“How, or if, he received any at all is almost as important,” Lessa said, her tone cross. “He can’t have been acting independently. There were too many other such incidents to consider this a random event.”

“Lady Lessa,” Haligon put in, raising his hand. “The Runners have been asked to tell us what messages have been delivered to Crom, to whom and sent by whom. That will take time.”

She gave a snort. “There’re always fire-lizards to bring messages and no record of where they came from or to whom they belong.”

“Even fire-lizards have scruples, my dear,” F’lar said dryly. “Also, Turnover is a very good time to move freely.”

“Was it just healer and glass halls that were attacked?” Jaxom asked.

“No, some of Morilton’s were,” Sebell said, tapping the pile of drum messages in front of him. “Those who specialize in making equipment for healer purposes. Anyone else who had break-ins would have drummed in by now. Only Landing and Toric’s Hold were attacked in the south.”

“Cove Hold?” Lessa asked urgently.

“Not with D’ram’s Tiroth on watch, my dear,” F’lar reminded her. “Has T’gellan made any progress questioning the ones he caught?”

“Again, all three men had grievances with healers.”

“By destroying medicines and equipment, they achieve nothing but the enmity of the people who must now wait to be treated,” Master Crivellan said, his tone distressed. “And delay our discovery of the cause and the cure for acute rashes. Or learn enough to repair crushed fingers. There is so much we don’t know and then we’re damned because we can’t remedy all conditions.” He gave his head a quick shake. “I apologize.”

“No need to, Crivellan,” Groghe said gruffly reassuring. “Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows how dedicated and loyal healers are. We cannot change minds and attitudes overnight or spread knowledge planetwide. It all takes time.”

“And then something as vile as that,” the Master added, pointing to the pamphlet in the middle of the table, “has no trouble getting spread around.” He was still obviously shaken by the perverted use of the medical diagrams.

“All the more reason to be sure the truth—” Lessa paused to stress the word. “—is circulated. And countered when such perversions,” she added, waving at the pamphlet, “are discovered.”

“Such damage is easy to do,” Sebell remarked, “and very hard to undo.”

“Runners listen and are listened to,” Haligon put in hesitantly. “They are welcome everywhere, too.” All eyes were on him and he cleared his throat nervously. “People believe what they say.”

“Harper Hall often hears of … rumors, inconsistencies, minor problems,” Sebell said, “but I wouldn’t care to involve Runners too much. They are as vulnerable on their routes as healers.”

“But faster on their feet,” Haligon said with a little smile. “And able to deal with danger.”