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him magic stones that keep the night beasts away. He said he got them from you yesterday.”
    The man laughed so deeply it rumbled in his chest. “So that is why I have so many here to listen to my tales! Aye, laddie, I still have some.”
    The children rose, pressing in closer. Nolan stretched to catch a peek.
    “Now, remember, these here aren’t real,” the man said. “There are legends of real stones, hundreds of years ago. They say the light inside them can scare any darkness away. So don’t be wanderin’ out in the dark and getting yourselves killed. These here are only rocks, not true magic stones.”
    The children didn’t seem to care if they were pretending. They chattered excitedly as he handed out small bundles. The brood scampered away with their new treasures, some running out the door and others joining adults at nearby tables. Conversations started up again. A boy at the table next to Nolan’s held out his bundle, showing it to his father. The man scowled, yanking it away.
    “Don’t be ridiculous!” He tossed it on the floor and led the crying boy away.
    Nolan scowled. Oh, for Brim’s sake; let the kid have some fun.
    The storyteller rose and threaded his way through the pub, talking with those he passed. He headed to the bar where the pretty girl waited for him. She tapped her fingers, speaking to the man in low tones. Nolan straightened, his stomach dropping in disappointment and shock. The girl was with … him?
    How in the name of Brim did a hairy oaf end up with a girl like her? She only came to his shoulders. And for crow’s sake, he was way too old for her. A smattering of gray went through his dirty blond beard.
    Nolan studied the girl’s profile. And while staring at her might’ve been rude, he found the view much better than the smelly tradesmen crammed around the tables surrounding him. After several moments, she placed a few coins on the counter and swept the room with her eyes. Nolan panicked and jerked his head down.
    The table wasn’t very interesting, but there was no way he would look anywhere else. Nolan traced a finger on a jagged knife gouge, and when he couldn’t stand it any longer, he raised his head.
    The brown-haired girl and the mountain man had gone.
    Nolan pushed back disappointment and downed the last of his drink. He reached to retrieve his overstuffed pack and noticed a small wad of cloth lying on the floor—the one the father had tossed away. Nolan glanced around, seeing if anyone else had noticed. Conversations continued. He plucked it from the ground and set it in front of him.
    It consisted of some sort of animal fur—deer, maybe—tied closed with a thin bit of leather. Nolan pulled the strap, and it came undone. Inside lay six small stones, each painted a different color. Nolan smiled. Magic stones. He palmed the small rocks, rolling them, inspecting them. He then placed them back in the pelt and tucked the bundle into his pack.
    As he rose to leave, Kardos Deverell, the blacksmith, burst through the door like an angry badger. Nolan sat again and pulled out his book, pretending to read. Things were too interesting to leave now.
    “What can I get for you, Kardos?” Bonty asked.
    “The same as usual.”
    “Aren’t you and your boy swingin’ swords about this time of day?”
    “It’s a bit hard to fight yourself now, isn’t it?” He downed the mug in a long gulp and slammed it on the bar. “Alec is leaving for that nightforsaken tournament, and he won’t bother listening to reason.”
    “It’s not like he had a choice.”
    Kardos grunted. “I swear … If they lay one hand on my boy, those Rol’dan dogs will be on the other side of a Deverell blade.”
    The room quieted into whispers as eyes darted toward Kardos. Either Kardos didn’t notice or he didn’t care.
    “Here, love.” Bonty refilled his mug and pushed it toward him. “Set your mouth to this instead.”
    “Forget it.” Kardos shoved the mug away, sloshing its contents onto the