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if less elaborate.
    I shrugged. “I’ll look at other stalls first.”
    I moved on, disregarding his scowl. I needed to find a money-changer. Showing gold here would be as dangerous as bearding a pard in his den. I took the opportunity to cast my eyes over other stalls, and next to find a stable for Drustan. I did not wish any to identify me by him. Leaving Drustan munching happily in his hired stable, I went on. I found the stall I sought at one end of the street. It was, as always, two tents. One in which a man might ask his questions, the other inner tent in which he might make the transactions. Both were well guarded. I approached openly and I saw the guard’s eyes go to my weaponless side.
    â€œMistaken your way?”
    â€œI would change coin.”
    A small wizened man stepped past him. “Then you are in the right place. What would you wish of me?”
    â€œI have coin I would change for silver and coppers.” He nodded, seemingly unsurprised that such a young soldier would have gold or foreign coins.
    â€œCome to the inner tent then, and I will weigh what you have.” I followed him in. I was not wholly unarmed. I had a dagger given to me by Berond, a good blade taken from an enemy. And between Berond and Faslane I had been well-taught
in the tricks of dealing, even unweaponed, with surprise attack.
    As for haggling in the market and assessing the quality of goods, I was well taught—first by my father, who believed that any lord should understand the quality of most usual goods and how to bargain for them lest he be cheated as a fool, and then by Berond, since after our arrival in Paltendale we had few coins to spend and certainly none to waste. Berond had seen that our poverty was likely to last for some time, so he stood over me when he could, teaching me to know good weapons and gear when I saw them and what to say to stall-holders in a marketplace.
    â€œNow, what coins are they which you would change?” I had thought on this. I needed enough silver and copper to pay my way. The gold coins had clearly been changed at some time in the past. They were no uncommon sort for the dales. That was not the danger. I produced five.
    â€œI would have the value of four and one half in silver, the value of the last half in coppers.” I was eyed sharply.
    â€œIf I asked whence these came …”
    â€œThey were honestly come by in war. As for further answer, are you Lord Imgry’s steward to ask of me?”
    He gave a quick bark of amusement. “Nay. Well enough then. I think you speak the truth and it’s no concern of mine.” He worked carefully, checking that the coins were indeed gold and honest weight. Then he counted out the twenty-two silver, the half silver bit, and the remaining copper. He threw in a belt-pouch and bowed me out. I did not see him make any sign to his guards but, nonetheless, I turned on my heel and slid between tents, ran a few steps, and circled. I came back into the street the way I had come, watching my back. There was no sign of pursuers.
    I made my way to the stall-holder with the cloaks, bargained, and purchased the one he had first shown me. It was gaudy but rather thin quality. I turned it inside out and
went to another stall. There I found the cloak I really wished for. I took it up casually.
    â€œTen coppers.” The stall-holder here was a motherly-looking woman.
    I looked shocked. “Ten. For this?”
    â€œWell, seeing as you’re only a lad, I’ll say nine.”
    I shook my head sadly. “Three, and that’s over-pricing it.”
    She threw up her hands. “If I sell at such a price I’ll go hungry. Eight.” I shook my head again. “Seven then, and my final price.”
    â€œFive—and mine.” We shook hands at six.
    I paid her, took up the cloak, and dodged quietly behind a tent. There I rolled the gaudy cloak embroidered-side within and donned the other. It had been a