He handed her the items she had refused to carry or use in her first days at the Harper Hall. As she went out of the door, he noticed she pulled her shoulders back, steeling herself to go in among the lowest of apprentices and face whatever their reaction to her presence might be. The girl had courage. However, Gennell had made very sure that she would not be the butt of any youthful mischief.
He had given a stern lecture to the apprentice contingent that they were to behave properly at all times in her presence and never refer to the incident or they'd have worse of the same.
In fact, the affair had subtly improved the behaviour of even the more inventive miscreants among the apprentices. But that didn't keep many of the principals from deeply regretting Halanna's intransigence.
Petiron did not restore the more complex music he had written for contralto voice, but Halanna did sing at TurnOver. In the duet with Merelan, she modulated her tone to match the soprano so that it was technically well sung, though the contralto part did not match the soprano in the joy which the song had been written to express.
Petiron was profoundly disappointed in her performance, having worked so hard with her to produce the dynamics he had "heard" during composition.
"Don't you dare chide her, Petiron," Merelan said, intercepting him after the performance. "She's done well, all things considered.
No one can beat joy into music unless it comes from the heart."
"But her voice ..." Petiron was beside himself with dismay. "She could so easily have risen to the occasion."
"Give her time, love, give her time. She may not be as rebellious or arrogant as she was when she first came here, but give her the chance to realize how much she has learned and how much her voice has improved. If you can't say anything complimentary, say nothing." She looked over to where Halanna was being surrounded by Fort Hold guests who were complimenting her on her lovely voice and splendid performance. "She was note-perfect, you know, and her breath support was excellent. And her presence couldn't have been improved on. Say that. She'll know where she failed."
Petiron opened his mouth and, while Merelan knew he wanted to complain that his satisfaction had been diminished by her lacklustre performance, he observed Halanna accepting the compliments with a genuine modesty.
"Oh, well. You were splendid, Mere."
"I'm glad you think so," she said, and if her tone was a little dry, Petiron missed it as he was surrounded by those wishing to congratulate MasterComposer and MasterSinger.
CHAPTER FOUR
Of Halanna's family, only the second brother, Landon, was able to attend the TurnOver performance since Halibran had unavoidable hold obligations. She was glad enough to see her brother, and he seemed more affectionately inclined towards her. Patently impressed by her demeanour as well as her singing, he remarked several times that he didn't recognize his own sister, she'd changed so much for the better.
Merelan took him to one side after his third loud pronouncement.
"I wouldn't make so much of her ... good behaviour, Landon," she said kindly.
"But she has improved," he protested.
"Yes, but do you have to rub it in?"
"Oh, yes." He rubbed his tanned chin and gave Merelan a charmingly penitent smile. "I see what you mean. But she's certainly turned inside out, and not before time, if you ask me, though you didn't. When she was a toddler, she was such a sweet thing ..." His voice trailed off. "Who's that?" he asked, suddenly suspicious as he noticed a young man in elegant TurnOver finery leading his sister on to the dance floor.
Merelan recognized one of the younger Ruathan nephews, Donkin, who was currently fostering with Lord Grogellan. As he had a good strong tenor voice, he usually joined the Harper Hall chorus. He'd been no more attentive to Halanna than half a dozen others brought in for the TurnOver performance. But, being from Ruathan Bloodlines, he'd be quite acceptable to the most particular of fathers as a possible spouse.
"Ruathan, you say?" Landon echoed, quite able to recognize
Donkin's suitability. "Is she showing any preference?"
"Not that we've observed."
"Still keeping your eye on her?"
"No more than we keep our eyes on any of the young women in our care," Merelan replied pointedly.
"She has learned her lesson, then?"
Merelan thought his attitude was a shade arch, but he was himself young and had spoken to and treated his sister kindly since his arrival. "She has learned a good deal more about the mechanics of both producing her voice and music in general. She has proved a good student."
"My father said she may stay on, if you think she should." Now he sounded less self-confident, and there was a hint of a plea in his tone.
"She has scarcely begun to learn the repertoire suitable for her range," Merelan told him willingly. "And she has learned to play flute and gitar well enough to do ensemble work. We would certainly like to train her as far as she is willing to go."
"She'll be willing, I fancy," said Landon, his eyes watching Halanna going through the steps of the dance with the agile Donkin. The two were obviously enjoying themselves.
Halanna was smiling more tonight than she had done since her father's disciplining. And about time, too, Merelan thought.
"Come, Landon, you can't spend all your time as observer. I'd be happy to introduce you to any number of girls here."
"I'd like to dance with you, if you'd permit it, MasterSinger." He managed not only a charming smile but a graceful bow.
Merelan glanced about to check on Robie, playing with some other children his own age at the edge of the dance floor, and Petiron, who was explaining something – with considerable gesturing – to one of the harpers home for TurnOver. Eventually he would remember that she loved to dance and oblige her, but she was quite willing to start with Landon.
"I'd love to dance, Holder Landon," she said and took his offered hand.
One of the features of the TurnOver celebrations was that everyone got a chance to play or sing – even those as young as Robinton and the other nursery children. They performed a song on the second day, each of them using a percussion instrument: tambourine, chimes, triangles, tom-toms, cymbals and the hand-bells. Robie had been chosen to beat the tempo on the small drum with the knucklebone, and Merelan glowed with pride at the fine and complex rhythm he managed.
She was disappointed that Petiron was too deep in discussion with Bristol, the Telgar harper, to notice Robinton's performance.
Bristol, like Petiron, was a composer, though his interests lay more in balladic works for the gitar than in full chorus and orchestra. His work was easy to remember and enjoyable to sing – though Merelan grimaced even to think so disloyally.
She was rather surprised, and certainly gratified, to see Bristol speaking to Robie later that afternoon. Robinton, his little face serious, was explaining something to the harper, who paid him the courtesy of attentive listening. If only Petiron would do the same...
She reminded herself that this was TurnOver and the new Turn was nearly on them. Just one more day of freedom from the usual routine. She was pleased with her hour's recital of the old traditional airs which had been part of these festivities since Fort Hold was founded. She'd had no trouble holding her audience, and the applause had been generously prolonged though she had kept her encores to three. As MasterSinger she knew when enough was enough. There were plenty of other performers to take the TurnOver stage.
Halanna had given young Donkin quite a few dances each evening, but she also partnered other lads, and Merelan was glad to see the girl relaxing and enjoying herself. Maybe that would restore the vibrancy which had initially characterized her rich voice.