"I shall have to ask the girl myself when I speak to Filomena."

"She's called Nuri," said Elsa, "though I must warn you she certainly didn't find the incident amusing, and won't have anything kind to say about your brother. Or me."


"You may as well know; among much else I am a highwaywoman. I'm not a crazed killer but I've robbed sufficient gentlemen and ladies I'd be looking at a noose back in the Empire."

Elsa was startled by the admission. "Huh. I see. Well, maybe I owe you a secret in return... I'm wanted in the Empire, too. Magic duel that ended badly. A witch hunter and his goons came for me, once. One day there may be others. Or, worse, a College agent; those don't bother with a show trial, they just kill you with as little fuss as possible. For a time I was using a false name, Beatrix Hildebrand. I still use it for some purposes."

She cast a glance over her shoulder. The rock of Savonne was still visible, though it looked quite small. "Shall we turn around? It's mid-afternoon already and the days are getting short."