11
It was the harper. “We are long parted,” he said in a low voice, and then paused, looking at Thomas expectantly, his shaggy eyebrows raised.
English. He spoke English. “Ehh…qui…?” Thomas stopped, aware that the word was wrong, but he couldn’t find the right one, no matter how hard he tried.
The man grinned. “I knew it! A newbie! Take it easy, man. This is your lucky day. We’d better go for a little walk. We’ve got lots to talk about, and it wouldn’t be good for the locals to hear us and come investigate,” he said, glancing back meaningfully at the darkened village as he took Thomas’ elbow and began to walk away from the cluster of buildings around the hall.
“But…ego…” Thomas sputtered. The right word wouldn’t come. The stranger pulled him along, putting his finger up to his lips, th
