The pair exchanged a glance, but their curiosity was piqued and they walked their mounts over to see what it was the man wanted. Standing before the trader, Lann wrinkled his nose. Almer smelt like summer flowers and spices; the aroma was unusual and he wasn’t sure he liked it. At the same time it occurred to him that his own odour after days on horseback would be just as offensive to the trader.

‘Thank you for stopping. You will not regret your decision to do so.’ He looked at the pair, sizing them up. ‘My guess is that the two of you have come a long way to get here, no? You’re in need of rest. And a good bath. No offence,’ he quickly added. He moved his hands a lot when he spoke, unlike the Volken, who were much less expressive. ‘Perhaps I can be of assistance in recommending a tavern where you can stay? One not full of cut-throats and thieves!’ He pointed at the pair with a meaty forefinger adorned with a huge gold ring. ‘I also imagine that the pair of you were off to the livery to sell your mounts? Am I right?’

‘You are,’ Fleya said, a half-smile on her lips.

Almer shook his head and gestured in the direction of the livery yard. ‘Do not take your ponies to this man. Not only will he give you a bad price, but your animals will end up being sold as meat.’

Reaching into his breast pocket, he pulled out a small book and flicked through the pages, muttering under his breath as he peered at words written in a foreign script.

‘Yes,’ he said eventually, ‘I have a man that will buy your beasts.’ He turned to Fleya. ‘Have they pulled a wagon before?’

‘Yes, but—’

‘Excellent. Then I will get you a good price, more than our friend over there would give you.’

‘How do we know that?’ Lann asked bluntly. ‘How do we know anything you say is the truth?’

The trader looked affronted. He reached inside his tunic and pulled out a large silver coin hanging from a chain about his neck. ‘This, my young friend, is a seal of the Guild of Merchants from my own country. It is a very precious thing to me. That is why I keep it so close to my heart. As a member of the guild I am not permitted to lie to the people I trade with. That is why I am known as Honest Almer.’

‘Honest Almer? That’s what you’re known as?’ Fleya said. She was smiling openly now.

She looked at him for a long moment, then handed the reins of the ponies over. ‘We need to buy passage – direct passage across the Gulf of Rikkor on a ship to Stromgard.’

‘But what providence! My cousin, Fariz, is the captain of a ship and he is sailing to Stromgard tomorrow afternoon.’