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〃Oh； some have been delivered；〃 Master Crivellan hastily admitted； 〃but not enough； and even then；〃 he added with a little shrug； 〃the things don't work in deep valleys。〃
〃The benefits of Aivas's technology are often ambivalent；〃 F'lar remarked。
〃They require work；〃 Groghe announced bitingly； 〃determination； and application。 Too few of this generation want to work。〃
〃We know the problem； it's the solution that eludes us；〃 Sebell said。 He sounded and looked tired。
〃Shall we deal with the problem of this Batim？〃 Groghe asked； regarding Lessa with a benevolent eye。
〃For all the good it's likely to do；〃 Jaxom remarked； hooking one arm over his chair back。
〃He might just let some clue drop；〃 F'lar said blandly。
Groghe gave a sharp nod to Haligon； who rose and left the room。 〃He's been cleaned up。 He'll undoubtedly start claiming his 'rights。' His sort usually does。〃
〃And the rest of his crew？〃 Lessa asked； frowning。
〃And the…ah…Scalp's injury？〃 Sharra asked； not at all solicitous。
〃Oh； you heard her reject Oldive's offer？ Magnanimous of him when you think what she'd just done。 However；〃 Groghe continued with a malicious grin； 〃they've been fed； and washing took care of the dried blood and other dirts。〃
〃You had them washed？〃 Lessa asked。
〃They objected strenuously to being hosed down；〃 Groghe said； 〃and Haligon said they plained that the food they were given was too salty。〃
Lessa grinned at Sharra； who also felt that some deprivation was very much in order； but Master Crivellan was dismayed by the news。
The door opened to admit Haligon； followed by the prisoner； propelled into the room by two guards。 No longer in bogus Healer green； he was clad in a patched shirt and too…short trousers from which his hairy legs protruded。 His feet were bare and his lank hair was still damp。 His expression was both arrogant and sour； expecting the worst and prepared for it。 When Batim realized who was present； he twitched his shoulders defiantly and strutted right up to the table。 Involuntarily； his eyes darted to the bread； cheese； and fruit on the table and he licked thin； dry lips。
〃I want my clothes。 I demand my rights；〃 Batim said without preamble。
〃Sorry about the clothes； Father；〃 Haligon said； clicking his tongue apologetically。 〃I really couldn't present him in what he was wearing。 Beyond cleansing。〃
〃I have my rights；〃 Batim repeated。
〃Which do not；〃…Groghe's fist came down hard on the table； bouncing plates and glasses…〃include destroying the Healer Hall。〃
〃Abominations！ We destroyed abominations！ I have rights。〃
〃Not in my Hold you don't！〃
〃What is your Hold？〃 Lessa demanded； almost idly。
〃If any would claim you；〃 Groghe continued contemptuously。 〃We know you came down from Crom。〃
Batim twitched a lip derisively。
〃Sometimes it's what's not said that speaks for itself；〃 Sebell remarked across the table to Lessa； who shrugged indifferently。
Batim glared at the Harper； who took a sip of wine； ostentatiously savoring the taste in his mouth before swallowing。
〃Holdless then； are you？〃 Groghe remarked。 〃Viscula left a Crom hill hold to follow you； didn't she？ Minsom； Gaiter； and Lechi are Bitran。 They're often so gullible； those Bitrans。〃 He gave a pitying shake of his head。 〃Small wonder Zalla has such a great fear of tunnel snakes； ing from Igen Caverns。 Bagalla； Vikling； and Palol…〃 He stopped naming the other prisoners as the sneer on Batim's face deepened。 Leader he might have been； but he had no loyalty to those who followed him。 That also was information…of a sort。 〃Ah； well； not that that matters。 They chose to follow you。〃
F'lar pushed back his chair； impatiently cutting through the air with one hand。 〃This is such a waste of time； Groghe。 Do let me take him for a short dragon ride。 If between doesn't loosen his tongue； I'll just leave him there and that's the end of the matter。〃
That startled the prisoner。 Master Crivellan stared in shocked astonishment at the Benden Weyrleader。
〃Why bother Mnementh； F'lar？〃 Jaxom mented； flicking an indolent hand。 〃When we'll know by morning where those Runner messages originated？〃
〃Runners don't talk；〃 Batim protested。
〃They may not；〃 Lessa agreed with a wickedly innocent smile； 〃but they keep records of acceptance and delivery； don't they？ In case anyone wishes to trace the progress of。。。 important messages。〃 Clearly Batim hadn't considered that at all： she could see his impudence wane。 〃Traders would remember where they sold enough green cloth to outfit fifteen people。〃 He hadn't considered that either。 〃I hate to keep thinking that so much evil emanates from Bitra；〃 she added artlessly and was not the only one who caught the glitter in the prisoner's eye。 〃Though I rather suspect；〃 she said on the end of sigh； 〃that Nerat's partly responsible this time。〃 He gave an involuntary twitch before she added with a patient smile； 〃and Keroon。〃 No one missed his nervous swallow。 〃They're so hidebound in Keroon！〃 She sat back； smiling with satisfaction。 〃Really； Sebell； you must increase your efforts there to show the hill folk how to improve the quality of their lives。〃
Sebell held up one hand in a rueful gesture。 〃We would if we could。 Hill folk are the most hidebound of all。〃
Inadvertently Batim's face mirrored the Harper's opinion。
〃That narrows it down； doesn't it？〃 the Lord Holder said； rubbing his hands together in satisfaction。 〃Take him away； Haligon。〃
〃I have rights！ Chartered rights！ You're all so big about that blinding Charter of yours；〃 Batim cried hoarsely as Haligon called the guard in。 The prisoner made a frantic surge toward the table but was thwarted by the quick…footed Haligon。 Struggling； Batim reached straining fingers toward the glasses。 〃Water。 I've had no water all day。〃
〃Actually；〃 Lessa said in a cold voice； 〃the Charter does not cite water in the list of rights。〃
〃But it has to！〃
Haligon and the guard hauled him out of the room and they heard him demanding water as the door closed。 Lessa gave a shudder of distaste。 Master Crivellan continued to stare fixedly at the Benden Weyrleader。
〃Crivellan；〃 N'ton said； touching the Healer's arm； 〃F'lar only threatened the man； no more。 You know that dragons won't hurt a human。〃
〃The threat is usually sufficient；〃 F'lar remarked； resuming his seat； 〃but the culprit has to believe the threat will be carried out。 Batim would have ignored any physical coercion…apart from a one…way trip a…dragonback。 So we put him off balance。〃 He grinned at Lessa。 〃And elicited some interesting reactions。〃
〃Oh！〃 was the Healer's relieved response。 〃My pardon for doubting your methods。〃
〃Considering what harm the man did your Craft； you are remarkably forbearing；〃 Lessa said； dropping her pose of indolence。
〃I am dedicated to saving life； Weyrwoman；〃 Crivellan replied with great dignity； 〃not taking it。〃
〃And learning all you can from Aivas to improve your skills。 Whereas the Abominators seem to want to stop progress in its tracks；〃 she replied coldly。 〃We found out as much from what he didn't say； though the thought of trying to trace him in K