As near as we can figure out, about seven days,’ M’shall said.
As you know, we’ve been canvassing all the holds to see who, if any, of
Chalkin’s people has been told about the imminence of Thread.
Surely they’d have heard that much at Gathers Paulin began.
Ha!” Bridgely put in. Very few of his folk hear where or when Gathers
are being held, much less attend them.” That isn’t right,’ said Paulin,
shaking his head.
Frankly, Paulin, I’d say his tithing of them is punitive. None of them
ever seem to have a mark to spend even when they do bring work to sell
at a Benden Gather. Not that they’re encouraged to travel at all.”
Even to Gathers?” Paulin answered his own query. No, he wouldn’t
encourage them, would he?” Not if he’s afraid they’ll compare
conditions in another Hold. Also, he doesn’t like Bitran marks to go
past his borders.
And gets every one those high rollers have when they attend those
friendly little games he runs,’ M’shall said.
I must confess I hadn’t known how restrictive he is.” Paulin spoke in a
very thoughtful tone of voice.
Well, how would you?” Bridgely replied, absolving him. You’re west
coast. We know because we see so few Bitrans at east coast gathers. Oh,
his gamesters attend every one – Hmm, yes, they’re ubiquitous, you
might say,’ Paulin murmured under his breath. So, if he’s had to close
the it would appear that some holders panicked when they learned
Threadfall is indeed expected?” Indeed,’ Bridgely agreed with a grim
expression, and when delegation got the nerve to approach him, he had
them beaten out of the Hold. I saw the lash marks so I know they aren’t
lying. They said they’d never seen him in such a temper.
}je announced that the dragon riders are trying to get extra tithing on
false pretences by spreading such rum ours He was also quite damning
about the new mine being opened above uatha when good Bitrans could have
worked the Steng Valley ones.
The world is against Bitrans?” Paulin asked in a droll tone.
You got it,’ M’shall agreed.
Chalkin also refused to accept delivery of HNO3 tanks . ;;g Kalvi.
Wouldn’t pay for them, you mean’ M shall said. That’s what Telgar
riders told mine.
-Either way, there’ll be no ground crews. I think he’s gone IM enough
to warrant impeachment,’ Paulin said with slow deliberation.
As a Lord Holder, it’s his duty to inform, and prepare his folk, for
Threadfall. That’s why the Holder system was adopted: to give people a
strong leader to supply direction ?urig a Fall and to provide emergency
assistance. By closing ;