“I needed that.” He stretched and took the cup of klah which the Harper had readied as soon as he heard noises from that room. Robinton was privately amused that Nip’s timing was good. He had begun to wonder about the man’s whereabouts.
“So I’m ready to listen,” Robinton said, as he started to pull the chair forward, “unless you wish to eat first.”
“No, I’d rather not turn my stomach while I’m eating.” And with that dour statement Nip warned Robinton that his report was bad.
“It’s as well Tarathel sent so many. Vendross, who captained them, is a good man and a canny leader. He took no chances. There were more of Fax’s louts camped at the Crom border Vendross spread his men out across the border and turned back those who tried to sneak right back into Telgar lands. There were a good number of Tarathel’s regular guards, and those Vendross set to watch at the fiver holds and report any sightings. The others he sent back home.”
Robinton nodded. At least Tarathel would take no chances that Fax might be coveting the broad Telgar Valley, not to mention the SmithCraftHall at the junction of the Great Dunto River.
“I sort of went forward three steps and back a few, trying to keep track of how many were splitting off. But the main group of fourteen continued on back to Crom. When I was sure that Vendross …”
“Does he know you?”
Nip made a face, tilted one hand back and forth, and then grinned again. “Kind of. He never asks. I never tell. But he trusts my reports.”
“As well he should.”
“Thank “ee kindly, MasterHarper, sor,” Nip retorted cheekily. “So I kept on, ahead a bit, to see which way they might go.” He shook his head, his expression sad. “I wouldn’t want to be under that man’s Hold for any reason. What he does to those unfortunates there …” He shook his head, sighed, and then seemed to shake himself out of such reflections. “I’ll tell you this now, Harper, in case you ever need to know.” The tone made Robinton regard Nip fearfully.
“Oh, I’m not saying you ever do need to know, but times being as they are, a little precaution is not untoward. Lytol who was L’tol’ – and Robinton nodded to show that he knew who was meant – “is trying to keep his family’s CraftHall going. Managing in spite of Fax, but I have a safe haven in the storage loft. It could well be that a dragonrider and a harper will bring that man down when the time’s ripe.” He paused. “On the good side, I’ve found Bargen!”
“Have you now?” Robinton sat up straight with real pleasure at such tidings. “Where?”
Nip gave one of his little chuckles. “Not dumb, our young Lord Holder. He’s up at High Reaches Weyr, with one or two others who
made it safely out of Fax’s clutches. Last place that one’d go.” “What’s Bargen doing? Is he well?”
“Well, and doing a few exercises which may annoy Fax.”
“Nothing that would endanger any of the innocent …” Robinton raised an anxious hand.
Nip cocked his head, grinning. “Little that can be traced back to anyone in particular. I think Bargen’s grown up – a bit roughly, but it’ll work to his advantage.”
“Do remind him that the Harper Hall will assist him any way it can.”
Nip smiled ruefully. “When and if the Harper Hall is able, my friend, considering harpers are in nearly as bad odour as dragonriders these days. At that, he could do little with the few men he has except wait.” And that ruined Robintons fleeting dream of seeing Bargen Holding High Reaches in the near future. “Any luck with Lord Kale?”
Robinton shook his head. “The man’s too good, too roasting.
He’s already had Fax as a guest, selling him runner-beasts, so why would I suggest that Lord unconfirmed Holder Fax would not continue such blameless behaviour?”
“Spare us!” Nip waved a hand over his head in despair at such innocence.
“He has agreed to mount a border patrol and build beacons.” “That’s quite a concession,” said Nip with a degree of sarcasm and a grim smile. Then he rolled his eyes thoughtfully. “You know, as a proper harper, I could drop a word in his ear now and then, keep him on his toes?”