### 266

‘We’ve heard nothing for nearly a month,’ he says, shaking his bearded face from side to side. ‘Some horsemen from your country passed here about that time, but since then all we have seen are a travelling band of troubadours from Cloeasia and those accursed bandits.’

The tavern-keeper’s sons each take it in turn to sit watch at the arrow slits, so that you and your men can get some sleep.

Turn to 324.