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Tarkyn couldn’t help smiling. “Bean, why don’t you come straight out with it and tell us what you know. Then we’ll work out what to do about it.”
Bean glanced at his friend then took a deep breath and turned resolutely to the prince. “We’ve been up in these mountains on and off for the last forty years. What we don’t know about these mountains isn’t worth knowing. They’re good, these woodfolk. They’re fast and vigilant and they have some trick of blending in that is beyond the ability of wizards and sorcerers. It’s not that we’re quicker or cleverer than they are. It’s just that we have been around so long that sooner or later they were going to be caught out by us.” He paused. “String, stop looking like a scared rabbit. Get the billy out and make us some tea.” He gave a wry smile. “A
