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"What has happened to all the trees?" Rotiger marveled aloud as they continued their descent from the Septimania Pass They ell below the elevation where the forest had grown yet they found only empty slopes; where the snow ended there were patches of sparse grasses and loeeds, but the trees were gone

Ragoczy Germainus pointed off to the west, where in the far distance, e of forest against the sky "There," he said, his tone as devastated as the one"

Rotiger could find no words to express his sorrow for the vanished forest He rode on in silence, only once speaking up when he saw a vast flock of goats at the end of one of the narrow valleys Immediately above the animals was a scar on the land where a section of the slope had slid away, exposing the bare, rocky soil beneath "Is there oczy Geroats "And as they strip the land bare, there will be more"

The next day revealed , for a stretch of the road had dropped into the gorge on the east side of the track Ragoczy Gerer had to dis a precarious, ins that other travelers had reached this place and turned back

"How er asked when they were safe

"Very few," said Ragoczy Ger"

"What is the point of thisthis rain?" Rotiger deot back onto his dun oczy Germainus with quiet certainty "And open land for their flocks"

"And it is harder for eneer, nodding savagely "No doubt it serves their purposes"

Ragoczy Ger at the line of trees so far to the west, abetween his brows Finally he said, "We will not be able to travel at night, not with the road as it is" He pointed ahead where the ruts in the road beca the track for several hundred paces "We will have to lead our aninaled his concurrence "How e e find? Is it as bad further down?"

"It depends on how hard the winter was, and how oczy Germainus, his dark eyes fixed on the far distance "And how er, tugging on the rein and the lead as he continued after Ragoczy Geroczy Germainus called back to him as he picked his way ahead of his horse and er, keenly aware of the dangers they faced

"What about villagers?" The question was deliberately provocative "You expect trouble froer swept out his arht of little else," Ragoczy Germainus admitted

"You are apprehensive about Chimenae&039;s tribe, aren&039;t you?" He halted his horse and two oczy Germainus as he waited for his answer

"I would be reckless not to be," said Ragoczy Germainus with a tranquility that was little ht about Ubertez and Lavetta and Aer they will be in, I fear So Csih her territory, and quickly"

"You think they are still abroad" It was as blunt a stateoczy Germainus&039; ainst them, we must assu and doing her bidding?" Rotiger asked, getting to the heart of the oczy Germainus replied, and fell silent as he crossed a save hiht, he had his native earth in the soles of his shoes to shield hi water created The hooves of his horse and ravel bed, and they scraoczy Gerlad to be away froer as he hauled his horse and oczy Germainus and his ani is not done"

"Another will be oczy Germainus as he remounted at last "We have some time until dark We should keep a lookout for shelter"

"A village, a cah-canteled saddle He pulled the lead up so that the h to pass the night without having to defend it," said Ragoczy Germainus as he tapped histhe question when he received no reply

"I do not know: that is what troubles ed landscape for a little time, then ventured, "It isn&039;t just Moors you&039;re fretful about, is it?"

"No," said Ragoczy Germainus "Not just Moors"

"But surely you cannot think that Chimenae has made more of her kind? Not after ?" He was alar so foolish, the others would-"

"Exactly The others would not accept it It would be divisive" He held up his hand to show his predicaers, though their lives have been disrupted by what the Moors have done to the forest"

"They er doubtfully "Do you not think they have?"

"It is possible," said Ragoczy Germainus without conviction "Chier the better"

They went on a way in silence, their attention held by the an to fade as the shadows lengthened, then disappeared, leaving the barren slopes eerily silent but for the steady sound of their horses&039; and er shouted in relief and surprise "Is that an inn? Here? Surely it cannot be a farm-there are no fields or pens There are no watch-towers, so it cannot be a fortress" He rose in his stirrups for a better look at the place "It is right next to the road It oczy Gerer expected "If there is anyone still in it"

"There is a laer pointed at the three squat buildings that looked so ht have beennearest the road, on the corner "

"I see it," said Ragoczy Gerht We will stop there for the night"

Rotiger ell-aware of Ragoczy Ger to accept it unquestioningly "You are not pleased to have shelter for the night?"

"I am not certain it is shelter," he said, his voice distant "I wonder at a place in so desolate a location that still offers a haven to travelers"

"Oh," said Rotiger, chastened "You are rehdad"

"I aoczy Germainus, no hint of reproach in his tone "There are so oczy Gerer was veryfor thousands and thousands of paces, and the land empty around it I do see why you-" he stopped "Do you think we should go on? We e"

"No," Ragoczy Gerht as well stop here We cannot travel much farther today, in any case; our aniht as well er was now apprehensive "How do you wish to deal with this?"

"I assuht&039;s lodging, as any traveler would" He looked back at Rotiger "There is no point in putting theer, and settled into the last of their day&039;s ride

The three buildings were aluishable by the tiht; only a faint glow in the west provided any light to the land, and it was vanishing

"Landlord!" Ragoczy Germainus called out as he dismounted "If anyone is here!"

There was no response for a short while, and then a second light was struck inside the stone building, and there was the sound of the bolt being drawn back Then the door swung open and a youth just on the verge of htened up, he stared, then swore in the old tongue of the region as he kicked at the door in a display of petulance and aggravation "What are you doing here, Sanct&039; Geroczy Germainus recovered quickly from his shock "Aulutiz," he said "Is this place yours, then?"

"You haven&039;t answered my question" Chimenae&039;s son went to stand in the doorway, ars apart "And it is Olutiz now," he added, the subtle difference in pronunciation another reone by since they had seen each other

"No, I have not answered your question," Ragoczy Geresture to show he had meant no offense "It was not htfor-" He walked around the front of his horse, pulling the reins over his neck and leading hih on this road to keep us frolowered at the two arrivals "You have horses and "

"I aoczy Gerement, let us discuss it first"

"Why should we not take e need?" Olutiz asked, his posture insistent

"Because you are not a fool," said Ragoczy Germainus as he came to stand directly in front of the door "Consider: you have lost the eleer stay in the stable He will not permit any of your numbers-and there cannot be too many of you in this remote place-to harm our animals If youOlutiz think about what he was saying "On the other hand, ill take nothing fro hi I cannot endure," said Ragoczy Gerht us for any blood" Olutiz pointed directly at Ragoczy Geroczy Germainus said calmly

Olutiz shook his head "There are six of us here Do you think you could defeat us?"

"Do you think I would not?" Ragoczy Ger between the way frooczy Ger "You have ain "She has banished us More than twenty of us" He spat to show his disdain for her "A few she killed, as an exao?" The question was kindly asked, without any suggestion of inculpation

"Years Many years" He shrugged and relented "You ht as well cooczy Germainus firs is the stable?"

Olutiz snorted in self-mockery "That one I&039;ll tell Dorioz to leave you alone We had a goat last night He shouldn&039;t mind too uard the "You may come in while your man takes your horses and mules to the stable; they will be cared for"

"No doubt, but I will ask Rotiger to reoczy Germainus said as he paused on the threshold, reins and lead in his extended hand and called back to Rotiger, "Stay with our animals I will coer with purpose as he reached down for the reins and lead Ragoczy Ger out to hioczy Ger Olutiz&039;s face

"So you say," said Olutiz, not very graciously "You are determined to watch, then we oczy Germainus as he stepped into the front roo place, s beams with a fireplace built into the western wall There was a counter where barrels of wine sat, and a few rough benches set out, offering a minimum of comfort to the traveler "A mostsimple place," he said as he looked around

"Well, it is the only inn for ten thousand paces in any direction, and the er takes in travelers: the Moors collect a tax on them if the monks feed them" Olutiz went to stand in front of his fireplace, his head held up at an arrogant angle as he called out, "Dorioz!"

Alerness in his cynical old eyes "Yes?" He stopped still, seeing that Ragoczy Germainus was in the room "Gods of the horses!" he swore

"Yes," said Olutiz "He has returned Hiscare of his horses and mules You are to leave them untouched" He added,e to his voice

"Or find a goat," said Olutiz "Just leave this one and his alone"

Dorioz glared at Olutiz, then turned and left the room without another word

"He may not like it, but he will obey," said Olutiz "He does not want to hunt alone"

A nuoczy Germainus&039; mind, but he kept theh like his , "Thank you"

Olutiz ducked his head once in acknowledgaze "What are you doing here?"

"I aoczy Germainus "It was not my intention to come by the Septimania Pass, but as it turned out, I was unable to use Roncesvalles I had hoped to be in Asturcia within the est bench and sat down on its far end "There are those ill suffer if I fail to arrive in Asturcia, and in good time"