“If we could trouble you,” Beko said.

Volkain turned back to the building, flapping one of his natural hands as if at a bothersome fly. “No trouble! Maybe you'd like to buy some horses too, eh? I'm sure there's a tale behind that.” He chuckled to himself.

“No horses here,” the woman at the gate said. Her expression had not changed at all.

_____

THE INSIDE OF the guard building was surprisingly well appointed, considering the haphazard exterior. Each militia seemed to have his or her own sleeping niche, and many of them were personalized with wall hangings, clothing and charms. The central living area was scattered with chairs and several low tables, and from the ceiling hung yet more charms: rope knots, luck crystals woven into dried reeds, an array of animal parts to which were ascribed various fortunes. The whole display swayed in unison when Volkain slammed the heavy door, and he was tall enough to have to wave them out of his way as he crossed the room.

“Sit,” he said. “My people will care for your horses.”

“You live in luxury,” Rhiana said.

Volkain laughed again, but the unabashed good humor had slipped slightly, as though he was upset at her veiled criticism. “We do well,” he said. “We trade with people crossing the border.”

“Charge them passage, you mean?”

Volkain shrugged. “They pay us for safe passage and information.”

Rhiana looked around and Nomi thought, Don't say anything else against him; we need him on our side right now. Of course, she had no idea of the history between these two. Other than Rhiana playing her games with Volkain, the Serians seemed relaxed and at ease. Beko had sat down and was leaning back in his chair, perusing the display of charms. Noon and Konrad had gone to find the toilet room, and Ramin was walking slowly around the large room, casually but obviously exploring the building.

“We'll take whatever hospitality you can offer,” Beko said. “And we'll happily pay our way.”

Volkain sat opposite Beko, his chair creaking ominously. He leaned back and mimicked the Serian's relaxed pose, third arm resting across his stomach. “As I said, Serian, there's no charge for a friend. And as you're a friend of a friend, no charge for you, either. Well . . .”

Here it comes, thought Nomi. Here's the reveal.

Volkain looked at Nomi and smiled. “The only charge—and you'll forgive my childlike enthusiasm—is that your Voyager tells me a tale from one of her journeys.”

“And that's it?” Beko asked cautiously.

“What can I say? I'm fascinated. And though I sit here in my luxurious border post, a wanderer's heart beats in my chest.”

Nomi smiled, and found that she was warming to this man. “I'd be happy to,” she said.

Volkain sat forward, expression eager. “So where have you been?”

“My area of interest before now has been Ventgoria.”