I knew I ought to scold the lad for disrespect, but since I dispensed with formalities whenever possible, I could hardly fault him. Besides, I liked Fian’s cheek a good deal more than the stultifying reverence with which many at Obernewtyn regarded me. I thought about his news and wondered why Analivia or her brother would want to come to live at Obernewtyn when they had a lovely home on the edge of the orchards. Bergold loved his fruit trees and he was still struggling to replace the workers lost when the road to the west coast reopened and the miners of Darthnor were able to return to their previous labour, producing ore for the smelters in Aborium and Morganna. But perhaps Analivia had only meant they would keep a winter residence at Obernewtyn, when the orchards were under a blanket of snow.

Dismissing the matter, I asked Fian about the gypsies Aras had mentioned.

‘I dinna see them,’ he said regretfully. ‘But Fedan told me they’d set up camp near th’ memorial th’ Twentyfamilies erected to honour those that fell when Malik betrayed us. He said th’ woman drivin’ the wagon had two different-coloured eyes. Garth says it must be that halfbreed gypsy you rescued.’

I nodded. ‘I expect so. Did Fedan ask why they came up to the White Valley?’

Fian shook his head.

‘Well then, I might ride down and find out for myself when the weather clears a bit.’

He gave me a quizzical look that made me realise I had spoken my thoughts aloud but, rather than explain, I took out the rubbing I had made of the markings on the stone sword and handed it to Fian without a word. Like any good teknoguilder, he immediately forgot his meal, pushing the food away so that he could examine the parchment. After a moment he looked up at me curiously to ask what the markings were.

‘On a stone form,’ I said. ‘It looks like gadi script and that made me think of you.’

‘It might be, but it is so ornately drawn it is hard to make out,’ Fian muttered, all but putting his nose to the paper.

‘Keep it and look it over at your leisure,’ I said, striving to sound careless. ‘I would be interested to know what it means, if it means anything.’ I rose and bade him give my greetings to his master, and tell him that I would come down to see the new Teknoguildhouse in a day or so. Then I took a slice of buttered bread and set off for the Farseekers hall.

Chapter 5

5