Late in the next day, the horses exhausted, they arrived at the river Calmat, and crossed a large stone bridge.

" Who goes there?"

A woman with a spear stopped them in the road, face hard.

Yrnhold held up his hand as a gesture of peace.

" I am the coven Yrnhold of Vóda," he said. " We come to seek council with the Cwge."

The woman did not soften her manner.

" Of Vóda?" she asked." So you're that Calsar's people?"

" It is true that we signed covenant with Calsar," Yrnhold said, "But times have changed, and things are not as they once were."

" How do I know this isn't a trap?" the woman demanded.

" Look upon us," Yrnhold said. " Three men and a girl. Would Calsar not set a more clever trap?"

She huffed.

" I suppose so," she admitted. " I'll take you to the chief manor."

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