Lucius Nepos sits at one of the many wooden tables with a cup of shak tea in front of him and a loaf of bread. Breakfast, it seems, before the journey back to Vozhdya. He is in full armour except his boots and bracers, which lay next to him. Two other Ducal Guards sit at the table with him. Althea sits near the fire, boots off her feet, warming her toes. Whenever the door to the tavern opens, she glances around the room as if looking for someone. On one of her glances she sees and recognizes Master Nepos. "Good Morn, Master Nepos," she says. "How fare you?"