19  "That IS what your people say, isn't it," the young man asked, looking to Gray Deer, "'for everything there should be a price'?  In one way or another we pay for all?"
    20  "That is written!" Gray Deer agreed.
    21  "The meeting," the young man continued, "will be during The Celebration of The Journey, at a house on the outskirts of Northern.  It is scheduled to last for several days. The first day will be a feast.  The Hoods like to enjoy themselves before they get down to work. About noon of that first day would be the best time for you to attack.  That's when most of them will be so drunk they can barely stand."
    22  The young man fell silent, and Gray Deer looked at him strangely.  "How is it," he asked, "you know all this?  How did you find out?"
    23  The young man stared at the floor. "Because I'm a Hood," he answered, "I was sent here by my master to spy on you, but as you say, your Lords have touched my heart. I can no longer look upon your decency and laugh.  I can no longer take a woman without her consent, and not feel ashamed. 
    24  I used to think I was a man among men, but I now know I am nothing but the dirt of the earth. I have a pretty good idea where the exact location of the meeting will be. I am not supposed to know, but there is a rich merchant in Northern who has an estate just outside the city."
    25  He drew a piece of parchment from his pocket and tossed it to Bright Sword. "That's the exact location," he explained, "we will be leaving in two days. Have a lookout posted at the turn-off going towards this area. If I stop to tie my bootlace then the meeting is not where I have said, and you will have to risk following me to find out where it is.
    26  Be ready at midday the first day of the celebration.  I will try to get the main gate open for you. If I fail, you will have to scale the walls."
    27  The young man rose, and without another word, departed.  No one attempted to detain him. Bright Sword rose.  "Two days," she cried, "two days!  That gives us no damn time. We can't contact any of the other cities.  Maybe we can get some help along the way, but that will be difficult without raising suspicions. And, can we trust him?  He might be leading us into a death trap, an ambush."
    28  "He's not lying," answered Gray Deer. "He knows what will happen if he's caught. We must do it ourselves, though now is a bad time for me to be out of the city.  We must go it alone,  How many men can you gather?"
    29  "Now, wait a minute!" argued Bright Sword, "YOU'RE NOT GOING!"
    30  "Do you deny my right?" asked Gray Deer.
    31  "No, Lord, of course not!" Bright Sword answered. "I think only of your safety. You are too important to us."
    32  "It does not matter," insisted Gray Deer.  "I must go. I cannot be left behind."
    33  Bright Sword still objected, but her words fell on ears that could not hear. Two days later two groups of travelers left The Southern City for Northern. Gray Deer, nearly three-hundred of his people, and a group of Hoods, each was headed for the same destination, but for very different reasons.  But all pretended to be pilgrims heading for The Northern City, and the great Celebration at The Temple.
    34  Along the way at Eastern, and every village on the road, they quietly gathered more people.  So as not to attract suspicion their column was stretched out for miles, but messengers slipped back and forth keeping each little group advised of any news.
    35  Near The Northern City, a man who had left a day before them sat by the road marker.  The young man passed without stopping.  The messenger hurried off when the way was clear to tell his friends.
    36  As the travelers came up the road, an ox cart selling road cakes with a sign on it reading 'Bold Fox's Best' pointed the way.  It was a prearranged signal that this was the turn off.
    37  They made their way to a small patch of woods.  The map the young man had made for them was very good.  On the other side of the wood was a large estate.  A wall a-man-and-a-half high surrounded it.  It's gate was heavy.  The young man was right. If the gate was not opened, it would be over the wall.
    38  They had brought ladders, but Gray Deer hoped they would not have to use them.  If they had to climb the wall, it would slow their progress, and the enemy would have time to rally his forces before they could reach the house in great numbers.
    39  Gray Deer climbed a tree, though it was dangerous. He needed a look at the house. The sketches they had been given were good, the plan of attack they had worked out looked promising.
    40  The house had two balconies, the one on the front had two stairways. The one in the back had none.