“I thought it was your father who composed so much music,” Bourdon said, slightly confused.
“They both do,” Juvana said, just as F’lon remarked, “You can sing Rob’s stuff.”
“Haven’t you other Gather guests to collect?” Robinton asked as mildly as he could.
“Oh, no, I reserved the day entirely to help you,” F’lon said with a flourish.
“You might like to see the Gather, then?” Robinton suggested, an edge to his voice.
Juvana laughed. “We’ll stop, Rob. It’s not fair to tease you, today of all days.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that, Lady Holder.”
“Oh, now come, Rob,” she said, touching his arm. “I’m nearly your sister, you know.”
Robinton’s mind froze for a moment.
“Don’t tell me that fact has escaped your clever mind?” F’lon asked, delighted by his friend’s confusion. “Which makes Lord Melongel your brother. Doesn’t it? Well done, Harper.”
He felt Juvana’s hand press gently around his forearm and, feeling extremely stupid, he turned to look at her.
“It does, you know,” she said gently. Then she grinned at the others. “I never thought I should be able to render a harper speechless.”
“But that’s not why I want Kasia …”
“Of course it isn’t,” Juvana said.
“Such a dear boy,” said Brashia, beaming at him.
“Like the cut of his sail,” Bourdon put in.
“Close your mouth, Rob,” F’lon suggested from the doorway.
“F’lon, stop propping up the door and go and fetch the harp Robinton made for Kasia,” Juvana said, flicking her fingers at the dragonrider. “You know where it is. And tell Kasia that it’s gone very well indeed.” As soon as F’lon left, she smiled placidly at Robinton. “He can be dreadful, can’t he? I do believe that drug-onriders are far worse than harpers for teasing, aren’t they?”
Robinton was still floundering over the idea of being related to the Lord Holder of Tillek. “Honestly, I had no idea.”
“Of course you didn’t,” Juvana said easily. “Now, Clostan would be instantly suspect of such connivery – but not you.”
“Kasia said you’ve been loaned a sloop for your espousal days,” Bourdon said. “Sail much?”
“Only from Fort Harbour to Ista, and then the seven-day fishing run with Captain Gostol. He’s loaning us the ship.”
“Is he?”
“Yes, had us out tacking up and down the harbour the other day.” Robinton grinned. “To see if Kasia knew what she was about, for he was very sure I don’t.”
The admission did him no harm with Bourdon, who leaned forward and began to explain the foibles of small ships. That kept the conversation going amiably until F’lon carried in Kasia’s harp, handling it with the reverence he would ordinarily give only to his Simanith. As he passed it to Robinton, he murmured, “Beautiful piece.” Then both Bourdon and Brashia came over to examine the carving, the inlay and the strings; then, of course, they asked him to play so that they could hear its tone.
Playing brought Robinton to complete balance. And seeing that, Juvana made her excuses and left for other duties.
Never had there been such a brilliant Gather day as this one, when Robinton took Kasia’s hand in his in front of the Court Hall, where the Lord and Lady Holders stood with Master Minnarden and the other CraftMasters available for this happy duty. That they were the first of seven couples didn’t impinge on his consciousness then. He had eyes only for his Kasia. Behind them were their witnesses: his mother, radiant in blue, standing between F’lon and Groghe, who had said he was here in his official capacity as a Fort Holder.
Kasia’s parents stood on her side: her mother flushed and excited, and her father doing very well at looking proud and dignified.
Never had Robinton had to speak his own words in front of such a huge crowd. Singing was another matter entirely, but speaking his whole heart in words was something else again. He had to clear his throat, but then, taking a deep breath, he announced his intentions to be a loving, kind, considerate spouse, caring for Kasia all his life, nurturing their children and providing for the family.
Holding hands, he looked into Kasia’s eyes, which were no longer shadowed with an old grief but radiant with joy, as she -who also had to clear her throat before she spoke – declared her intentions in a loud voice. She grinned more broadly when she got to the part about children and winked at him.