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¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡entire¡¡Hall¡¡had¡¡stopped¡¡all¡¡work¡¡just¡¡to¡¡listen¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Betrice¡¡chuckled¡¡as¡¡she¡¡slid¡¡under¡¡the¡¡new¡¡furs£»¡¡a¡¡gift¡¡from¡¡all¡¡the¡¡journeymen¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Hall¡¡this¡¡TurnOver¡£¡¡The¡¡pelts¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sewn¡¡together¡¡in¡¡the¡¡most¡¡beautiful¡¡pattern¡£¡¡She¡¡let¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡linger¡¡on¡¡the¡¡soft¡¡fur¡¡of¡¡the¡¡edging¡£¡¡¡¨Never¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡man¡¡more¡¡smitten¡¡in¡¡my¡¡life¡£¡¡He¡¡just¡¡stared¡£¡¡And¡¡she¡¡couldn't¡¡take¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡off¡¡him¡£¡¡Mind¡¡you£»¡¡he's¡¡attractive¡¡enough¡¡even¡¡if¡¡he¡¡isn't¡¡often¡¡a¡¡merry¡¡person¡£¡¡Just¡¡as¡¡well¡¡Agust¡¡was¡¡her¡¡vocal¡¡teacher£»¡¡or¡¡she'd¡¡never¡¡have¡¡progressed¡¡past¡¡vocalizes¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨So¡¡remember¡¡how¡¡Petiron¡¡would¡¡hang¡¡about¡¡in¡¡the¡¡courtyard¡¡just¡¡listening¡¡to¡¡them¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he'd¡¡nothing¡¡better¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡his¡¡time£»¡¨¡¡Gennell¡¡said£»¡¡reaching¡¡out¡¡to¡¡close¡¡over¡¡the¡¡glowbasket¡£¡¡Absently¡¡he¡¡patted¡¡Betrice's¡¡shoulder¡¡and¡¡then¡¡punched¡¡the¡¡pillow¡¡for¡¡a¡¡spot¡¡to¡¡lay¡¡his¡¡head¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Just¡¡when¡¡Gennell¡¡thought¡¡he'd¡¡settled¡¡the¡¡question¡¡of¡¡which¡¡journeyman¡¡should¡¡take¡¡which¡¡assignment£»¡¡more¡¡holders¡¡applied¡¡for¡¡trained¡¡personnel¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡have¡£¡¡With¡¡a¡¡hard¡¡winter£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡journeymen¡¡to¡¡tour¡¡from¡¡one¡¡hold¡¡to¡¡another£»¡¡spreading¡¡their¡¡services¡¡by¡¡spending¡¡four¡¡seven¡­days¡¡in¡¡one¡¡place¡¡and¡¡then¡¡moving¡¡on¡£¡¡Every¡¡family¡¡had¡¡the¡¡right¡¡to¡¡learning£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡instructed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Teaching¡¡Ballads£»¡¡so¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡misunderstanding¡¡about¡¡what¡¡was¡¡due¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡and¡¡when¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡longingly¡¡of¡¡the¡¡times£»¡¡now¡¡several¡¡hundred¡¡Turns¡¡back£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡six¡¡Weyrs¡¡of¡¡Pern¡¡had¡¡assisted¡¡the¡¡major¡¡Halls¡¡with¡¡dragon¡¡transport¡£¡¡Those¡¡on¡¡the¡¡East¡¡coast¡¡still¡¡had¡¡Benden¡¡Weyr£»¡¡so¡¡Lord¡¡Maidir¡¡could¡¡boast¡¡of¡¡dragon¡¡rides¡¡to¡¡distant¡¡Holds¡¡and¡¡Gathers¡¡whenever¡¡he¡¡needed¡¡them¡£¡¡But¡¡Fort¡¡Weyr¡¡had¡¡been¡¡empty¡¡over¡¡four¡¡centuries£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡one¡¡really¡¡knew¡¡why¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gennell¡¡had¡¡once¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Records¡¡kept¡¡in¡¡the¡¡archives¡¡of¡¡both¡¡the¡¡Harper¡¡Hall¡¡and¡¡Fort¡¡Hold£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡only¡¡the¡¡one¡¡entry£º¡¡shortly¡¡after¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡last¡¡Pass¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡MasterHarper¡¡was¡¡asked¡¡to¡¡Fort¡¡Weyr¡¡this¡¡fifth¡¡day¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ninth¡¡month£»¡¡first¡¡Turn¡¡after¡¡Pass¡¡End¡£¡¨¡¡That¡¡was¡¡it£º¡¡short¡¡and¡¡cryptic¡£¡¡In¡¡other¡¡similar¡¡instances¡¡when¡¡the¡¡MasterHarper¡¡was¡¡called¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Weyr£»¡¡a¡¡more¡¡fulsome¡¡explanation¡¡was¡¡given¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡next¡¡entry¡¡was¡¡by¡¡the¡¡then¡¡MasterHarper£»¡¡Creline£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡date¡¡a¡¡full¡¡two¡¡months¡¡later¡¡when¡¡Fort¡¡Hold's¡¡tithe¡¡train¡¡duly¡¡arrived¡¡with¡¡supplies¡¡and¡¡found¡¡the¡¡Weyr¡¡abandoned£»¡¡and¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡broken¡¡pottery¡¡on¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡midden¡¡heap¡£¡¡Other¡¡Holders¡¡had¡¡noticed¡¡that¡¡their¡¡flags¡¡requesting¡¡dragon¡¡assistance¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡unanswered¡¡and£»¡¡while¡¡annoyed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡discourtesy£»¡¡people¡¡were¡¡far¡¡too¡¡involved¡¡in¡¡relaxing¡¡after¡¡fifty¡¡turns¡¡of¡¡ground¡­crew¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡wonder¡¡much¡¡about¡¡the¡¡absence¡¡of¡¡dragons¡¡from¡¡the¡¡skies¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡enough¡¡that¡¡Thread¡¡was¡¡gone¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡Conclave¡¡had¡¡been¡¡convened¡¡when¡¡it¡¡became¡¡all¡¡too¡¡apparent¡¡that¡¡five¡¡of¡¡the¡¡six¡¡Weyrs¡¡were¡¡empty¡£¡¡Benden's¡¡two¡¡Weyrleaders¡¡were¡¡as¡¡mystified£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡the¡¡bronze¡¡or¡¡green¡¡riders¡¡questioned¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡truly¡¡surprised¡¡by¡¡the¡¡abandonment£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡Benden¡¡being¡¡the¡¡only¡¡remaining¡¡Weyr¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Many¡¡theories¡¡had¡¡been¡¡put¡¡forth¡£¡¡A¡¡favourite¡¡claimed¡¡that¡¡a¡¡mysterious¡¡disease¡¡had¡¡spread¡¡through¡¡the¡¡five¡¡Weyrs£»¡¡killing¡¡both¡¡dragons¡¡and¡¡riders¡£¡¡But¡¡that¡¡didn't¡¡account¡¡for¡¡the¡¡missing¡¡weyr¡­folk¡¡or¡¡the¡¡absence¡¡of¡¡every¡¡stick¡¡and¡¡stitch¡¡belonging¡¡to¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Benden¡¡Weyr¡¡had¡¡even¡¡sent¡¡a¡¡wing£»¡¡with¡¡reliable¡¡Hold¡¡and¡¡Hall¡¡passengers£»¡¡to¡¡scan¡¡the¡¡Southern¡¡Continent¡¡in¡¡case¡¡all¡¡five¡¡Weyrs¡¡had¡¡¡­¡¡for¡¡some¡¡unknown¡¡reason¡¡¡­¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡resettle¡¡south£»¡¡despite¡¡the¡¡hazards¡¡of¡¡that¡¡country¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡matter¡¡was¡¡under¡¡discussion¡¡¡­¡¡often¡¡heated¡¡¡­¡¡for¡¡Turns¡¡afterwards£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡one¡¡the¡¡wiser¡¡for¡¡all¡¡the¡¡talk¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡Creline¡¡performed¡¡a¡¡new¡¡work£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡called¡¡the¡¡Question¡¡Song£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡included¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pulsory¡¡Teaching¡¡Ballads¡£¡¡Gennell¡¡had¡¡made¡¡a¡¡mental¡¡note¡¡to¡¡return¡¡the¡¡song¡¡to¡¡that¡¡category¡¡since¡¡someone¡¡¡­¡¡he¡¡wouldn't¡¡like¡¡to¡¡point¡¡a¡¡finger¡¡¡­¡¡had¡¡let¡¡it¡¡drop¡¡out¡¡some¡¡time¡¡before¡¡he¡¡became¡¡MasterHarper¡£¡¡Such¡¡things¡¡happened£º¡¡but¡¡they¡¡shouldn't£»¡¡considering¡¡the¡¡importance¡¡with¡¡which¡¡Creline¡¡had¡¡treated¡¡the¡¡work¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Odd¡¡song¡£¡¡Haunting¡¡melody¡£¡¡Yes£»¡¡worth¡¡reviving¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Another¡¡fifty¡­five¡¡Turns¡¡remained¡¡before¡¡Threadfall¡¡was¡¡due¡¡again¡£¡¡That¡¡is£»¡¡Gennell¡¡amended¡¡to¡¡himself£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡Fall¡¡again¡£¡¡Many¡¡believed¡¡Thread¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡for¡¡ever¡£¡¡A¡¡mon¡¡theory¡¡claimed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Weyrs¡¡had¡¡been¡¡bound¡¡by¡¡some¡¡bizarre¡¡suicide¡¡pact£»¡¡leaving¡¡only¡¡Benden¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡on¡¡the¡¡draconic¡¡traditions¡£¡¡That¡¡made¡¡no¡¡sense¡¡whatever¡¡to¡¡a¡¡thinking¡¡man¡£¡¡But¡¡at¡¡least¡¡he¡¡was¡¡unlikely¡¡to¡¡have¡¡to¡¡contend¡¡with¡¡that¡¡in¡¡his¡¡term¡¡as¡¡MasterHarper¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡a¡¡sigh¡¡of¡¡relief£»¡¡he¡¡firmly¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡towards¡¡sleep¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Merelan's¡¡cough¡¡developed¡¡into¡¡a¡¡chest¡¡cold¡¡shortly¡¡after¡¡TurnOver¡£¡¡Sniffles¡¡and¡¡coughs¡¡were¡¡prevalent¡¡during¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡any¡¡new¡¡Turn¡¡when¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡remained¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡snowy£»¡¡and¡¡young¡¡Robinton¡¡and¡¡Petiron¡¡both¡¡suffered¡¡from¡¡colds£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡threw¡¡off¡¡the¡¡worst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡infection¡¡quickly¡£¡¡But¡¡Merelan's¡¡cough¡¡seemed¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡linger£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡could¡¡rarely¡¡get¡¡through¡¡a¡¡vocal¡¡exercise¡¡without¡¡having¡¡to¡¡break¡¡off¡¡in¡¡a¡¡spasm¡£¡¡For¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time£»¡¡Petiron¡¡became¡¡seriously¡¡worried¡¡about¡¡her¡¡health¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡did¡¡Betrice¡¡and¡¡Ginia£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡singer¡¡had¡¡quickly¡¡lost¡¡what¡¡weight¡¡she¡¡had¡¡gained¡¡after¡¡the¡¡baby's¡¡birth¡¡¡­¡¡and¡¡more¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You've¡¡really¡¡nothing¡¡big¡¡ing¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡rehearsals£»¡¡have¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡Ginia¡¡asked¡¡Petiron¡¡privately¡¡after¡¡delivering¡¡another¡¡bottle¡¡of¡¡cough¡¡mixture¡¡for¡¡Merelan¡£¡¡With¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡degree¡¡of¡¡reluctance£»¡¡he¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡¡¡­¡¡had¡¡he¡¡not¡¡been¡¡sick£»¡¡he¡¡most¡¡assuredly¡¡would¡¡have¡¡started¡¡posing¡¡something¡¡extravagant¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Spring¡¡Gathers¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡then£»¡¨¡¡Ginia¡¡continued£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡happen¡¡to¡¡know¡¡MasterHarper¡¡is¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡someone¡¡to¡¡provide¡¡basic¡¡instruction¡¡at¡¡a¡¡hold¡¡in¡¡South¡¡Boll¡¡¡­¡¡not¡¡far¡¡from¡¡where¡¡Merelan¡¡was¡¡born¡£¡¡So¡¡why¡¡don't¡¡you¡¡ask¡¡him¡¡to¡¡allow¡¡you¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡post£¿¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡the¡¡acmodation¡¡would¡¡be¡¡adequate¡¡for¡¡a¡¡small¡¡family¡¡like¡¡yours¡£¡¡The¡¡Ritecamp¡¡traders¡¡just¡¡arrived¡¡here£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡route¡¡takes¡¡you¡¡close¡¡by¡¡Pierie¡¡Hold¡£¡¨
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¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡Master¡¡Petiron¡¡wouldn't¡¡mind¡¡taking¡¡some¡¡time¡¡of¡¡an¡¡evening¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡some¡¡of¡¡our¡¡youngsters¡¡their¡¡Teaching¡¡Ballads£¿¡¡They're¡¡in¡¡dire¡¡need¡¡of¡¡some¡¡educating£»¡¨¡¡Sev¡¡had¡¡suggested¡¡very¡¡politely¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡maybe¡¡give¡¡us¡¡a¡¡new¡¡song¡¡or¡¡two¡¡in¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡around¡¡our¡¡fire¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡would¡¡be¡¡only¡¡fair£»¡¨¡¡Merelan¡¡said¡¡when¡¡Petiron¡¡was¡¡not¡¡as¡¡prompt¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡in¡¡agreeing¡£¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡winked¡¡at¡¡her¡¡spouse£»¡¡knowing¡¡very¡¡well¡¡that¡¡he¡¡hated¡¡doing¡¡¡¨basics'¡¡with¡¡beginners¡¡while¡¡she¡¡enjoyed¡¡teaching¡¡the¡¡very¡¡young¡£¡¡So¡¡long¡¡as¡¡the¡¡children¡¡were¡¡taught£»¡¡it¡¡really¡¡didn't¡¡matter¡¡who¡¡did¡¡the¡¡teaching¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡MasterSinger£»¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡her¡¡Teaching¡¡Ballads¡¡and¡¡Songs¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡Petiron¡¡did¡£
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¡¡¡¡¡¡MasterHarper¡¡Gennell¡¡was¡¡delighted¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡Master¡¡to¡¡assign¡¡for¡¡however¡¡short¡¡a¡¡term¡£¡¡Betrice¡¡had¡¡a¡¡word¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Ritecamp¡¡healer¡¡about¡¡Merelan's¡¡condition¡¡and¡¡waved¡¡farewell¡¡with¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Hall¡£
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¡¡¡¡¡¡Many¡¡had¡¡good¡¡voices£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡conducting¡¡four¡­¡¡and¡¡five¡­part¡¡harmonies¡¡to¡¡some¡¡of¡¡their¡¡favourite¡¡ballads¡¡and¡¡airs£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡teaching¡¡them¡¡the¡¡newer¡¡songs¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨They're¡¡nearly¡¡as¡¡good¡¡as¡¡fourth¡­year¡¡apprentices£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡with¡¡some¡¡surprise¡¡to¡¡Merelan¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡third¡¡evening's¡¡session¡£
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