“Me? No, why should I be? She has a magnificent voice, but she’s a little shy on technique and I know she’ll respond better to your comments.”
Petiron was not at all sure of that, but there was something about Merelan’s attitude which made him keep his private views to himself.
He anticipated no trouble at all.
“She’s a musical idiot!” he railed when he returned from his first lesson with her. “Haven’t you been able to teach her anything in the full month she’s been here?”
“No,” Merelan said quietly, and pointed to the closed door where Robinton was taking a nap.
“But she can’t even read notes, even when I beat out the tempo for her. Nor is she able to maintain pitch when I change signatures.
She expects me … me …” and Petiron laid an eloquent hand on his chest, “to teach her the entire score by rote. Could Maxilant have done that with her?” he enquired in a petulant tone.
“I believe Maxilant only raved on about her beautiful voice, love, and said nothing about the lack in her general musical education.” Merelan spoke as levelly as she could, having great difficulty masking her inner jubilation.
“She wouldn’t vocalize to warm her voice and told me’ – Petiron swung on his spouse – “that you didn’t bother …”
“I didn’t “bother” because I could never get her to see the necessity, Petiron,” she replied with considerable vehemence. “Washell is of the opinion that if she continues to sing in alt for another few years, she won’t be able to squeak.”
Petiron recoiled in surprise at his gentle spouse’s critical remark.
“No wonder you were so eager for me to coach her,” he said almost sullenly.
“If you can’t, no one in this Hall will be able to,” she said, looking him squarely in the eye. “She might believe you, where she’s
certain I’m jealous of your interest in her.”
Petiron scowled. “Aren’t you?”
Merelan laughed. “My love, I wouldn’t be that child for all the diamonds on Ista’s beaches. Washell’s right, you know. She won’t have a voice left if she keeps on this way.”
“He is right,” Petiron admitted, and scowled more deeply. “Well, she is not…” he paused dramatically “… mining either the duet or the aria. I shall make some changes in both that will put the music
at a level she should be able to sing.”
Merelan merely nodded.
When Petiron held his next session with Halanna, she was so insulted that she tried to walk out on him. The argument that ensued was heard by nearly everyone on the rectangle as the two voices, one baritone and one contralto, rose in volume and piercing clarity.
“You can’t do that!” Halanna began, an astonished screech in her voice.
“Oh, yes I can! You’re incapable of singing what I wrote.” “Incapable? How dare you?”
“How dare you address a Master in such a tone, young woman!
I don’t know what Maxilant taught you, but it wasn’t manners and it certainly wasn’t how to read a simple score.”
“Simple score? You’re notorious all over pern for the complexity of your music. I never hear anyone singing what you write. No one can !”
“The first-year apprentices have no trouble. But then, they can
read music and know the value of the notes they’re singing.” “I do know how to read music.” “Then prove it.” “No!”
“You will sing.”
“You can’t force me!”
Many agreed that they had heard the crack of flesh hitting flesh.
And it was true that the right side of Halanna’s face was darker than the left when she was finally allowed to leave the studio. But she did begin to sing in a much muted voice. And she continued to sing the music as written until she did so correctly, sometimes until she was hoarse.
“I hope he didn’t push her too far,” Merelan murmured to Washell.
“Perhaps it might be better for all of us if he did,” he replied uncharitably.
After that session, Halanna hurried out of the studio and disappeared.
She was seen a little later on her way across the great Fort Hold courtyard to the cottage where she slammed and bolted the door of the room she still shared.