"I"m glad we went back for the horses," said Hayley.
"Yes," agreed Revi, "and it let us pass on what we"ve already learned. I"ve never been to Mattingly before, have you?"
"Of course, many times," she replied, "though not since the rebellion broke out."
The terrain along the south bank of the river was mostly flat, with small groups of trees here and there. As they cleared one such cluster, the village came into view.
Hayley halted, the better to examine the distant group of buildings. "I see a flag," she said, "but it"s not red."
"Oh?" queried Revi.
"It looks like a Royal Standard."
"Surely the king"s not there himself."
"No, of course not, but one of his royal companies is."
"Can you tell which one?"
"No, there isn"t enough wind, it"s hanging limp. We shall just have to visit t
