“And, if you should decide this regimen doesn’t suit you,” her father said in so cold a voice that Merelan shivered, “and attempt to run away from the Harper Hall, I will have the drums repudiate you across all Pern. Do you understand? You wanted to sing, you wanted to come here to the Harper Hall so that you could improve your voice. Now you will do just that, and nothing but that! Do you understand, Halanna?”
Head hanging after the ordeal of apology, she murmured something.
“I didn’t hear that. Speak up.”
A flash of her old spirit flared in her eyes, but vanished when her father lifted his hand. “Yes, Father. I understand.” She stood, head up, lips and chin trembling slightly. Satisfied with her demeanour, he strode out of the MasterHarper’s office.
“MasterSinger Merelan will be your primary instructor, Halanna,” Master Gennell said. “You will review your foundation lessons with the first-year apprentices’ – he was almost glad to see the flare of dismay in her eyes; her punishment had not broken her spirit, even if it had quelled her arrogance – “until you have learned enough to graduate to the more advanced classes. Although classes have begun for the day, Master Washell has given permission for you to arrive late this morning. Now go on to room 26. And you’ll need this slate and chalk.”
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.