Ahdiovizun, even one an inch or so shorter.
“She told it right. And she’s to stay over there. I have a message for you.”
When the other man instantly shifted the mug to his left hand, Strick backed a pace. “Easy. I just came here from Firaqa. Name’s Strick. Along the way I met a young man and woman. Boy and a girl, maybe. He asked me to tell you that the big red cat with them followed them-even out across the desert-and to swear that he did not take it.”
Ahdio stared for a moment, then smiled. “You get the next one,” he said, and drank half the contents of the cup in his left hand. “Dark fellow, hawkish nose, medium height and wiry? Wearing anything unusual?”
“Knives.”
Ahdio laughed. “That’s Hansey! Thanks, uh, Strick. I’ve been wondering about
Notable. Hanse is the first person that cat ever took to. Be damned. Where was this?”
“Hey Ahdio, how about onea them sausages over here?”
Ahdio glanced that way. “Suck your finger, Harmy! This is an old war crony.
Throde? Sausage for Harmocohl. Oh, and fill a cup for Ouleh before she stares a hole in my back.”
“Up in Maidenhead Wood, other side of the desert,” Strick told him. “A day or two this side of Firaqa. They were headed there.”
“They were? You know, I’ve never even met anyone from up there. You just arrive,
Strick? Moving to Sanctuary? Got a place to stay?”
“Aye.”
Ahdio grinned. “All three. All right. I won’t ask any more. Thanks again. You’re not staying here in the Maze?”
“No.”
“Thought not. The cat look all right?”
“Large and well-fed. Stared at me the whole time we locked.”