A fine fire was burning on the hearth angled in the corner of the pleasant room, the walls of which were hung with rich tapestries and framed sketches-probably by Perschar, if Sebell didn't mistake the skill-of the current Holder's offspring. Several heavy old wherry-hide chairs, sagging from the comfort they had given several generations of weary bodies, and the huge desk and table where the Lord Holders of Telgar had done their accounts for centuries, furnished the room adequately. Sebell immediately noticed the latest addition: a very good rendering, though considerably reduced in scale, of the Honshu mural.
"Hmmm, yes," Larad said, noticing his glance. "My daughter, Bonna, went along with Perschar's group and brought that back. Of course, she was under Master Perschar's eye all the time, but it's judged to be a fair representation."
"You'd be welcome to see the original," Sebell said, nodding to Asgenar, who was ensconced in one of the armchairs.
"What?" Larad asked, his pleasant face affecting a horrified expression. "And let rumor have it that I wanted the place for one of my sons?" He gestured for Sebell to take a chair and held up a wine bottle. "It's Benden." His grin was for the allusion to a harper preference for that wine; but his reference to rumor told Sebell that he was seriously concerned.
"I follow many of Master Robinton's traditions," Sebell said, accepting the generous goblet. He sipped judiciously and raised his brows in appreciation. "A 'sixteen?"
"Indeed, and it was Master Robinton who urged me to acquire as many skins as I could wheedle."
"So?" Sebell turned politely to the two Lord Holders. "Rumor bites?"
"I wish it were only rumor, Sebell," Larad said. He took a small message roll from his sleeve cuff and handed it to the harper. "This is far more serious and demands your urgent consideration. I know the sender well enough to heed his words."
After a glance at the message, Sebell shot out of the comfortable chair, seething with anger and swearing blackly." 'I have good reason to believe that Masterharper Robinton may be abducted to force those at Landing to destroy what they call the Abomination.' " Sebell was consumed with outrage. "Hazard the Masterharper! Ransom him for the destruction of Aivasl"
Outrage gave way to panic. "Who is this Brestolli who signs the note?"
"He's a wagonmaster. We both know him." Larad gestured toward Asgenar, who nodded earnestly. "He wouldn't send a false alarm. Actually, it was delivered by his fire-lizard to his employer, Trader Nurevin, who's here now. Nurevin brought it straight to me, leaving his train a day's trip out. He said that he'd had to leave Brestolli at Bitra with a broken leg and cracked ribs from a wagon accident."
"Nurevin's just outside. I'll ask him in," Asgenar said, and slipped out of the room.
Larad gave a wry smile. "Nurevin felt you would heed this message more if we presented it to you."
"He'd need no one vouching for him to me," Sebell said, rereading the message. "This has the ring of truth. Nothing Bitra initiates surprises me."
"Then you also know that your harpers at Bitra Hold have been put in quarantine for a virulent disease?"
"The Bitran euphemism for 'reporting truth'?" Sebell asked. He ran his fingers through his hair, a gesture of exasperation. "We haven't heard from them recently by the usual route. I should have sent at least one who had a fire-lizard."
"Our Master Celewis can mount a rescue mission, if you'd like," Larad suggested.
"If that can be done without jeopardizing Brestolli," Sebell replied.
Larad raised his eyebrows arid grinned slyly. "Surely you know Celewis's abilities..."
"Indeed I do," Sebell said with an answering grin.
"Then you may be certain that he'll be adroit in the matter."
Nurevin came in just then, preceding Asgenar.
"I've not had occasion to pass time with you, Trader Nurevin," Sebell said, smiling as he extended his hand and returned the strong pressure given. "But I can tell you that the Harper Hall is more than grateful to you for passing this message."
"Brestolli's not the sort makes things up for mischief, Masterharper," Nurevin said, cocking his head to emphasize his opinion. He was a swarthy man of medium height, with grizzled hair worn in a long plait that had recently been neatly redone. His clothing was of excellent quality but road-worn. "So I knew I'd best get it to someone who could see it was handled proper.
I hated to leave him in Bitra Hold, but he'd broke his leg in three places, mangled his arm, and cracked some ribs when a cart overturned. Caught a wheel on uneven flags in Bitra Court. Healer said he couldn't be moved, so I paid the brewer both good marks and trade goods to tend him. Brestolli's one to keep his eyes and ears open, despite he talks such a streak you wouldn't think he'd hear for the constant sound of his own voice. But if he's heard what that message says he heard, then he's heard it. Make no mistake about that. I wouldn't want it said we didn't give warning when there're them what'd harm good Master Robinton. No, I wouldn't."
Larad offered him a goblet of Benden wine, and Nurevin's eyes lit up with appreciation after his first sip.
"You honor me, Lord Larad."
"Telgar is in your debt, Trader Nurevin."
"Not just Telgar, Trader Nurevin," Sebell added solemnly as he tilted his glass to him and drank ceremoniously. Nurevin flushed at such courtesy.
Sebell called to Kimi, who had been visiting outside with Telgar Hold's fair. Silently, Larad proferred writing materials and a message tube.
"I'm sending this to Lytol, who will take appropriate measures," Sebell said after penning some quick lines. Kimi extended her leg for him to attach the capsule, knowing exactly what was required of her. "Kimi, take this to Lytol, in Cove Hold, where our Master fives! Where Zair lives. Yes?"
Kimi had listened intently, cocking her head this way and that, her eyes whirling with noticeable increase in speed. She gave one chirp and disappeared.
"Forewarned is forearmed, Trader Nurevin. Has Brestolli's fire-lizard returned to him?"
"Yes. It's only a blue, but he's got it well trained. I can send my queen if you need more information. I've been keeping in touch with Brestolli to be sure he's well tended." Nurevin winked and grinned. "Bitrans need me more'n I need them, since they're so hard to deal with. I'm the only trader who does their route in these parlous times. So I've an edge on 'em, so to speak." He paused, his expression grim. "Did Lord Larad tell you about your harpers?" When Sebell nodded he went on. "That was done a-purpose, or I'll be scored next Fall!"
"When a harper is silenced, all men should listen harder," Sebell said.
Nurevin nodded solemnly. "I heard some other stuff whilst I was at Bitra..." He hesitated.
"Be easy, man," Larad encouraged him. "There's not much a harper doesn't hear sooner or later. And, if it's along the lines of Brestolli's message, perhaps Master Sebell'd better hear it from you."
"Well, it's them rumors." Nurevin paused again, obviously not happy to utter them, but by gesture and expression, all three men encouraged him to speak. "It's said that Lord Jaxom and that white dragon of his killed G'lanar and Lamoth-deliberate."
"Shards! How could anyone repeat such a foul slander?" Asgenar asked, incensed.
"Oh, there've been worse," Sebell said, but he turned to Nurevin. "Master Robinton was there himself and told me that Jaxom was victim, not assailant, and Lamoth died of shame that his rider would turn on another rider. Any more?"
"Well, and this's stupider," Nurevin went on, both reassured and encouraged by his audience. "That dragonriders will take the three colony ships and disappear from Pern, leaving us with only flame-throwers to kill Thread!"
"Did you hear the one that suggests that the dragons will take the old shuttles and throw them at the Red Star and destroy it?" When Nurevin shook his head, Sebell continued, his expression serious. "There's one that the Masterhealer has been given medicine by Aivas that will paralyze folk so that pieces can be carved out of their bodies to repair others who have sickened."