“I’ll clean that when we get in,” Jerdren said.

“I can manage.” A tight little silence.

Jerdren turned away from him to look out across the southlands, beyond the frost-killed meadow to the thick forest, the steep hills and the purplish hint of mountains beyond. Same unchanging thing day in, day out. Year in and year out. He sighed faintly.

“I’ll be glad to see the last of this one,” he murmured tohimself.

Blorys heard him of course. The man’s hearing was extremelykeen. “Glad? Why, brother? It’s a long ride, but we have decent horses, and thistime at least the clients are friendly folk-unlike some we’ve guarded. It’s goodpay, and Lhodis didn’t even argue the additional coin for the extra wagon andfor the hired men. And he suggested the hazard fee, which we just earned, I think….” His voice trailed away. “You’re bored again, aren’t you, Jers? Likeback home in Sedge when we were growing up, and later in the army.” He waited.His brother shifted his gaze from the south hills to the road and said nothing. “Jers, I thought we’d worked it out. There’s enough variety in hiring out, wetake different routes-I thought this time you’d last at something.”

Jerdren opened his mouth and closed it again. Finally he shrugged. “Maybe I’m not done with it yet, Blor. After all, you still enjoythis.”

“Yes, but we also promised each other that one wouldn’t tiethe other down. Doesn’t matter if I enjoy hiring out if you’re bored with it.”

Jerdren sighed faintly and shook his head. “We’ll talk aboutit once we reach the Keep.”

“We’ll do that,” Blor replied mildly. He glanced around. “Weshould take a proper break here. Eat a little, finish off the water bottles. The land’s a lot more open than at the branch-off to the Keep.”

Jerdren chuckled.

“What?” Blorys asked.

“You don’t really think someone would be fool enough toattack us at the base of that road? After the damage we just did back there? Besides, the castellan may not send armed parties out into the wilds any more, but his men can see most of that branch road from the walls. Not likely he’d let anyone get away with jumping their trade right at the front door!”