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knocked out that soldier. Where did you learn to handle yourselves that way?”
    Roo and Erik exchanged glances. Neither needed to be reminded of the network of spies already established in the Kingdom by the agents of the Emerald Queen. Distant cousin or not, Roo had no illusions about the man’s honesty. “Here and there,” said Roo.
    â€œThat’s some Isalani open-handed fighting, or I’m a cow’s newborn,” said Duncan.
    â€œWhere’d you see it before?” asked Erik.
    â€œAs I said, I just returned from down in the Vale. You see a few Isalani there as well as some other Keshian-born who know the tricks.” He leaned forward, and his voice lowered. “I hear you can crack a man’s skull with your hand if you know how to do it.”
    Erik said, “That’s easy. Just make sure you’ve got a smith’s hammer in the hand when you hit him.”
    Duncan stared at Erik a moment, then burst into laughter. “Good one, lad,” he said as he dug into his meal. “I think I’m going to like you.”
    They continued to chat as they ate, and after, Erik went to check on the horses. When he returned, the three men retired for the night to the common sleeping area upstairs, so they might get an early start in the morning.
    The village seemed at once unchanged and smaller. Roo said, “Nothing’s different.” They rode at a walk, having taken the bend at the road that put them within sight of Ravensburg. They had been passing familiar farms for the last hour, both vineyards and fields of oat, wheat, and corn. But in the distance they now at last were in sight of the small buildings at the edge of the town.
    Erik remained silent, but Duncan said, “Doesn’t look any different to me and it’s been years.”
    Riding past familiar landmarks, Roo thought that he was wrong. Everything had changed, or at least he had changed and therefore how he saw things had changed. Reaching the Inn of the Pintail, Erik said, “Few things in Ravensburg ever change, but we have,” echoing Roo’s thoughts of a few moments before.
    Duncan said, “That’s always true, I guess.” Erik had taken a liking to the affable man, and Roo was pleased, for he liked his cousin as well, though he barely trusted him; he was an Avery, and Roo knew what that meant. There had been a distant uncle, John, who had made a terrible reputation for himself as a pirate, long before Roo had been born, and more than half those uncles and cousins who had died since Roo’s birth had been hanged or killed during a robbery attempt. Still, there were a few Averys who had turned a hand toward honest labor, and Roothought that gave him a chance of getting rich without having to resort to murder or robbery.
    As they dismounted, a boy ran from the stable and said, “Care for your horses, gentlemen?”
    Erik said, “Who are you?”
    â€œGunther,” said the boy. “I’m the smith’s apprentice, sir.” Erik tossed the reins to the boy. “Is your master about?” asked Erik.
    â€œHe’s taking his midday meal in the kitchen, sir. Should I fetch him for you?”
    Erik said, “Never mind, I can find the way.” The boy took the horses and led them away.
    Roo said, “Your replacement?”
    â€œSo it seems,” said Erik shaking his head. “He can’t be more than twelve or so.”
    â€œYou were younger when you started helping Tyndal around the forge,” reminded Roo.
    Roo followed Erik as he moved to the rear door, the one that led directly into the kitchen. Erik pushed open the door and stepped through.
    Freida, Erik’s mother, sat at the kitchen table talking to Nathan the smith. She looked up as Erik came through the doorway. Her eyes widened and her color drained away. She half stood; then her eyes rolled up into her head and she swooned, caught by the smith before she fell to the