The first was still running his hand down her cape. It halted on her pocket. "What's this?"

Her voice took on an edge. "Nothing of interest to you."

"Yeah?" He fingered the journey book from her pocket.

As he thumbed through the blank pages, she caught sight of a message. At last.

"What's this?"

"Just a notebook. Can you read, son?"

"No. There don't appear to be hardly nothin1 worth reading anyway."

"Take it anyway," the second said. "It might be worth something if nothin's written in it."

She looked back to the young man holding the sword on her. "I've had just about enough of this. Consider the robbery over."

"It's over when I say it's over."

"Give it back," Ann said in a level voice as she held her hand out. "And then be on your way before I drag you to town by your ear and have your parents come to collect you."

He brandished the sword as he leapt back defensively. "Look, don't you go getting feisty or you'll taste steel! I know how to use this thing!"

The still evening air suddenly thundered with horses' hooves. She had been watching as the soldiers had slipped up, around the bend and over the little bridge, unnoticed by the two young men because of the rushing water, until at the last moment when they charged in. As her assailant turned in shock, Ann snatched the sword from his hands. Nathan snatched the knife from the other.

Mounted D'Haran soldiers suddenly towered above them. "What's going on here?" the sergeant asked in a calm, deep voice.

"You were saying, Sergeant, about how Lord Rahl is a powerful wizard?"

"That's right. He slew the creatures you'll — .es on pikes before the palace."

"Creatures?"

"He calls them mriswith. Ugly, scaled, lizardh'ke things. They've killed a number of people, but Lord Rahl himself cut them to pieces."

Mriswilh. That was certainly not good news.

"Is there a town near, where we could find food and lodging for the night?"

"Ten Oaks is just over the next rise, maybe two miles. There's a small inn there."

"And how far to Aydindril?"

He appraised their four horses as she stroked Bella's ear. "With animals as fine as those, I doubt it will take you more than seven or eight days."

"Thank you, Sergeant. It's good to know there are soldiers about in case there are outlaws in the neighborhood."

He glanced over at Nathan, taking in his towering form, his long white hair that brushed his shoulders, his strong, clean-shaven jaw, and his hooded, penetrating, dark azure eyes. Nathan was a ruggedly handsome man filled with vigor, despite the fact that he was close to a thousand years old.

The sergeant looked back to her, clearly preferring to exchange glances with a squat old woman rather than with Nathan. Even with his power choked off, Nathan presented an intimidating presence. "We're looking for someone: the Blood of the Fold."

"Blood of the Fold? You mean those pompous fools from Nicobarese in the red capes?"

The sergeant snugged the reins as his horse tried to step sideways. Others of the twenty horses pawed the snow, looking for grass, or nibbled hopefully at dry branches to the side of the road, tails lazily swishing the cool evening air. "That's them. Two men, one the lord general of the Blood, another officer, and a woman. They escaped from Aydindril, and Lord Rahl has ordered them brought back. We have men out everywhere scouring the countryside."

"Sorry, but I haven't seen a sign of them. Is Lord Rahl staying at the Wizard's Keep?"

"No, at the Confessors' Palace,"

Ann signed. "That's good, at least."

His brow drew together. "Why is that good?"

She hadn't realized she had spoke her relief aloud. "Oh, well, it's just that I'm hoping to see this great man, and if he stays at the Keep, then I wouldn't be able to. It's protected by magic, I hear. If he comes out on a balcony at the palace to greet the people, I might get to see him.

"Well, thank you for your help, Sergeant. I think we best get to Ten Oaks before it gets pitch black. Don't want one of my horses to step in a hole and break a leg."

The sergeant bid her a good night and led his column of men up the road, away from Aydindril. Only after they were more than out of earshot did she withdraw the block from Nathan's voice. It was difficult to maintain such control for long periods of time. Ann mentally braced for the inevitable tirade as she started gathering up their packs from the snow.

"We best be on our way," she told him.

Nathan drew himself up with an imperious scowl. "You would give gold to robbers? You should have — "

"They were only boys, Nathan, They were hungry."

"They tried to rob us!"

Ann smiled as she tossed a pack over Bella. "You know as well as I that that would not have happened, but I gave them a little more than gold. I don't think they will be trying that again."

He grunted. "I hope the spell you put on it burns their fingers to the bone."

"Help me with our things. I want to get to the inn. There was a message in the journey book."

Nathan was struck speechless for only an instant. "Took her long enough. We left her enough hints for a child of ten to figure it out long before now. We did everything but leave a note pinned to her dress that said, 'By the way, the Prelate and the Prophet aren't really dead, you dolt. »

Ann cinched Bella's girth strap tight. "I'm sure it wasn't as easy for her as you make it out to be. It seems obvious to us only because we knew. She had no reason to suspect. Verna figured it out; that's all that is important."

Nathan replied with a lofty snort before he finally started helping by gathering up the rest of the packs. "Well, what did she say?"

"I don't know yet. When we get settled for the night we'll find out."

Nathan lifted a finger in her direction. "You pull the deaf-and-dumb trick on me again and you will live 10 regret it."

She turned an angry scowl on him. "And if we again come across people and you start yelling that you've been abducted by a mad witch and held prisoner in a magic collar, I'll make you deaf and dumb for real!"

Nathan huffed sourly as he went back to work. As he turned to his horse, she saw him smile to himself in satisfaction.

By the time they found the inn, and after they had left their horses with a boy at the stable out back, the stars were out and the small winter moon was visible over a distant mountain slope. The woodsmoke hugging the ground also carried the aroma of stew. She gave the stableboy a penny to carry in their things.

Ten Oaks was a small community, and the inn had only a dozen locals at the few tables, most drinking and smoking pipes over stories of soldiers they had seen, and rumored alliances forged by the new Lord Rahl, who not all were sure was really in command of Aydindril, as was claimed. Others asked them to then explain why the D'Haran troops had suddenly become so disciplined, if it wasn't because someone had finally brought them to task.

Nathan, wearing high boots, brown trousers, a ruffled white shirt buttoned up over his Rada'Han, an open dark green vest, and a heavy dark brown cape hanging almost to the floor, strolled up to the short counter set before a few bottles and kegs. With a noble air, he Hipped his cape back over a shoulder as he settled a boot to the fooirail. Nathan relished wearing clothes other than the black robes he always wore at the palace. He called it "playing down."

The humorless innkeeper smiled only after Nathan had slid silver his way and advised that for the high price of lodging, it had better include a meal. The innkeeper shrugged and agreed.

Before she knew it, Nathan was already spinning a tale that he was a merchant traveling with his mistress while his wife was home raising his twelve sons. The man wanted to know what sort of merchandise Nfihan cleaH i,\ Nulhsr, leaned close, lowered his commanding voice, and winked at the man as he told hint that it would be safer if he didn't know.