The Roubbe suddenly started walking away without saying 'Good-bye' or otherwise giving them a sign that one cared. The Roubbe disappeared back into the light. The Duke suddenly reached a hand out to Dana and said, rather loudly, 'Put these in your ears.'

In his hand were two small nibs. Dana reached out and took one and placed it in her ear and suddenly lost hearing in that ear. She realised that the noise was likely to start again and placed the other one in her other ear. It suddenly felt like the world had lost all sound. She looked around. Even the sound of her own breathing was gone.

Suddenly there was noise again, but not really noise so much as the shaking and beating through her chest of what she knew would be very loud if she didn't have those little nibs in her ears. After about a minute, it subsided and she waited a little longer, then reached up to try to scoop the nibs out of her ears. The Duke's hand came out and stopped her. She looked at him and saw him shaking his head. Then he held up a finger to tell her to wait a minute. After a short time, he crooked his finger and then tipped one ear toward her. He cupped his hand under his ear and with his forefinger and thumb tugged lightly on his earlobe. A nib popped out of his ear. He turned the other ear to her and repeated the procedure.

She felt confused but attempted to copy his procedure. When she tugged on he ear she could suddenly hear again, it was quite a shock.

'Wow,' she said. 'These are amazing.'

Smiling, the Duke nodded and said, 'Yes, I remember the first time I used them as well. I've gotten used to them though.'

She popped the other nib out of her ear and handed them back to the Duke. 'Have you often been visited by these Roubbes?' she asked.

'No,' he said. 'This is the first time. I've used them when I needed to save my hearing while visiting some rather loud places like armouries.'

'So these aren't from the Roubbes?'

'I'm not really sure, actually,' he said. 'I think they're from the era of The Ancestors who lived in the Heavens, when the world was wide and the land uninhabited.'

'And the Ancestors came in their mighty ships and created this land,' Dana finished the passage.

'Ah, you're also familiar with the Book of the Ancestors,' the Duke said. 'I am quite sure you are learned in everything.'

'That's as may be,' Dana said. 'My father considered joining the Sons of the Ancestors, but decided it was a little hokey. He much prefered the beliefs he had. I sneaked a read of his copy of the Book of the Ancestors before he died. I think my uncle actually joined their group. I don't really know.'

'I read it once,' said the Duke. 'I even got in to see their rites. They are a sad bunch, wishing for the Heavenly Age to return by doing what they do. Anyone who's communed with the Roubbes, though, becomes inured to the doctrine of Ancestor calling. The Roubbes still remember why the Heavenly Age ended. All the same problems we have today: greed, envy, strife, selfishness, lust, insecurity, phobias, prejudice, ambition, disease, illness, death. They merely got them in a different form. We will return to an age like theirs eventually. Of that I have no doubt. But I truly hope that when we reach it we're better people.

'Anyway, let's go find the doctor and my men,' finished the Duke.

'So, what happened here? Why did that Roubbe appear to us?' Dana wanted to know.

'By the looks of it, you hit the Orb with which I commune with the Roubbes. That's almost always a bad sign, and when I didn't respond right away, it became a summons.'

'So, the men that were attacking us?'

'I do not know. I'm guessing the loud noise scared them off.'

Martug at this point joined them. He was looking again as fit as the first time Dana saw him.

'Where are we?' he asked.

'On the road to the Capital,' Dana said. 'You've been very sick.'

'Well, I feel fine now,' he said.

'Good,' said the Duke. 'You can help us find the rest of our party.'

As they were leaving the Shoemaker's, Marchan spotted Peter walking on the other side of the square. He appeared to be carrying a large full bag. He was obviously struggling with it, but he was walking quickly. Marchan started over toward him and Trevor asked him where he was going.

Marchan replied, 'You see that boy struggling with a large bag of something? That's Peter whom I met my first day here.'

'I'll go catch him,' said Trevor and ran across the square. As he approached Peter he called out to him to stop. Peter saw him and started to run even faster, disappearing up an alleyway. Trevor, despite not carrying a heavy burden could not catch him, and returned to Marchan and Richard.

'He ran away,' he reported.

'You scared him,' said Richard.

'What?' said Trevor, 'I'm not that scary.'

'No, but your clothing is,' said Richard. 'I overheard one of the merchants when you called for him to stop. He said, "What is he going to say that poor boy's done now? Won't they leave him alone?" Then he noticed me and became very embarassed. Peter over there likely thought you were going to accuse him of something.'

Trevor looked down at his uniform. It was still neatly pressed and gave him an air of authority in the marketplace which was slowly thinning out as merchants packed up and headed for home. He started to look embarrassed.

'So I chased him away? We won't be able to find him now.'

'Not at all,' replied Marchan. 'We know where he's likely going. Franna said that Mama Rita had sent him on an errand. He's likely delivery that bag to her. We'll just go back to her house and meet him there. This time try not to scare him away.'

Trevor looked a little downcast, but, seeing that Marchan held no grudge, he nodded and obediently fell into line as Marchan led them back to Mama Rita's. He knocked on her door and a head popped out an upstairs window.

She was a woman a little older than Franna, she looked down at the three of them standing around the door and said, 'We didn't do nothin'. You got nothin' on us.'

Marchan called up, 'Is Peter here?'

'He didn't do nothin' neither,' she said.

'Actually,' said Marchan. 'He did do something for me and I wanted to thank him. Is he here?'

'You just being sneaky.'

Marchan thought about it. If they were having trouble with the city authorities and those same authorities wanted in they would likely give similar reasons for gaining access. What could he do that would be proof he wasn't here to "get them"?

'How about Franna? Is she here?' Richard called up. 'We were here earlier today with her.'

'I ain't saying.'

Marchan suddenly remembered that Franna had recognised his name. He called up, 'Did Peter tell you about meeting me? My name is Marchan. I came to the city about a week ago. Franna recognised my name.'

'How do I know you Marchan?' the woman asked.

'Look at me. I'm quite short for my age. If you could see my face a bit closer, you would see I'm no nobleman.' He turned to Trevor and Richard. 'It might be easier if you guys went back to the square. I'll send someone for you after they let me in.'

Richard nodded. Trevor just looked around and followed Richard back to the square. Marchan looked back up at the woman in the window.

'I sent them back to the square,' he said. 'You saw how short I am compared to them. If you think I'm not a Dwarf, I must be just a child. Surely you're not afraid of a little child? And if I am a Dwarf, I'm the only Dwarf for many kilometers, so I must be Marchan. No?'

The door opened a crack and another young woman stood there. Marchan stepped up and into the house.