“We stopped just short of the summit,” Syman panted, “and the watchtower that sits upon it. It is crawling with Imperial Guards.”

“Is that bad?” questioned Lyra. “I mean why should we be afraid of Imperial Guards? They will protect us from the raiders at least.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” offered Syman. “Antello is no fool and he obviously did not want us to pass the Imperial Guards at the gate. I do not pretend to understand what is going on, but I think we should avoid everybody until we talk with Antello and that includes the Imperial Guard. There is no way past them other than returning the way we came and that is what we are going to do.”

Lyra looked deeply into Syman’s eyes trying to read whether it was fear or concern that lurked within them. Finally, realizing that his caution was probably well founded, she shrugged and went to pack the horses for the trip back down the mountain.

The journey down the trail was quicker in the daylight than it had been the night before and within a couple of hours, they were past the site of the campfire and approaching the road south of Gatong. Mindful of the watchtower atop the mountain, Syman found a concealed waiting place that offered a good view of the road and they settled in to wait for Antello to come out the gate.

A couple of hours passed before they finally saw Antello and when they did, he was not coming from the city, but from the south. Quickly, they mounted and made for the road, turning south when they reached it. Syman and Antello ignored each other as they passed on the road, and Syman and Lyra continued south until the city was out of sight. Syman dropped a shiny coin on the ground and led Lyra into the woods until they found a small clearing. There they waited for Antello to show up and they did not have to wait long.

“I thought I would never find you,” greeted Antello. “That was my fourth run over the road this morning and I really didn’t want to have to do it again.”