The man led his horse to a stall and whispered to it before turning back to Ghreel.

‘Yes, thank you,’ he said, hitching his pack on to his shoulder and picking up two saddlebags. ‘Could you show me my room?’

Once again, the soft voice and quiet manner left Ghreel at a loss, throwing him, untypically, into politeness. ‘Are you travelling on, or looking for work hereabouts?’ he asked as he motioned the man back to the inn.

‘Both,’ came the reply. ‘I’ll need to work for a little while until I’ve enough money to move on.’

It gave Ghreel the opportunity he had been waiting for. ‘What’s your trade?’ he asked.

‘I’m a teacher.’

‘Teacher!’ Ghreel exclaimed. He wobbled to a halt and looked at his companion with a combination of disbelief and distaste. ‘Teacher!’ He was in his element now – he hated ‘clever’ people. His inadvertent politeness vanished. ‘What do you think you’re going to teach around here?’ He waved a dismissive hand and set off again.

‘Whatever people want to learn.’ The answer showed no sign of irritation at the innkeeper’s attitude, which soured further as a consequence.

‘That’s precisely nothing,’ Ghreel retorted, with a sneer. ‘Or at least nothing that comes out of a book. All anyone wants to know here is what they can use – who’s got money they can steal, where they can get a woman, and who’s got the cheapest ale.’ He patted himself on the chest.

He expected some argument, especially from a know-it-all like this one. The man obviously had no idea what the real world was like. He’d be lucky if he didn’t end up in a ditch with his head stoved in. Even experienced travellers went on their ways wiser after passing through here. Wiser – and poorer.

‘Perhaps I should just move on, then.’

The reply brought Ghreel to another halt. In his enthusiasm to persecute this newcomer he had nearly stepped over the mark. His hands involuntarily closed around the coins in his apron pocket and he gave the man a quick, narrow-eyed glance.