Chapter 26: We've Been Looking for YouMantuan found his way to the drinks house. It was half a day's ride from the palace. The message was clear that he would be meeting only one of this new Council. King Asa had wanted Mantuan to take guards but knew he could take care of himself. His battle-axe slung across his back, Mantuan rode his black horse fully armed with both longknife and short. He was there to talk, true, but it was better to be prepared for anything.
It was just getting dark, but the drinks house was strangely deserted. He tied his horse to the wooden rail outside and pulled the door handle. It was locked. Before he could knock, a small metal window in the door slid open. He saw two eyes, then the little window slid shut. The door unlocked and a young man in his early twentie
