Brother Amos opened the door to the tavern. Like the town, it was small and mean, but a fire and food were inside. The place was crowded and a smoky haze filled the room. Since he was a Seeker, appropriately dressed in the grey robe with a brown, rope belt, the townspeople might question him, but they would do him no harm. He pushed back the cowl and revealed a round face with a black stubble. The Brothers were clean shaven, but he had had no spare water for the last week.
There were people at every table. Was this a celebration of some kind? Or were the townsmen so prosperous? He had discovered the farther westward he went the dialects and customs changed, the days were counted differently, and the economy and living conditions more primitive. Men in rough, homespun clothing looked at hi
