The other suitors were finished speaking. They had left the balcony, while the crowd below was thinning out and going home. The two men slipped through some bushes to follow an empty path back to the castle. Kevin stopped to take some of the heavier parcels from Winslow. When he turned back an old woman was standing in the middle of the path.

“Beware, Timberline,” she said. “Beware of the man in black.”

Kevin sighed. “Oh great, a soothsayer.” He shifted his parcels. “That’s all we need right now.”

They could barely see her in the darkness. It was the rasp in her voice that gave the impression of great age, a whispery sound like coarse sandpaper on soft wood. She wore a dark cloak with a hood, and her features were hidden in shadow, but when she held up a crooked finger, the moonlight gleamed off bone white skin. “Beware, Prince Kevin of Rassendas,” she repeated. “Beware…”

“Of the man in black. I got it the first time,” said the Prince. “Sorry, but I’ve never been impressed with seers and soothsayers. Save your sooth for another sucker. I don’t believe anyone can predict the future.”

“I knew you were going to say that. Beware the man…”

“Yes, yes. You all give the same vague, useless warnings that could mean anything. ‘Repent, for the End is Nigh. Beware the Ides of March. Watch out for the Man in Black.’ Now what good is that? There are men wearing black clothes everywhere. Why can’t soothsayers ever be specific?”

“About six-foot-two, fourteen stone,” said the old woman promptly. The words were not loud, but they were clear and definite. “Brown eyes, dark hair parted on the left, small mustache and pointed beard. Likes his tea with lemon biscuits. Two lumps, no milk.”

Kevin wasn’t expecting a reply like this. “That could still describe a lot of people.”

“Slightly chipped upper left canine tooth. Small tattoo of a spider on the back of the right hand.”

“Um, that’s still…”

“Third button of his waistcoat will be missing.”

“Okay, okay, I get the picture.” Kevin moved closer. Now he could see the woman was bent and hunched over. “And just when exactly is this mysterious encounter supposed to take place? I don’t suppose you could…”

“Five days from now,” said the old woman.