Helpful H'llon
"Shards take it, Bronze Rider, are you telling me you went and mended that chair?" demanded Egerant, the Harper at the small mountain Hold where the Bronze Rider had stopped off for klah after being involved in a mountain rescue and stayed to put his woodcrafting skills into use. Egerant's tone was more dismayed than pleased and H'llon was surprised and not a little hurt.
"Well, yes, Journeyman; it had loosened and if anyone moved in it, the back squeaked most horribly" said H'llon "I noticed immediately I sat in it to drink klah. Your pupil Presend should be fine, by the way; I suspect he'll have some difficulty walking to your lesson tomorrow."
"He injured his legs?" asked the Harper, temporarily diverted by concern.
"No; Holder Prescar was threatening to thrash him until he couldn't stand for leading other younger boys into trouble" said H'llon grimly "And under the circumstances I couldn't but agree with him. They by the way suffered nothing but a fright."
"Our Holder's son is a young limb" agreed Egerant "Maybe this will be the lesson he needs. But that's why the chair squeaks – squeaked that is. Took me MONTHS to encourage a natural tendency! I make Presend sit in it so I know the INSTANT he fidgets because there's every chance every stealthy movement can herald him putting a knife to pin the pigtail of one of the girls, or drop bugs down the necks of his fellows. If his chair shouts of every move I know what he's up to."
"Oh dear" said H'llon, a little chagrined. "But it was as well I did fix it; it would have broken before long and dropping him rather hard to the floor would not have been good."
"All right, Bronze Rider, I concede that" said Egerant "But what would you suggest instead?"
"Bell him like a hunting wherryhawk" said H'llon. "And make clear he knows it's because he's not trustworthy and that he's got to earn your trust."
"Well that might work Bronze Rider; I thank you" said Egerant. "And actually it might work better because it's going to shame him more. Yes I will do that; and thank you for making the chair safe."
"You're welcome!" said H'llon
