His brother nodded. “Plenty of talk about one to come,” he said. “We keep hearing of that lashkar that we can't locate, under a mullah whose name seems to change with the day of the week. And there are everlasting tales about the 'Heart of the Hills.”'
“No explanation of 'em?” Athelstan asked him.
“None! Not a thing!”
“D'you know of Yasmini?”
“Heard of her of course,” said his brother.
“Has she come up the Pass?”
His brother laughed. “No, neither she nor a coach and four.”
“I have heard the contrary,” said Athelstan.
“Heard what, exactly?”
“She's up the Pass ahead of me.”