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Sebell lifted the cover and only stern self…control kept him from slapping it shut。 He could see what had made Horon squeamish。 The picture was； indeed； revolting to look at。 It depicted shapes； indecently colored； of unusual appearance and what looked like knives holding flesh back from what could be a long incision。 A caption had been blacked out。 Underneath； again in the black block lettering： 〃A body laid bare； pulsing in torture。 It could be yours。〃
〃It's all like that。 Revolting pictures；〃 Horon said。 〃Where could they。。。 get such things？〃
Impassively； Sebell flipped several more pages and found one picture he actually recognized。 The pound fracture of a human tibia； the flesh colored an unrealistic pink against which the ivory bone nauseatingly contrasted。 He'd seen such an injury in a hill hold； Turns before。 The printed caption read 〃Shattered by blows。〃 Sebell made out page numbers； almost obscured by the dirty finger marks； and； right by the margin of the picture； 〃Fig。 10〃 and 〃Fig。 112。〃 Checking； he found none of the pages were sequential and realized that the pamphlet was prised of random photographs； undoubtedly removed from a perfectly proper medical text released from Aivas's prehensive records。
〃Kimi。〃 Sebell turned his fire…lizard's head toward him； one finger stroking her neck affectionately。 He scribbled a quick note on the pad he kept with him and tucked it in her message cylinder。 〃Take this to Keita at Healer Hall。 You know her。〃 He projected a vivid image of Oldive's discreet journeywoman。 The little queen made a throaty noise and disappeared from sight。
〃Revolting to us； perhaps；〃 Sebell said； negligently pushing the pamphlet away from him； 〃but instructive to a Healer when not used as。。。 disinformation。〃
Horon shuddered。
〃Those photographs are quite likely of surgical procedures。 Those are not well understood as yet；〃 Sebell went on； looking directly at Horon。 〃Your own grandfather died of a burst pendix that the then MasterHealer could have removed。 Such an operation was known…and successfully performed。〃
Horon's face was pale as he nodded his understanding。
〃Healers have recovered much lost or imperfectly understood information；〃 Sebell said。 〃Master Oldive has been training his most skillful men and women to perform surgery that will greatly lengthen life and improve health。〃 He gestured disparagingly at the pamphlet。 〃That was deliberately produced to misinform people。 To undermine one of the most basic rights of the Charter； the treatment of ills and wounds。 You know；〃 he said； pointing at Horon； 〃that when Master Oldive offered treatment； that stupid female rejected him。 She's been well schooled in the delusion。 No one is forced to accept healer help。 Certainly no one's bones are broken in torture！ Not by Healers！〃 He dismissed the pamphlet with contempt。
There was a scratch on the door； which swung open。 The burly minor holder who'd assisted with the prisoners peered round the door。
〃MasterHarper； Lord Horon？〃 He entered at Horon's wave。 〃I thought you'd like to know that they're talking。〃
〃Talking？〃
〃The prisoners。 Naming each other； at least。 I thought you should know。〃
〃Indeed we should；〃 Sebell said。 〃That could be most useful。〃
The half…open door hit the man in the back as someone else tried to enter。
〃Master Sebell？〃 A man in proper Healer green with a master's knot came in； breathless。
〃Ah； Master Crivellan； just the person to explain what exactly we have here！〃 And Sebell slapped the dirty pamphlet in his hand。 As Crivellan stared down at it with some apprehension； Kimi slipped into the room and resumed her perch on Sebell's shoulder。 〃Crivellan's particular skill is surgery。 Do tell us what these pictures actually depict。〃
BACK AT LANDING…1。2。31
As soon as the warm air of Landing's morning hit him； F'lessan realized how tired he was。
You need to go back to Honshu and sleep。 There is no Fall for two more days； Golanth told him as he circled above the panorama of Landing。
〃I just want to check on Tai。 They kicked her around a lot。 Persellan said she'd be badly bruised but the gash on her cheek wouldn't scar。〃
She's not here。 Golanth stretched his head skyward and stroked his great wings for height。
〃Surely she's in bed in her weyr？〃 F'lessan said。
Zaranth is sitting by the sea。
〃Zaranth is by the sea？〃 F'lessan echoed in amazement。
Tai is in the sea； Golanth informed him。 Shall we go there？
〃By all means。〃 Hearing that she was well enough to go swimming； F'lessan was annoyed with himself for having been so concerned。 So concerned that he had left what would have been a fascinating session at Fort。 He wondered if T'gellan had had better luck questioning Landing's captives。
Golanth went between and came out again； circling； skimming the brilliantly turquoise and blue sea。 Dolphins immediately tail…danced to greet him； squeeing their wele。 He was as well known as Ruth was to the various pods along the southern continent。 Golanth swung shoreward until F'lessan saw the swimmer： a black spot in the sea。
Swimming is good for aches； Golanth remarked。
〃Quite likely；〃 F'lessan replied with uncharacteristic sarcasm。
The swimmer was Tai。 She seemed to be treading water as they overflew her。
〃e in！〃 F'lessan yelled through cupped hands。 Then he pointed to the shore。
Craning his neck backward； he saw that dolphins acpanied her。 Well； maybe she wasn't being so reckless； then。
Yes； she swims with Natua and her new calf。
Were you listening then； last night？ He never knew when Golanth was。 Last night seemed a very long time ago。
I like dolphins。 Flo is with them。 And here e others from the pod。
Close to land now； F'lessan could see Zaranth sitting upright on the shore； watching her rider。 Golanth landed； dipping his head politely to the big green and managing deftly not to churn sand onto her。 Draped on Zaranth's neck ridge were a towel； a shirt； and shorts。 F'lessan slipped off Golanth's back and took a moment to shuck off his flying gear； wishing he could strip and swim。
You could； you know。
Golanth！ F'lessan should have grown accustomed to his dragon's teasing。
Then he saw Tai limping out of the water and； grabbing the towel from Zaranth's back； he jogged down to the edge of the sea。 Only because he knew that his flying boots would take a long time to dry did he resist the impulse to continue into the water。 Her body； legs； and arms were covered by bruises。 Persellan had done a neat repair of the gash on her right cheekbone。
〃What's wrong； F'lessan？〃 she asked anxiously； splashing the rest of the way。
〃What are you doing？〃 he demanded； looking but not looking…as was polite…at her long lean figure and her long； lovely legs。
〃Admiring Natua's calf；〃 she answered tartly； taking the towel from his hand and wrapping it about her。 〃There he is。〃 She pointed to the dolphin heads； large and small； bobbing as they watched her safely landed。 〃Salt water's good for wounds； you know。〃
〃And washed off all the numbweed。〃 He reached for his belt pouch。 He had seen her wince when the towel rubbed against one of the contusions。
〃I brought some with me；〃 she said； pointing to her clothes。
〃And I suppose Zaranth can apply it？〃 He gestured to the bruises running down her back。
〃Why are you angry with me？〃
F'lessan let his breath go out in one exasperated sigh and glanced around him； looking for a good answer。 Even the right one。
〃I'm sorry。 I was worried。〃
She gave him a little smile。 〃Thank you。 Zaranth was doing all the worrying I needed。〃 She shot a fond glance at her green dragon； who had been joined by Golanth； sitting beside her in much the same pose； an arm's length taller at the shoulder。 〃How bad was it at the Healer Hall？〃
F'lessan blinked； time…disoriented。 Landing was half a day ahead of Fort。
〃Give me your numbweed and I'll apply it while I tell you。〃
He did tell her…in perhaps more detail than was possibly discreet； but she was a rider； already involved； and deserved to know。
On her part； Tai was grateful that he could spread on more salve。 The s