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terviews usually resulted in her hurling threats and promises of just retribution at those trying to talk sense into her。 Even MasterHealer Ginia had no luck in trying to talk sense into the girl。
The sentry on the Fort Hold eastern tower spotted the ten armed men racing up the harbour road and blew the alarm； which alerted both Lord Grogellan and the Harper Hall。 Having been informed of the illegal drum message； Grogellan assembled a larger force from his sons； nephews and armsmen to meet the newers just as they turned into the Harper Hall quadrangle。 Master Gennell； Betrice； Ginia； Petiron and Merelan were waiting on the broad steps； while every apprentice； journeyman and Master had found some vantage point from which to view the confrontation。
As Halibran and his troops halted their runners； he had no trouble locating his 〃abused' daughter who was screeching at the top of her lungs from an upper window。
〃She's been at it again； father；〃 one of Halibran's riders said in disgust。 〃She was the one abusing； I've no doubt。〃 The resemblance to his sister was obvious； and he was not the only young blond male in the group with a similar cast of countenance。
Halibran； dismounting； waved the young man to hold his tongue。 Not a major holder； though a wealthy one from the produce of his lands and the mines under them； he had none of his daughter's arrogance as he mounted the steps and held out his hand to the MasterHarper。
〃Since she is sequestered； I assume that Halanna has not seen fit to apologize。 Let me do so in her stead；〃 he said； allowing everyone to heave sighs of relief。
Master Gennell； however； shook his head slowly。 〃It is her place； not yours； Holder Halibran； to make restitution for her behaviour and her refusal to accept the usual necessary disciplines of the Harper Hall。 She has much to learn。〃
The screeching； which the new arrivals were pointedly ignoring； took on a shriller note。
〃The fault lies in me；〃 Halibran said with a weary sigh。 〃Her mother died at her birth； and with six brothers she has been much cosseted。〃
The brother who had spoken gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head and then looked away。 The other two managed not to grin； but it didn't escape anyone that they had probably tried to get their father to school his daughter's behaviour。
〃What did happen that made her send such a message？〃 Halibran asked。
Gennell opened his mouth； but it was Petiron who stepped forward and answered。
〃She is musically almost illiterate； Holder Halibran；〃 he said in a flat and firm voice； 〃although I know Harper Maxilant to be a petent musician。〃
〃Maxilant did suggest that the Hall might succeed where he was failing；〃 Halibran said； raising both gloved hands in helplessness； his answer directed more to Gennell than to Petiron。 〃I should not have sent you our problem。〃 He turned back to Petiron。 〃And？〃 〃When she repeatedly refused to learn a simple score。。。〃
No one of the Harper Hall group so much as batted an eye at Petiron's remark。
〃。。。 and started to rant in an hysterical fashion； I slapped her。 Once。〃 And Petiron put up one finger in emphasis。
Everyone on the steps nodded。
〃We all heard the entire argument；〃 Master Gennell said； pointing to the studio windows。 〃And the single slap。〃
〃She'd need more than one；〃 a brother said。
〃We shall take her off your hands；〃 her father said in an almost meek tone； though it was obvious that he was probably not one whir less proud than his daughter。
〃Nonsense；〃 Master Gennell said； just as Petiron stepped forward to protest。 〃With your permission； we shall continue to discipline her … firmly … until she realizes that such behaviour gets her nowhere in either her relationships with others or in learning the lessons you asked us to teach her。〃
Halibran was astonished； the brothers muttered among one another。
〃That is too fine a voice to be misused；〃 Master Gennell said； glancing up in the direction of the outraged cries。 Strips of clothing flapped out of the window and drifted to the ground。 〃Or abused。 We have disciplined recalcitrant students before now。 She may be。。。〃 and Master Gennell paused significantly； 〃unusually obdurate； but give me leave to doubt she is beyond redemption。〃
〃I'd say she is；〃 one brother murmured； and received a buffet on his leg from his glaring father。
〃Give us until the Spring Equinox； Holder Halibran； and you will be pleased with the change。〃
〃How do you propose to achieve that？〃 the holder asked； tucking his gloved thumbs into his thick riding belt and regarding not only Gennell but the others on the top step。
〃If you would make it。。。 exceedingly。。。 plain to her；〃 Gennell said； 〃that such antics cut no ice with you； that you will no longer condone her behaviour or rescue her from its consequences； she will soon capitulate。〃
Halibran considered as he removed his gloves； stowed them in the saddle bag and flexed his fingers。 〃If she does； it will be the first time in her life；〃 he said； 〃but it had better e now。〃 He opened and closed his fists。
The expression of profound satisfaction was mirrored by all three brothers and； indeed； the other six men of the party。
〃I'll lead the way；〃 Gennell said affably and； as Betrice and Ginia fell into step with Holder Halibran； they disappeared into the Hall。
〃Is that the girl you said had a superb voice； Petiron？〃 Grogellan asked； moving up to the steps from where he and his men had been a witness to the interview。
The oldest brother； recognizing that this was the Lord of Fort Hold； respectfully dismounted and gestured for the others to do so； inclining his upper body politely to one of higher rank。 Just then Halanna's voice rasped to an even higher note； almost a wail； and Petiron winced。
〃If she keeps on forcing the upper register like that；〃 Washell remarked to no one in particular； 〃she may end up soprano instead of alto。。。 if she's any voice left at all。〃
〃Hmmm；〃 was Grogellan's reply； as he turned his head up to the window。 〃She certainly shouldn't be allowed to carry on like that。〃
〃It's a speciality of hers；〃 the oldest brother remarked。 〃She's developed it into a fine art； and none of us〃 … he included his brothers … 〃could do a thing about it。〃
Grogellan looked at him with such a glare that he grimaced； shrugging his shoulders。 Fort's Lord Holder did not approve of sons criticizing their fathers； no matter what the cause。
〃Any moment now；〃 Washell said； grinning in happy expectation。
He was right。 Halanna's shriek broke off abruptly。 Then there was a long wait for those on the ground before her voice was heard again； and this time her shout was defiance mixed with astonishment。
That tone altered to outraged cries； screams； and finally into penitent sobs which gradually； over the next few minutes； dwindled into silence。 Or at least to a level which was not audible to those below。
To give him credit； the oldest brother controlled his expression as he turned to Washell。 〃Our mounts need to be refreshed before we start back again；〃 he said。
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