Free Masterharper of Pern by Anne McCaffrey Page B

As she went out the door, he noticed she pulled her shoulders back, steeling herself to go in amongst the lowest of apprentices and face whatever their reaction to her presence might be. The girl had courage. Gennell had, however, 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 behavior 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 that 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 time 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 lackluster 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 composer and Mastersinger.

 
    CHAPTER IV
     
     
     
    O F H ALANNA’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 toward her. Patently impressed by her demeanor 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 behavior, Landon,” she said kindly.
    “But she
has
changed,” 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 onto 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