The stench of wet boots, blood and the persistent lingering of whiskey permeated the "fine" drinking establishment Conlan found with Vera at his side. The molding around the entrance was chipped and heavily dented. Fresh paint was half-heartedly slapped on and caked the obvious cracks in the wood so that they stood out even more. The sign above said entrance was written in faded black and read Gentleman's Keep. Conlan had a good chuckle at that, but no one else did. Too bad, really. As for the young Rider in his company, he had his reservations about her. Normally he would regret taking a Lady into such a place, but Vera entered first with her staff strapped to her back. Any inappropriate glances stopped when she drove her knife into a table top and told a lone drunk in an icy voice that he would choke on his mug if he offered her ale again. He decided then that it was okay if he brought Hasna inside.

( Belwood did not have very many social gathering places... )

The thin slip of paper was worn; a small hole broke through the center where the creases were stressed most. Conlan had only been turning it between his fingers for a night, some of the morning. Captain Mearann's handwriting still looped methodically across the middle, spelling out what he wanted in brief, precise words. The angry bean pole of a girl that had been steadily cleaning every rafter in the Walker barracks with a horse brush and a rag was to follow him wherever he went. Observe whatever he did. And learn whatever it was that he knew about being a Rider. She was not his first mentee, but she was certainly the youngest. Conlan might have argued against taking her along, if he hadn't watched her bloody her fist on two men twice her size, who also should have possessed twice her skill. From the black look that Vargis had when he'd read the paper, Conlan should have argued against it purely for her name. Lady Vera of Beit-Orane. That he was teaching anyone so closely related to that House of smoke and blood was ironic at best and dangerous at worst.

( Conlan never said anything to Captain Mearann... )