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rtain that the men would have orders to keep to a reasonable pace in deference to his injury。
There was nothing reasonable about his urgent need to talk sense into Kale。 He wished that the Ruathan Holder had been at the Gather； but his spouse had recently given birth to a son； so he had remained at his Hold。 The other Lord Holders who had been present had received salutary shocks： the murder of a dragonrider； an attack on a MasterHarper； and then Fax's rejection of Tarathel's valid judgment on the assassin。 Robinton was sure he wasn't the only one who had trouble remembering that such a word … assassin … existed in the vocabulary。
〃An escort is necessary； MasterHarper Robinton；〃 Tarathel said； scowling。 〃It is bad enough that you were attacked at all。 I fear a man so lost to honour as Fax has proved himself would not hesitate to make an attempt on your life again if you were not close…guarded。〃
〃He has scarcely had time to return to。。。〃 Robinton paused。
〃I will believe anything of that man now；〃 said Tarathel。 〃You'd do well to limit your wanderings； MasterHarper； or ride with an escort。〃
〃Limit my wanderings？ That I cannot in conscience do … not now。〃
〃Be careful then； Robinton。〃 Tarathel pressed his hand warningly against Robinton's uninjured shoulder。 〃I've put one of my best runner…beasts at your disposal。〃
Robinton thanked the Lord Holder。。。 though he wasn't so sure how thankful he should be when he tried to mount it。 Three men had to hold the black's head。 Once he was in the saddle； the animal became obedient。。。 at least to Robinton。 No one on foot could get near enough to hand the harper his saddlebags。 After that； his gear was attached to the saddle when the runner was tacked … and even that took several men。
The runner…beast was； however； a very smooth…gaited； powerful creature with a habit of charging on ahead； so that Robinton's escort were hard put to keep up with him。 Gradually； he got the trick of dealing with Big Black and they came to an understanding … largely encouraged by the sweetener which Robinton would offer the animal when he had reached the saddle unscathed。 But reining him in was another story： the trip went faster than perhaps the healer could have wished； and Robinton was almost faint with relief when he saw the children playing on the front court of Ruatha Hold。
The journey was seven days of hard travel。 If Robinton regretted the absence of dragon wings； he knew more now about this area than he previously had … information that might prove valuable。
The way into Ruatha Hold was appallingly open。 He would have to incite Lord Kale to post guards； raise beacons and alert the outlying cots and holds； in case Fax had his eye on this prosperous Hold。
〃Surely there must have been some good reason behind the captain's attack on F'lon；〃 Lord Kale remarked to Robinton as he offered hospitality to the MasterHarper。
He was a tall； slender man with dark hair and grey eyes； but his manner was gentle and it was obvious from the affection in which his stewards held him that he was a good Holder； considerate of his people and painstaking in his dealings with them。 That made for contented holders； but it was a frail weapon against a man of Fax's proven character。 Robinton was more fearful than ever。
〃If you'd been there； Lord Holder；〃 said Macester； the leader of the escort； with an earnest scowl of anxiety； 〃you'd've known it was no accident； and we're lucky the MasterHarper wasn't killed too。 Gifflen was out to do as much damage as he could。 And then try to snake his way out of banishment。〃
〃Heat of the moment。〃 Kale smiled patronizingly。
Just then a small girl； her wide grey eyes immediately establishing her as Kale's daughter； toddled up to him； holding her arms out。
〃Ah； Lessa； not now； pet。〃 But he picked her up and carried her to the door； where her attendant arrived to take her away。
She kicked and screamed； straining backwards so that Robinton saw the thin face and the immense eyes； framed by a tangle of dark curly hair。
〃 Spirited at just four Turns；〃 said Kale with an indulgent smile。
〃Lord Kale； as MasterHarper of Pern I implore you to follow the examples of the other Lord Holders in the west； to train men to defend this Hold。 To set up a border guard with beacons to alert。。。〃
Kale held up his hand； smiling in condescension。 〃My people are very busy with ordinary tasks； Master Robinton。 It is spring； you know； and we've herds to manage and young animals to train to saddle。〃
〃Did it never occur to you that your fine runner…beasts would be invaluable to Fax when he needs to cover the plains to Telgar？〃 Robinton said insistently。
〃Oh； e now； Master Robinton； he buys our runner…beasts； and that's good for Ruatha；〃 Kale replied with a laugh。 〃More klah？ Surely you have time to stay the night。 Ruatha Hold would be honoured。〃
Suddenly Robinton wanted to put distance between himself and this trusting fool。 He got purposefully to his feet； about to refuse； when he saw the weary look on Macester's face and the man's obvious inclination to spend a night in the fortable surroundings of one of the major Holds。
〃And we are extremely grateful for the courtesy；〃 he said as graciously as he could。
The door to Kale's private office was still open after his daughter's entrance and the sounds of a struggle； man against a furious animal； could be heard。
〃He's at it again；〃 Macester said under his breath as both he and Robinton moved to the door。 Kale； curious； followed them out to the broad outer court where Big Black was attempting to take chunks out of the Ruathan who had hold of his reins。 Robinton noted wryly that none of the escort had taken charge of the beast。
〃That's a splendid animal；〃 Kale said； pausing on the top step to take in the scene。 〃Circle him； Jez；〃 he called to the handler。 〃One of Tarathel's mountain breeds； isn't he？〃
〃Yes；〃 Robinton agreed； dispassionately watching the beast's antics。 He felt for a sweetener lump in his pocket and； finding one； stepped forward； speaking in soothing tones and reaching for the reins as a very wary Jez circled。
〃Easy now； there's a fine lad。〃 His voice got through to Big Black and the animal extended his nose towards the MasterHarper； seeking the treat he expected。
〃Quite a handful；〃 Kale remarked。
〃Until you're in the saddle；〃 Robinton said； rather pleased he could say that honestly in front of a noted rider like Lord Kale。
Kale chuckled。 〃Now； Macester； if you'll have your men lead your mounts up to the beasthold〃 … he pointed up the lane to the left … 〃we'll see to your fort。〃
〃And if your healer would check Master Robinton's arm；〃 Macester said； ignoring Robinton's protest； 〃I would be easier。〃
〃Your arm？〃 Kale was all concern。 〃Surely it was only a glancing blow。。。〃
〃Which required seven stitches；〃 Macester said in a growl。
So Kale hurried the Harper back into the Hold and shouted for the healer。
〃I had so hoped to hear some new music this evening。。。〃 the Lord Holder began wistfully。
〃Oh； you will； you will；〃