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I produced two of Raven's silver pieces； handed them over。 〃Let me know when we're over that limit。〃 I dropped my reins over the hitching rail； climbed the steps； patted his arm as I passed。 〃Not to worry。 We're not bandits。 Soldiers。 Following somebody who passed this way a while back。〃
He rewarded me with a frown of disbelief。 It was obvious we did not serve the Prince of Meadenvil。
The inn was pleasant； and though the fat man had several daughters； everyone stayed in line。 After we had eaten and most had gone off to rest； the innkeeper began to relax。 〃You answer me some questions？〃 I asked。 I placed a silver piece upon my table。 〃Might be worth something。〃
He settled opposite me； regarded me narrowly over a gigantic beer mug。 He had drained the thing at least six times since our arrival； which explained his girth。 〃What do you want to know？〃
〃The tall man who can't talk。 He's looking for his daughter。''
〃Eh？〃
I indicated Silent； who had made himself at home near the fire； seated on the floor； folded forward in sleep。 〃A deaf and dumb girl who passed this way a while back。 Probably driving a wagon。 Met a guy here； maybe。〃 I described Raven。
His face went blank。 He remembered Raven。 And did not want to talk about it。
〃Silent！〃
He snapped out of sleep as if stung。 I sent a message with finger signs。 He smiled nastily。 I told the innkeeper； 〃He don't look like much； but he's a sorcerer。 Here's how it stands。 The man who was here maybe told you he'd e back and cut your throat if you said anything。 That's a remote risk。 On the other hand； Silent there can cast a few spells and make your cows go dry； your fields barren； and all your beer and wine go sour。 That's a present risk。〃
Silent did one of those nasty little tricks which amuse him； One…Eye and Goblin。 A ball of light drifted around the mon room like a curious puppy； poking into things。
The innkeeper believed me enough not to want to call my bluff。 〃All right。 They was here。 Like you said。 I get a lot of people through in the summer； so I wouldn't have noticed except like you say； the girl was deaf and the guy was a hard case。 She e in in the morning； like she traveled all night。 On a wagon。 He e in the evening； walking。 They stayed off in the corner。 They left next morning。〃 He looked at my coin。 〃Paid in that same funny coin； e to think。〃
〃Yeah。〃
〃e from a long way off； eh？〃
〃Yeah。 Where'd they go？〃
〃South。 Down the road。 Questions I heard the guy ask； I figure they was headed for Chimney。''
I raised an eyebrow。 I'd never heard of any place called Chimney。
〃Down the coast。 Past Shaker。 Take the Needle Road out of Shaker。 The Tagline Road from Needle。 Somewhere south of Tagline there's a crossroad where you head west。 Chimney is on the Salada Peninsula。 I don't know where for sure。 Only what I heared from travelers。〃
〃Uhm。 Long hike。 How far； you think？〃
〃See。 Two hundred twenty…four miles to Shaker。 Round two hundred more to Needle。 Tagline is about one eighty on from Needle； I think。 Or maybe it's two eighty。 I don't rightly recollect。 That crossroad must be another hundred down from Tagline； then out to Chimney。 Don't know how far that would be。 Least another hundred。 Maybe two； three。 Seen a map oncet； that a fellow showed me。 Peninsula sticks way out like a thumb。〃
Silent joined us。 He produced a scrap of paper and a tiny； steel…tipped pen。 He had the innkeeper run through it again。 He drew a crude map that he adjusted as the fat man said it did or did not resemble the map he had seen。 Silent kept juggling a column of figures。 He came up with an estimate in excess of nine hundred miles from Meadenvil。 He knocked off the last digit； then wrote the word days and a plus sign。 I nodded。
〃Probably a four…month trip at least；〃 I said。 〃Longer if they spend much time resting up in any of those cities。〃
Silent drew a straight line from Meadenvil to the tip of the Salada Peninsula； wrote； est。 600 mi。 a。 6 knots = 100 hrs。
〃Yeah；〃 I said。 〃Yeah。 That's why the ship never left。 Had to give him a head start。 Think we'll have a talk with the crew tomorrow。 Thanks； innkeeper。〃 I pushed the coin over。 〃Anything odd happened around here lately？〃
A weak smiled stretched his lips。 〃Not till today。〃
〃Right。 No； I mean like neighbors disappearing； or what…not。〃
He shook his head。 〃Nope。 Less you count Moleskin。 Hain't seen him in a while。 But that don't make no never…mind。〃
〃Moleskin？〃
〃Hunter。 Works the forest over east。 Mainly for furs and hides； but brings me game when he needs salt or something。 He don't e around regular； but I reckon he's overdue。 Usually es in e fall； to get staples for the winter。 Thought it was him when your friend e through the door。''
〃Eh？ Which friend？〃
〃The one you're hunting。 That carried off this feller's daughter。''
Silent and I exchanged glances。 I said； 〃Better not count on seeing Moleskin again。 I think he's dead。〃
〃What brings you to say that？〃
I told him a little about Raven faking his own death and leaving a body that had been confused for his。
〃Bad thing； that。 Yep。 Bad thing； doing like that。 Hope you catch him up。〃 His eyes narrowed slightly； cunning。 〃You fellers wouldn't be part of that bunch e down from Juniper； would you？ Everybody headed south talks about how。 。。。〃 Silent's glower shut him up。
〃I'm going to get some sleep；〃 I said。 〃If none of my men are up yet； roust me out at first light。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 the innkeeper said。 〃And a fine breakfast we'll fix you； sir。〃
Chapter Forty…Six： MEADENVIL： TROUBLE
And a fine breakfast we had。 I tipped the innkeeper another piece of silver。 He must have thought me mad。
Half a mile up the road One…Eye called a halt。 〃You just going to leave them？〃 he asked。
〃What？〃
〃Those people。 First Taken es down this way is going to find out everything we did。〃
My heart flip…flopped。 I knew what he was getting at。 I had thought about it earlier。 But I could not order it。 〃No point；〃 I said。 〃Everybody in Meadenvil is going to see us put out。〃
〃Everybody in Meadenvil don't know where we're headed。 I don't like the idea any better than you do； Croaker。 But we have to cut the trail somewhere。 Raven didn't。 And we're on to him。〃
〃Yeah。 I know。〃 I glanced at Asa and Shed。 They were not taking it well。 Asa； at least； figured he was next。
〃Can't take them with us； Croaker。〃
〃I know。〃
He swung around； started back。 Alone。 Not even Otto joined him； and Otto has very little conscience。
〃What's he going to do？〃 Asa asked。
〃Use his magic to make them forget；〃 I lied。 〃Let's move along。 He can catch up。〃
Shed kept giving me looks。 Looks like he must have given Raven when he first found out Raven was in the body business。 He did not say anything。
One…Eye caught up an hour later。 He busted out laughing。 〃They were gone；〃 he said。 〃Every blessed one； with all their dogs and cattle。 Into the woods。 Damned peasants。〃 He laughed again； almost hysterically。 I suspect he was relieved。
〃We got two days and some gone；〃 I said。 〃Let's push it。 The bigger head start we have；