　asked　Groghe　for　the　best　fighter　of　his　guard　and　had　the　man　teach　classes；　from　apprentice　level　on　up；　in　self…defence　and　…　though　this　did　not　sit　well　with　the　more　self…confident　young　students　…　when　to　run　and　hide　and　how　to　do　that；　leaving　the　least　evidence　of　escape。　To　Robinton's　surprise；　Sebell　turned　out　to　be　almost　ferocious　in　the　drills：　only　Saltor；　the　head　guard；　or　his　burly　assistant；　Emfor；　would　partner　him。
　　　〃Sebell's　amazing；〃　Robinton　remarked　to　Saltor　when　Sebell　had　pinned　Emfor　to　the　mat　in　three　moves。
　　　Saltor　regarded　him　with　amusement。　〃It's　you　he's　determined　to　defend；　Master　Robinton。　Keep　him　at　your　side　and　you'll　never　need　to　fear。〃
　　　〃Not　that　I　can　keep　him　from　my　side；〃　Robinton　replied；　wondering　how　he　had　managed　to　generate　such　devotion　in　the　lad；　kin　though　he　was。
　　　〃That　goes　for　every　one　of　'em；　you　know；〃　Saltor　continued；　and　Robinton　felt　decidedly　unfortable。　〃Just　as　well；　you　ask　me；〃　the　guard　added；　then　walked　off　to　correct　a　wrestling　hold。
　　　Sebell's　prowess　was　by　no　means　limited　to　such　physical　skills。　Like　his　adored　Master　Robinton；　he　soaked　up　sufficient　expertise　and　abilities　to　gain　his　journeyman's　rank　almost　as　quickly　as　his　mentor　had。　Robinton　reluctantly　sent　him　for　a　turn's　teaching　in　Igen　Hold；　then　found　out　just　how　much　he　had　e　to　rely　on　the　lad　and　brought　him　back。　As　if　Sebell　could　sense　where　Robinton　needed　help；　the　young　journeyman　assumed　many　duties　so　adroitly　that　both　Masters　and　the　older　journeymen　could　not　deny　the　MasterHarper　his　invaluable　assistant。
　　　It　was　Sebell　who　suggested　a　new　role　for　young　Trailer；　an　exceedingly　mischievous　apprentice　who　sorely　tried　the　patience　of　every　Master　in　the　Hall　with　his　pranks　and　strategies　to　get　out　of　any　task　he　did　not　like。　Trailer　never　seemed　to　be　to　blame　for　boyish　tricks。。。　it　was　always　someone　else　in　the　dorm。　He　was　never　there　when　work　was　assigned　and　always　had　a　plausible　excuse　for　such　an　absence。　He　could　ride　any　runner…beast　in　the　beasthold；　pin　a　fly　to　the　wall　with　his　dagger　at　a　hundred　paces；　survive　the　best　tricks　of　heavier　lads　on　the　wrestling　mats；　and　he　was　totally　without　conscience。　He　possessed　a　lively　wit；　however；　as　well　as　an　inventive　mind　for　excuses。　He　was　the　personification　of　contrariness；　and　yet　Robinton　liked　him；　however　often　the　boy　was　up　before　him　for　disciplinary　action。　He　had　had　a　good　treble；　lost　when　he　hit　puberty；　and　now　his　best　musical　skill　was　drumming：　either　in　the　Tower；　where　he　excelled；　or　on　any　surface　which　had　any　resonance。　He　drummed　with　his　fingers　…　one　of　his　dorm…mates　said　he　drummed　with　his　toes　at　night　against　the　bedstead　…　with　sticks；　and　even　upon　occasion　in　the　dining　hall；　with　the　thigh…bones　of　a　fowl。
　　　〃It's　about　Trailer；〃　Sebell　said　one　evening　as　Robinton　was　relaxing　after　dinner。
　　　〃Ohhh；〃　Robinton　groaned。　〃What's　he　done　this　time？〃　He　had　run　out　of　any　useful　disciplines　to　curb　the　lad。
　　　〃I　was　thinking；　Master；　that　he　might　do　better　training　with　Nip；〃　Sebell　said；　a　sly　smile　on　his　face　as　he　watched　Robinton's　reaction　to　the　suggestion。　〃It　seems　to　me　that　every　time　Nip　reports　in　he　looks　more　gaunt　and　tired。　He　needs　someone　else　…　if　only　to　run　back　here　with　messages　for　you。〃　When　he　saw　that　Robinton　was　considering　the　notion　he　added；　〃It's　not　as　if　anyone　will　ever　control　Traller；　but　all　that　energy　could　be　useful　to　Nip。〃
　　　〃I　think　you've　hit　on　a　marvellous　future　for　that　young　man；　Sebell。　I　can't　imagine　why　I　didn't　think　of　it　myself。〃
　　　Sebell　chuckled。　〃You　do　have　one　or　two　other　matters　to　worry　about。〃
　　　Robinton　agreed　vehemently　and　went　back　to　solving　those　of　the　most　immediate　concern　…　such　as　reassigning　harpers　for　the　next　turn's　teaching　duties。
　　　But　he　was　ready　with　Sebell's　suggestion　the　next　time　Nip　eased　himself　into　the　Harper's　study；　followed　closely　enough　by　Sebell　with　food　and　drink　for　the　man。
　　　〃I've　someone　you　might　like　to　train；　Nip；〃　Robinton　said。
　　　〃Huh？〃　Nip　scowled。　〃I　travel　faster　alone。　And　safer。　Ah；　thanks；　Sebell；　you're　remarkable　in　anticipation　of　my　needs。〃　He　bit　into　a　meat　roll　and　chewed　while　Robinton　went　on。
　　　〃I　think　you　must　at　least　assess　young　Traller　as　a　possible　apprentice；〃　Robinton　said　firmly。
　　　〃Oh；　well；　if　you　put　it　like　that；　I'll　give　him　a　going…over　then。〃　〃It's　you　or　back　to　Keroon　for　him；　because　we　can't　use　his。。。　special。。。　talents　as　a　harper；　that's　very　obvious。　Weren't　you　saying　that　you　can　only　be　in　one　place　at　a　time？　If　I　need　an　assistant；　so　do　you。〃
　　　Nip　gave　him　plete　attention。　〃Sebell's　no　lad。。。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃I'd　hate　to　put　someone　in　danger；　and　it's　dangerous　up　there　in　Fax's。〃
　　　〃More　reason　than　ever　for　you　to　have　an。。。　assistant；〃　Sebell　remarked　pointedly。
　　　Nip　made　a　noise　in　his　throat。　〃You　mean　'shadow'；　don't　you？〃　he　asked；　jerking　his　thumb　towards　Sebell　who　grinned　back；　quite　willing　to　make　the　criticism　into　a　pliment。
　　　Robinton　blinked　and　grinned；　then　laughed　out　loud；　for　there　was　a　faint　resemblance　…　the　colour　and　set　of　their　eyes；　the　same　dark　hair　almost　to　the　whirls　at　the　crown；　and　strong　features；　chin　and　nose　…　that　spoke　of　their　distant　Blood　relationship。
　　　Sebell　was　now　as　tall　as　the　MasterHarper　and；　over　the　turns；　had　picked　up　some　of　Robinton's　mannerisms　as　well。　Their　eyes　met　and　they　grinned　with　perfect　understanding　and　mutual　respect。
　　　〃He's　outside；〃　Sebell　said；　indicating　the　hallway。　〃I　found　him　on　the　drum　Tower　stairwell；　trying　to　see　who　was　making　such　a　late…night　entrance。〃
　　　〃Well；　now；　that　sounds　promising；〃　said　Nip；　and　himself　went　to　invite　Traller　into　the　room。　The　two　stood　regarding　each　other　as　warily　as　strange　canines。　〃If　you'll　pardon　us；　Robinton；　Sebell；〃　Nip　said　after　a　long　pause　and；　taking　Trailer　by　the　shoulder；　he　pushed　the　lad　ahead　of　him　out　of　the　door。　The　next　morning　Nip　told　Robinton　to　rename　the　boy　'Tuck'　and　to　designate　him　as　an　apprentice　on　special　assignment。
　　　〃I　told　you　he　was　a　natural；〃　Robinton　said　somewhat　smugly。
　　　Nip　snorted。　〃He　will　be　when　I　get　through　with　him。〃　Then　he　grinned　in　his　irrepressible　fashion。　〃He'll　be　good；　too。　Thanks；　Rob。　Oh；　and　he's　ing　with　me。　I've　got　two　runner…beasts　ready　and　willing。　Like　any　well…brought…up〃　…　Nip　smiled　at　that　description　being　applied　to　Tuck　…　〃Keroonian；　he　rides　like　a　leech。〃　He　paused　again　at　the　door。　〃And　he　runs　like　the　wind。〃
　　　Nip　took　turns　with　Tuck　to　deliver　reports　over　t