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He finger…bed his hair…which he hadn't had time to have trimmed…into a neat club at the back of his neck； fixed the collar of his jacket and lengthened his stride to match hers。 Tenna certainly could set a brisk pace。
Torlo； or rather a shadow that could be a man； was already seated on the side bench； where the corner of the Station jutted out from the line of its neighbors。 Tenna and Haligon often sat there； out of sight。 Without a word； they sat on either side of him。
〃Runners finally traced all those messages to Keroon；〃 Torlo said without preamble。 〃Wide Bay and two inland holds； both isolated。 Another reason it took so long to confirm Lord Groghe's request was because sometimes the messages were handed to Runners already on the trace。〃
〃They were？〃 Tenna was astonished。
〃Runners were paid； so it was permissible。 'Cept it happened quite a few times in Keroon； and Chesmic got suspicious and asked Runners and other Stationmasters； sort of quiet…like； how often that happened。 That's why we got a network for 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 fo