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The MasterPrinter managed one sip of the hot liquid。 〃What do I do？ I'll need guards。 My apprentices aren't going to be enough！〃
Pinch raised hands to silence him。 〃Of course they aren't。 Nice enough lads but not trained； though I suspect Marley's a good man in a brawl； but my reinforcements here…〃 He gestured broadly at the young people who were quietly sipping klah。 〃…have a few tricks and they know one end of a brush from another。 We've arrived timely； too； since Beauty was here and my suspicions have been confirmed by the Runners。〃 He grinned brightly at Tagetarl。 〃Dragonriders aren't the only ones who can be where they're needed when they're needed。〃
Tagetarl's jaw dropped at what was almost a profane remark from a harper。
〃Now you've finished your klah； boys and girls； we've a lot to do before daylight。 Smear the retardant on anything wooden。 The gloves may be clumsy but they'll save your skin。 Work quietly； if you please。 I don't want even to hear the slap of brushes on the wood。 You've all had practice。〃
While two of the group gathered the cups and set them in the sink； the others went out； collecting their supplies and quietly leaving by the kitchen porch。 Tagetarl glanced out the window and； in the dim predawn light； could barely see the other side of the wide court。
〃Stuff's dark going on； dries transparent。 Don't worry；〃 Pinch said； rising to refill the kettle from the tap at the sink and put it back on the stove。 As he swung his leg over the stool； he took a sheet from a pocket and smoothed it on the table in front of Tagetarl。 〃Seen him around here lately？〃
Tagetarl frowned。 〃That's the same man you drew the last time you were here。 I thought he looked familiar。 I thought it odd of him to ask for a copy of Teaching Ballads。 I'd actually filled an order for Lord Kashman and had none in stock。 Told him to e back in a sevenday。〃
Pinch nodded as if that wasn't news to him。 〃Tomorrow。〃
〃You mean； he plans to just walk in here。。。〃 Tagetarl was appalled when he remembered the incident。 〃I showed him through the Hall。 It seemed only courteous。〃
Pinch's smile was sardonic。 〃I hope you limited it to the Hall。〃
〃I did； but I also mentioned how many apprentices I'm training。〃 Tagetarl slammed his forehead with his hand。 How naive of him！ Had he lost all his Harper…trained acuity？ He had seven lads； none of them fully grown except Marley； and three girls； who were all of them light…boned； hired for their quick fingers。 Add in the eight Pinch had brought…
〃Don't fret；〃 Pinch said soothingly。 〃You'd no cause…then…to suspect anything。 No reason not to be courteous。 You are； after all； offering a special service。 Even if the Abominators don't like it。〃
Tagetarl swallowed； the hot klah cooling too rapidly in his belly to give him the fort it usually did。 〃How many were there in that attack on the Healer Hall？ Ten？ No； fifteen。〃
〃I'd say there'd have to be at least ten for the job here；〃 Pinch said casually； as if that made no difference。 〃Had any other 'curious' visitors lately？〃
Tagetarl buried his face in his hands； rubbing it and then scrubbing his scalp with his knuckles。 〃Quite likely and all of them seemed perfectly reasonable folk。〃
〃They may well be；〃 Pinch remarked amiably； 〃except those who get a notion that you're a wicked tool of the Abominator because you can turn out whole books in days instead of months。〃
Tagetarl groaned。
Pinch reached over and patted Tagetarl on the shoulder。 〃But we've warning and I know who…and what…to be looking for。〃
〃The three sketches you showed me？〃
〃I'm hoping all three will e to this party。〃 Pinch's expression turned enigmatic。
〃Party？〃 Tagetarl was livid。
〃Evening exercise； if you prefer。 Since they expect to surprise you； we'll just prepare a few of our own。〃 He rose and Bista glided from her perch on the windowsill to his shoulder。 〃I'll go give them a hand。〃 When Tagetarl started to rise； throwing off the last of this infamous shock； Pinch motioned to the kettle。 〃We'll need a lot more klah。 And don't notice me walking about today； will you？ The others'll hide in the loft。 Just don't send anyone up there； will you？ Fine。 We brought food and water with us。 No one will know we're here。〃
He started to leave； and then stopped； putting up a hand to steady his gold fire…lizard on his shoulder。
〃There's one more thing； Tag；〃 he went on。 〃You might just get an unexpected gift； like a skin of good wine。 Don't even sample it out of courtesy。 Or any provisions offered in kind for books received。〃
〃What？〃 Tagetarl bristled at that。 They did take fresh fruit or meat in return for printing。 Would an Abominator stoop to poison？ Then he remembered that Master Robinton had been drugged at the Ruatha Gather and abducted right in front of hundreds of people。 〃How many are involved？〃
Pinch gave an indolent shrug。 〃Don't know； but Abominators seem to work in groups。 Since they intend to damage the Hall； they'll bring enough brawn to smash stuff around。 There are still persons；〃 and he heaved a sigh for those so misguided； 〃who'll do any job that drops marks in their pockets。〃
Tagetarl shuddered； he had a vivid picture of the Hall； paper burning； toner powder splotching the whitewashed walls； hammers smashing his presses； even if Pinch seemed certain that fire could be prevented。
〃You are not reassuring me； Pinch！〃 he said in a caustic tone。
〃While we want them to get in；〃 Pinch said； 〃to show that they had evil intentions； we want to keep them from getting out。〃 His grin was malicious。 〃That'll be easier to do； you know。〃
〃No； I don't know； but this is just the sort of adventure you enjoy！〃
〃You used to； too； in your younger days； Tag；〃 the Harper said with an unrepentant grin。 〃Until you got your Mastery and started a new Hall。〃 He rose before Tagetarl could marshal a stern rebuttal。 〃By the way； if you should hear someone whistling；〃 and he provided a trill； 〃that's me。 If you hear this one；〃 and the intervals of the five notes in the next warble were very odd indeed； like some of the quartet music Menolly liked to write for very experienced players； 〃that means someone suspicious close。 Got 'em？〃
〃Of course；〃 Tagetarl replied with some heat。 〃I'm a Master Harper。 Which reminds me： where did you so handily assemble that crew of yours？ One of the Halls？〃 There was something familiar about them that Tagetarl couldn't place。
〃Here and there；〃 Pinch replied enigmatically but added with uncharacteristic candor。 〃Runners； a few of 'em are seafolk waiting for a ship； useful types。 All vouched for； I assure you。 Ran me ragged getting here in time。 Quick over the roof； too。〃 He glanced outside。 〃Experienced with brushes。。。 of all sorts。〃
Then he and Bista were out of the kitchen before Tagetarl could ask anything else。 Bewildered by Pinch and the imminent threat to his Hall； Tagetarl looked around； wondering how he was going to break this news to Rosheen。 Well； if he washed the cups and put them away； she wouldn't know at first glance that there had been early morning visitors。
HONSHU HOLD…2。9。31
〃e； my dear Tai；〃 F'lessan said as she entered the kitchen area at Honshu； 〃we will eat…and get down to business。〃 He rose and came to meet her。
She gave him a wary smile。 He had a tendency to jump in different directions； as if he enjoyed catching her off balance。 He probably did。 She'd thought that； once Golanth had flown Zaranth； F'lessan would disengage from her； perhaps more kindly than others had。 On the contrary； he had insisted that she remain at Honshu； that she choose a room as her own…though they mainly shared the large one he preferred； and had shown her every part of an installation that must have originally been designed to support a large population。 She hadn't known there were so many levels in the stone mountain。 She loved the well…equipped machine and tool room； just off the ground level where the covered hulk of an Ancient's sled was stored。 The night of the Fireball； when so many displaced Monacans had found shelter at Honshu； had probably been the first time in centuries the Weyrhold had been even half full。
He encoura