Emmaline concealed a smile at Otto's irritation behind a gloved hand. By nature she was not an early riser but Otto had asked her to come  Albrecht had insisted that she accompany him. The previous evening Otto had finally given 'Pendergast' a letter to draw on his account in order to prepare the supplies he would need to set up his foundry. By the middle of the day ALbrecht would have produced a series of fake contracts to cover the fact that he had pocketed the money. So long as Otto wasn't in town to ask around, there was no chance the scam would be discovered. By this evening Emmaline hoped to be on a boat back to Altdorf, hoping to get her share before Albrecht could blow it all gambling and whoring. After some consideration she had opted not tell Albrect about Neil's scheme. It wasn't the sort of job on which he was likely to do anything other than take an unreasonable share of any profit. Besides it served him right for making her come on this stupid early morning wagon ride.

The pair of wagons rolled through the south gate and onto the paved road which lead south to the low hills in the distance. There was little competion on the roads. It was months yet till harvest and what few wagons they encountered were bringing firewood and forage into town. Merchants carting good from Nuln to the outlying hamlets usually left before dawn so that they could avoid paying the gate tolls.

"Have you given any more thought too my offer Frauline Vissenbach?" Otto asked, giving Neil, who had climbed up onto their wagon rather than the one he had been directed to, an irritated look.

"I'm afraid that my father will need to approve of any match dearest," she said mournfully, "but I'm sure when your mine is producing silver he won't object!" The words sounded breathless with excitement at the prospect of marriage to so suitable a man as Otto Von Banstuf. Truthfully, she doubted the real Von Vissenbach's would have anything to do with Otto and his family even if they did strike it rich. They were after all parvenu by the standards of the great families of the Capital. Otto clasped her hand and returned his eyes to the treeline as the road began to rise into the hills. Emmaline caught Neil's eye and, moved by mischief, gave him a very improper wink.