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him a silver coin, that would pay anything I owed. My hand was shaking so hard I could feel nothing as I fumbled the coin out without looking at it. I stepped forward and dropped it at Hogar’s feet. I was almost done speaking before my eyes focused on the coin and I saw what I had done. I felt horror and shame slide up my spine at that sight. Gods, but I was a fool, I had let my anger betray me into flinging gold in Hogar’s face.
    â€œI will leave my mail and weapons with Faslane as you demand. Let that coin repay you for my bed and board. I leave owing nothing. If I come to another keep as lord it shall not be the badge of Paltendale I raise.”
    I had only time to see the stunned look on his face, as he recognized the worth of the coin, before I all but fled. Faslane came with me, his face glum, saying nothing. He stood by as I dropped my chain hauberk, coif, and weapons at his feet.

    â€œThere, take that to Hogar and tell him he’s not been cheated.”
    â€œI know you’re no cheat, lad. But you’ve done ill. Didn’t Berond teach you to keep tight purse-strings and tighter lips? Well, what’s done is done. But I’d be out of here as fast as you can.” His mouth turned down as I would have apologized, explained my error, and offered him information as to my plans.
    â€œNay, no time for explanations, and don’t tell me where you will ride. That way if I’m asked I can answer truly that I know nothing.” He took my hand. “Do no deeds in days to come which your father or lady mother would have scorned. Go with my blessing since you have no father.”
    He gripped my hand briefly, stepping back to allow me passage. It was clear I would do well to be gone now and not wait in Hogar’s camp to haggle for the sword or chain-mail I’d hoped to buy. Nor should I waste time explaining that the coin I had flung down had been meant to be silver. As Faslane said, what was done was done. I swung onto Drustan’s back, nudged him into a fast walk, and when I looked back at the camp edge Faslane was still standing looking after me. The gear Hogar had demanded he take back was piled at my friend’s feet.

III

    I looked back once as I topped a small ridge. I lifted my hand, paused long enough to see a hand raised in return, then the camp was out of sight. I had chosen my time carefully. It would be dark in another hour, but if I rode steadily I would be well down the main road in that time. Two hours on the road by moonlight and I’d be at Imgry’s camp. I was young, but I knew about such camps. Where there were a number of lords and very many soldiers there would be supplies, stables, at least one inn, and aught else a man might need or desire.
    I reached the camp as I had planned and drew rein at the fringes. Torches flared about the perimeter. In their light I could see avenues between rows of tents and crude huts. Stalls lined the widest avenue. I sucked in a breath of satisfaction. Then I dismounted, and leading my weary Drustan I walked forward. There were guards, but I was clearly a man of the dales, and none halted me. I slid into the clamor and lights and was gone from the view of any who might have followed me.
    I must work as swiftly as I could. By the time Hogar and his son came riding in with the men of Paltendale, I wished to be unnoticeable in case they inquired for me. I stopped
at a stall selling used clothing. There was a stack of cloaks to one side. Good warm riding cloaks which would wrap a man from head to boot heels when he was riding. I fingered a gaudy cloak.
    â€œHow much?”
    The stall-owner looked me up and down. “To you, lad, nine coppers.”
    I nodded. “And to anyone else, three.”
    â€œNay, I’d not cheat you. See how warm it would be. And the embroidery; you would look fine in such a cloak.” He might speak truth there, but I preferred a less obvious cloak and one which would be warmer,