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om Tillek。 That meant that not all those who held Aivas an Abomination had been removed from hall and hold。
The dragons were seen in the sky； their eyes sparkling in serene whirls as they hovered above the court： a half wing of them。 From somewhere； fire…lizards did sky…pirouettes around them； calling in an oddly melodious chorus。
〃They'll land on the wharf；〃 N'ton said and pointed in that direction。
It was only the next road over and there were plenty of strong men and women to carry the Abominators despite their writhing and struggling and the gagged pleas to be released。 Ruth followed； perching on a bollard while the exiles were hauled up on the dragons； and tied alongside the sacks that were to be left with them。
Then N'ton vaulted to his dragon's back。 〃Riders； take your destination from Lioth！〃 he said in a voice loud enough to be heard by all watching。 He lifted his arm； visible in the wharf lights； and gave the signal to leap skyward。
Tagetarl thought he had never seen a more impressive sight： twelve dragons leaping into the night； the fairs of fire…lizards escorting them and disappearing at the same moment。
In an unnaturally quiet way； those who had witnessed the night's incredible event left the wharf side or climbed aboard the ships anchored there for the night。
〃It was what had to be done； Lord Jaxom； Master Tagetarl；〃 said Captain Venabil in a low but firm voice。 He shook their hands and then made his way down the wharf。
〃Yes； it was what had to be done；〃 Pinch said as they all turned to go back to the Hall。
Then Pinch dropped back to Jaxom who was walking more slowly； his head bent。
〃Dorse was among them； wasn't he； Jaxom？〃 he asked so softly only Jaxom could hear。 Jaxom flashed him the most quelling stare the Harper had received since he'd been an apprentice。
〃No hold； no hall；〃 Jaxom finally replied。 〃Even if he was my milk…brother； what else could I do？〃
〃I've been trailing him； Jaxom；〃 Pinch murmured； 〃a long time。〃
〃You have。 I haven't。〃
〃I know；〃 and there was great passion in the Harper's voice。
〃Was he in this from the beginning？〃
Pinch shrugged。 〃We don't even know when the Abominators were revived to plague us。 Not all of those participating in these…events…are interested in keeping Pern pure or traditional。 I've no doubt some of these people were motivated by blind adherence to what their fathers or mothers taught。 I recognize some as hill folk who never took kindly to teachering： like the woodsy ones down in Southern Boll； or the mountain holds in upper Telgar and Lemos； or the desert nomads in Igen。 Any and all of them simply fear change。 They might even resent losing the Red Star as a permanent problem on which to blame 'things that go wrong。' Unfortunately； two of the people that I suspect have been churning up ill feelings against healers； and now the Print Hall's new technology； aren't among those in tonight's catch。〃 He quickened his pace and fell in step with Tagetarl； leaving Jaxom to his own somber stride。 〃It would be wise； MasterPrinter； to issue a concise statement of what happened here tonight。 The Runners can see that the truth is circulated。〃
A truth that would not name the milk…brother of Lord Jaxom of Ruatha Hold as one of the vandals who had been exiled that night。
A handful of men and women stood by the open outer gates of the Hall。 Ruth could be seen quietly awaiting the return of his rider。
〃If you need some help tonight； or tomorrow； Master Tagetarl；〃 began one of the men stepping forward； 〃we'd be willing to do repairs。〃
Tagetarl thanked them； aware that the doors to the Print Hall would have to be replaced。 Steel would have reassured him but he didn't have enough marks and he doubted the SmithCraftHall had the time。
〃If one of you is a carpenter。。。〃
〃Five of us are； Master Tagetarl； the reason we bother you right now。〃
〃I am extremely grateful。 e when you can in the morning。〃
He and the others had no sooner walked away than two fire…lizards whisked out of the night； landing on the shoulders of Rosheen and Pinch。
Jaxom walked straight toward his dragon and vaulted to his back。 Tagetarl lifted his arm in farewell but he didn't think the Lord Holder saw him。 In silence Pinch and Tagetarl closed the gates。 Then Pinch made his way to the loft where undoubtedly his assistants had taken themselves。 Tagetarl and Rosheen turned to the right and the steps up to their hold。
In the morning； while the five carpenters put up new doorposts…made of sky…broom wood； they proudly informed Tagetarl…the Masterprinter took the report that he and Rosheen had spent a sleepless night posing to the Runner Station。
Pursing his lips； Stationmaster Arminet read the text。 〃Well said； Master Tagetarl。 Fairly said。 It will go in every pouch to e through here。 I may even need more。〃
Tagetarl made a protest； wondering how much more the night's work would cost him。
〃Keep your marks in your pocket；〃 Arminet added； pushing away the ones Tagetarl proffered。
〃It's a Harper Hall announcement。。。〃
〃It's a munity announcement；〃 Arminet replied； straightening himself to his full dignity though he was not as tall as the well…built Tagetarl。 He glared up。 〃I'm the one who decides what should or should not be spread from my Station。 The people of Wide Bay were very much aware of the atrocity mitted by persons who would not claim hall or hold； Master Tagetarl； and others must know about the matter so as not to be left in doubt as to the exact details of the matter。〃 He tapped the bottom paragraph。 〃As I was one of those witnesses； this is exactly as I recall the incident。 Thank you； Master Tagetarl。 Let it not be said that the Runners did less than their best； too。〃
RUATHA HOLD…LATE EVENING…2。9。31
〃You recognized one of them； didn't you； Jaxom？〃 Sharra asked softly； having watched his silence all day。 She knew he had been called away that night。 When he had returned； he had tried to disguise both fatigue and a preoccupied air。 He had pushed food around his plate at both lunch and dinner。 He had not been able to display any enthusiasm for the hour he usually spent so panionably with his sons。
She had waited； without appearing to hover close by； in case he might wish to talk about what was depressing him。 She'd seen him terribly distracted like this only once before： when he had presided over the exile of those who had been responsible for abducting Master Robinton。
She waited until they had gone up to their own quarters and he was leaning against the deep window； looking out on nothing。 Just as she was sure she'd have to pry； he gave a deep sigh。
〃Ruth and I went to Wide Bay； to assist Tagetarl。 There was an attempt to damage the Print Hall。〃
〃More Abominators？〃 Who else could it have been； since the Print Hall had been so enthusiastically received by every Craft。
He nodded but did not elaborate。
In the silence that followed； Sharra watched her spouse； absentmindedly running his hand up and down the heavy brocade curtain that prevented the worst of the winter winds from penetrating into their sleeping room。 She waited quietly。 She knew