071

"Aye." Eonus said derision in his voice.

"I admit to spending much of the last twenty years behind a desk, and yet I well remember men like him. These men are well trained, one looks and that is obvious enough. The shame is that he took other men down with him."

"The man was an ass. Two weeks out of Ayrillac, still green and he thought to test us."

"Ayrillac?" Gregor asked, hope rising in his voice. That the men had not been sent to rescue him as disappointing and yet given the time frame obvious enough upon analysis. But he might know the state of affairs. "Is there any news from the capital?"

"News? There is always news but nothing I could relate that would be of importance. I could tell you of the North Banks, or the rumours the soldiers speak of, but being a Censor I doubt that is the news that you would be looking for."

"The North Banks?" Gregor said a sad laugh leaving his mouth. "Any news from the Cat's Tail? Is old Octavius behind the bar still serving calda?"