"And are you sure you're supposed to be outside?"
"We were supposed to stay on the top floor," Tel said. "But him," he pointed to his ragged Highness, "he got restless, and we started telling him about the tricks, and so we went up to the roof, and Alter said she could get us down."
"Can you get them back up?" Jon asked.
"Sure," said Alter, "all we do is climb ..."
Jon held up his hand. "Wait a minute," he said. "We'll go inside and talk to the man in charge. Don't worry. No one'll be mad."
"You mean talk to Geryn?" said Alter.
"I guess that's what his name is."
They started back out of the alley. "Tell me," Jon said, "just what sort of person is Geryn?"
"He's a strange old man. He talks to himself all the time," said Alter. "But he's smart."
Talks to himself, Jon reflected, and nodded. When they reached the door of the inn, Jon pulled his cape off and stepped into the light. A few people at the bar turned around, and when they saw the children, they looked askance at one another.