"I know you." Albreda had looked up from her table at the tavern to notice a young man staring back at her. "Manson, isn"t it?"
His mouth fell open. "Yes, I"m surprised you remember."
"I met you back in sixty-two. You worked at the stables at that time."
"I did, and you helped me with the horses."
"I remember it well."
"May I join you?"
"By all means," said Albreda. She waited until he sat down before ordering him a tankard of ale. "Are you still looking after Mercerian Chargers?"
"Not since the knights left, no."
"But you"re still at the stable?"
"Yes, and still only a stable hand. I"m afraid we"re not as busy as we once were."
"You should go to Hawksburg. I hear they need people to help look after all those horses. You know, they breed them there."
"So I hear," said Manson, "b
