"I do not wish anyone to think that I am pushing my son into a place that another also qualifies for."
"There is no other treble as qualified!And everyone but you knows very well that Robinton has a splendid treble."
"Then there is no problem in following protocol, is there?"
"Protocol!Protocol?For your own son?"
"Of course.For him more than any other.Surely you can see that, Merelan”
"I wish, Petiron, I do sincerely wish that I could."
Robie had flinched when he heard the outer door slam.He felt his throat tighten, and then reminded himself sternly that he had no time for that right now.He was harper-trained and he'd prove, especially to his father, that he was well trained.
Because he was, of course, facing his auditors, he caught the little reassuring gestures they made, and his mother's encouraging expression as she played the introduction to the music they had decided he should present first.He was to sing two songs, showing off his abilities, an optional piece and then a score he had not seen before.
"That', his mother had said in an odd voice, "is going to be very difficult because he knows all the music."
"There will be one he doesn't know," his father had said, giving his head the one final nod which indicated this subject was closed.
So he sang the Question Song, and that made all the Masters sit up, including his father.But the song suited his range and showed good phrasing as well as voice control, as he let the final note die away without breaking it off.
"Odd choice," was his father's comment after the warm applause had died.Petiron handed him a double sheet."This would have been Londik's next solo.Not even he has seen it.You may have a few minutes to look through it." He held out his hand to take Merelan's gitar from her and sat on the stool, prepared to accompany his son himself.
With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Robinton turned his eyes down to his father's bold notations.But by the time he had to turn the page, he felt a surge of relief.If his father thought this would show up his unsuitability, he might even get a pleasant surprise.
"I'm ready," Robie said, turning the music back to the first page.
"You should take more time than that," his father told him.
"I've read it through, Father," Robinton replied.His father didn't know how quickly he memorized music, even the complex tempo Petiron liked to use and the odd intervals he was fond of putting in: "To jar the audience awake," one of the journeymen had said in Robie's hearing.
"Let's not make the lad nervous, Petiron," Master Gennell said.
"If he says he's ready, we'll have to take him at his word."
"I'll play the first measure, then go back to the top," Petiron said, as if conferring a special favour.
Robinton saw his mother's warning finger go up, so he said nothing.But he was spot perfect coming in at the top.He didn't need to, but he kept the score in front of his eyes, not wanting to look in his father's direction.He had no trouble singing the unusual intervals, or keeping an accurate tempo, even when it changed almost every other measure.There was one run, which would have suited Londik's flexible voice too, and a trill which Rob had no trouble with either, his mother having used him to show Maizella how to deal with that sort of vocal embellishment.
"I do believe we have a more than adequate replacement for Londik," Master Gennell said, rising and speaking over the applause."That was very well done, Robie.Surprised you too, didn't he, Petiron?You've been working the lad hard at Benden, Merelan, but it shows.It shows."
Petiron was looking at his son, his mouth slightly open, his right hand silencing the strings of the gitar.
"I do believe, Petiron, that you've forgotten that Robie turned ten while we were in Benden," Merelan said briskly.
"Yes, I had." Petiron rose slowly, putting the gitar carefully back in its case."But you must read the dynamics of a new piece more carefully, Son.In the fourth measure? "
"Petiron, I don't believe you," Master Gennell said."The lad did not so much as falter once, singing difficult music, for you don't write any other kind, which he had never seen before, and you're quibbling about the dynamics in one measure?"
"If he is to take Londik's place, he must be accurate in all particulars," Petiron said."And he will be.From now on, I shall oversee his musical education.There's a lot to be done…"
"Ah, but you're in error there, my good Petiron," Master Gennell said in his mildest voice, his round face quite bland."You, he pointed his finger at the MasterComposer "teach at journeyman level.We must follow the protocol, you know." And he beamed at a stunned Petiron.
Robinton heard a stifled noise and looked round at his mother, who gave him the oddest smile.
"Robinton is not old enough to be an apprentice, though as our lead treble he is now definitely under Hall jurisdiction.But? " Gennell went on in a very satisfied tone, "I think that he would benefit from special lessons with his mother, since obviously Merelan has brought his voice along this far with her usual excellent training." He nodded and bowed to her."And, of course, he'll continue his regular lessons with Kubisa, for we can't short him on general knowledge and the basics, now can we, simply because he has a splendid treble?You did very well, Robinton." Gennell's beam now included Robinton, and he awarded the boy a proprietary caress on his head and a final decisive pat."Yes, and I think some of us here, I, certainly will be more than willing to oversee other elements of his training until he does reach apprentice age." Gennell then sighed abruptly."Of course, when his voice breaks, we'll just have to see what his other musical qualifications are."
Robinton blinked when Gennell, whose wide shoulders shielded him from his father, gave him a solemn wink.
"Thank you, MasterHarper, I'll do my best not to disappoint," Robie said in the silence that fell.
Then everyone began to clear throats or shift feet or stand up.
His mother moved to his side, hands on his shoulders, squeezing lightly to indicate her approval.
"Ah, Petiron, there's a drum message request from Igen for a repeat of that programme you put on for them last Turn," Gennell said, taking the MasterComposer by the arm and leading him out of the audition room."You might make it the debut for your son.
Not surprised he did so well, considering his parentage.You must be proud of him…" His voice trailed off down the hall.
"The MasterHarper may appear to be asleep from time to time," Master Ogolly remarked in his dry wispy voice, "but he doesn't miss much, does he, Merelan?What with summer schedules and all, I'm short of apprentices when I need them most.Robie, could you give me a few hours and help me catch up on copying manuscripts?"
Robie looked up at his mother for permission and she nodded.
"He writes the clearest hand, you know, Mere.Have you some free time this afternoon perhaps?" he added wistfully to Robinton.
"I'll be there after lunch," Robie said, grateful to be legitimately somewhere other than his own quarters for the rest of the day.Ever since he'd been considered old enough to feed himself, he'd sat at the younglings' table in the dining hall so that he could avoid his father at noon.He'd get a copy from Master Ogolly of the work Londik had sung last turn and memorize it.That way he wouldn't annoy his father.
If Robinton did not realize until he was full grown how deftly the Harper Hall conspired to save him from his father's perfectionism, he was consumed with relief when ‘protocol’ required him to join the other apprentices in their dormitory the day after his twelfth birthday.
Instead of being on better terms with his father after two turns of solo work, he seemed to annoy Petiron even more, no matter how hard he tried.In fact, it got so that everyone noticed, and the other singers made a point of telling him how well he did, loudly enough for his father, who gave him only a nod now and then, to hear.