“You think we’ll see any Reillies today?” asked Kypler. Alucius looked across the table from his nearly finished egg toast, toast seemingly springier than coiled nightsheep wool, if more edible. “I don’t know what we’ll see.” “You’ve been the one scouting the roads and the steads with Geran,” pointed out Kypler. “That was teaching me what to look for. Tracking raiders and people is different from watching for sandwolves and sanders.” Alucius took a last swallow of the hot cider, then stretched and rose from the table. “How are you doing?” Kypler stood as well. “Let’s say that Geran thinks I might learn enough by the time he leaves for Seventeenth Company. There are too many little things I don’t know.” Kypler laughed. “You don’t like admitting you know anything.” “I have a lot to learn.” “Don’t we all?” At Kypler’s dry tone, Alucius chuckled. The two managed to get their mounts ready and to make it into formation outside the stable ahead of most of the new troopers, and about the same time as the fourteen veterans.
