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or Runners…never too far for someone to bring a message； proper…like； to the Station and have it logged in from source。 Then it took time to catch up with the Runners who logged in such messages at their next Station。 Seems odd to have it happen in sort of bunches； like in twelfth and thirteen month last Turn。〃
He paused。 〃Then I got confirmation that sort of thing had happened elsewhere； too。 Same time。 Only now…〃 and he paused again； 〃same thing's happening and all down Keroon way。 Three times in the past two sevendays； man twice and woman t'other； stopped Runners to take on messages。 Chesmic may be old； but he doesn't forget a face。 Seen one too often； in different clothes； garbling words； too； saying he was picking up for Apprentice…this or Holder…that。 Sent some off； too。 Recently。 We're still tracing where they were collected。 We；〃 and putting his thumb to his chest indicated he was referring to all other Stationmasters； 〃think it's how those Abominator fellows are passing messages。 Make sure that Pinch fellow knows； too。〃
Only the dark prevented Haligon from betraying surprise that Torlo would know Pinch by name and could hint at his discreet function within the Hall。 Since Turn's End； Haligon had developed a healthy respect for Torlo's discretion and judgment。 Son of a Lord Holder though he was； and allowed into many conferences his father held； he was surprised at how much more Torlo knew and understood about matters in Fort Hold and all across the two continents。
〃Tell that MasterPrinter to be especially on his guard。 It was his Hall printed that paper that's got folks so worried。 I'd send a fire…lizard soon as I could； Lord Haligon。〃
〃I will。〃
〃Like right now；〃 Torlo added at his driest。 〃See Tenna back。 She's got a hard run tomorrow。〃
So dismissed； both rose。 As they strolled around the corner to the Station door； Haligon circled her shoulders with one arm； wishing they didn't have to separate quite so soon。 In front of the Station； Haligon gave her a quick hug and let her go。 He didn't know how many eyes followed him up the steps to the Court； but no one would have seen that he made for a narrow side staircase on the far left of the Court that led to the Harper Hall。 Later； on that moonless night； the departure of a fire…lizard； from an upper window in the Hall； was seen only by the vigilant watch dragon who wished Menolly's Beauty a safe flight。
PRINTER HALL AT WIDE BAY…SAME NIGHT
If Beauty woke the Masterprinter by picking delicately at his ear； he had the good sense not to thrash about in surprise。 In fact； the fire…lizard's unexpected arrival merely confirmed the presentiment of trouble that Rosheen had confided in him three days ago。 To cap her uneasiness； Stationmaster Arminet had sauntered into the Hall the day before； ostensibly to get a fresh notice of Runner fees printed。 He had seemed far more interested in prowling the big Print Hall； asking if the glass were Morilton…made or the original。 It was now a joke that the impact from the et had smashed glass that had e from old Norist's Hall while Morilton's remained intact。
〃Morilton； of course；〃 Tagetarl had replied with a grin。
〃Good locks on the windows；〃 Arminet had closed one eye with slow significance。 〃Sky…broom wood in gates and the Hall doors； too。〃
Tagetarl raised his eyebrows but Arminet had gone straight on to discuss his printing needs。 That night Tagetarl had checked the gates； Hall doors； and windows himself； and slid into the brackets of the outer gate the heavy bar of sky…broom tree wood； which the former owner of the warehouse had used to dissuade pilferage。 At both ends； the bar had ingenious fastenings that made removing it difficult if one didn't know how to release the latches。 Sky…broom wood was too dense to break or chip so he felt safe enough。
No matter； on top of Rosheen's uneasiness and Arminet's odd remarks； a late…night message from the Harper Hall； and from Beauty； Menolly's gold； was alarming。 Tagetarl wondered why Ola； Rosheen's fire…lizard queen； did not instantly appear to 〃supervise〃 the visitor。 Ola wasn't usually absent when needed。
He held out his hand and Beauty stepped onto it。 He could see the message holder on her left foreleg but it was too dark to read it。 Rising carefully so as not to disturb Rosheen unnecessarily； he slipped yesterday's shirt and pants from the clothing rack and left the room。 He pushed his hand for Beauty to leave it and motioned her down the stairs。 He pulled on his clothes； her annoyed chirp hurrying the process。 The thin carpet on the hall was cold under his bare feet； another incentive to move quickly。
As he descended the stairs； he peered out the windows into the court； silent and shadowed。 Maybe that's where Ola was； lurking on the rooftop。 The weaver's roof abutted the Hall's outbuildings。 Pinch had made use of that entry。 But Ola knew him。 Tagetarl paused on the landing； listening for any sound from the hall that led to the upper story of the Print Hall。 Nothing moved in that direction。 He heard an admonitory chirp in the other and continued on to the spacious kitchen that was also their main living room。
Then Tagetarl berated himself for assuming that the message dealt with the Print Hall。 There were any number of reasons…all equally worrying…that could have prompted Menolly to send Beauty in the middle of the night。 It wasn't that late at the Harper Hall。 Maybe she was merely inquiring about the musical scores she had recently sent him to be printed。 Even with Beauty impatient； Tagetarl took the few steps to the porch door。 It had a fine lock； strong； well…cast metal with another cunning catch that you'd have to know about to open the door once it was set。 And the glass was Morilton…made； not easily shattered。
Tagetarl turned right into the big； dark kitchen； warm enough from the banked fires in the big range。 Orange light from the ash grate made an eerie glow on the flagstones： not bright enough to read by。 The shutters were closed against the winter's cold so he flicked on a small light and saw Beauty perched on a chair back； ruffling her wings shut。 She held up her left foreleg for him to remove the message tube； cocking her head at him as if reproving his slowness。 Taking a deep breath； Tagetarl unrolled the thin sheet of the message。
〃Runners confirm trouble at Wide Bay。 Guard the Hall。 Assistance planned。〃
Rosheen had been right。 Had Arminet been just passing on suspicions？ Which now the Harper Hall was confirming？ Trouble？ From whom？ Instantly the Abominators came to mind。 But there hadn't been any more activity from that source since Turn's End。 Of course； the Fireball Flood had kept everyone busy。
〃Trouble？ What sort of trouble？〃 Out of habit； he filled the kettle； put it on the range； and stoked the fire with blackstone。 Then he stared at the range。 〃Fire trouble？〃 He swallowed hard。 Paper burned just as easily as dried herbs or powdered medicines。 And he had all those books displayed in the Hall； more packed to be shipped north and south。 The presses could be smashed just as easily as medicine bottles and equipment； toner and ink could be spilled； and the sheds where he stored paper had wooden doors； because he hadn't been able to afford steel doors。
The note didn't mention Abominators。 What made him think they would attack his Hall？ What made him think they wouldn't？ He was using a process that Aivas had provided； encouraged。 Was the use of 〃Aivas procedures〃 all that was needed to agitate them？
〃What sort of assistance？〃
Perhaps he should ask some of his male apprentices to sleep in the Hall； or in the sheds。 And Ola。 Which reminded him。 Where was she？ Menolly had helped train her and she was certainly most responsible when Rosheen sent her with messages； going and returning as quickly as anyone could expect。
〃Shouldn't you be getting back to Menolly？〃 he asked； a little sharp with worry。
She blinked her green eyes。 Well； she wasn't worried if her eyes were green。
A whir of wings and into the kitchen flew Rosheen's gold queen； Ola。 She may have landed on his shoulder but the warble of her message was for the Harper Hall queen。 For a brief second； Tagetarl