Chapter 45

'LESSON THREE.' Dallin sighed, very consciously resisting rolling his eyes. 'Don't spring things on him.'

It was actually tangential to Lesson Two, when Dallin thought about it, but it was important enough to rate its own category.

"We're headed north," Dallin said patiently, "for the same reason we're traveling on the road. We need witnesses. We need people who can be questioned and answer honestly that they saw us on the road and we were heading toward Riocht. Now, please--get back on the horse."

Wil shook his head, mouth set in a stubborn line. "Everyone in Dudley will tell them that. You're the one who keeps saying time is short, and if we're really going to Putnam, this is a waste of time."

Throwing himself on the ground kicking and cursing, Dallin reflected, would likely not achieve the results he wanted here. Neither would shooting Wil.