Yeah, that's weird. Doesn't rule out that they're demons, but it's less likely. The patrol wizard's snowy owl familiar flies wearily over to get a look at them.

Two men, the older one lanky with a bow and quiver, the younger broad-shouldered with leather bracers, and a youngish teenager with a nice satchel, all dressed for desert heat and not evidently dying of frostbite and hypothermia, occasionally grumbling at each other but mostly just stumping exhaustedly through the snow.  Does the owl have any unusual senses?  Does the owl speak Osiriani?

The owl does not have any unusual senses and can't speak any languages, because it is an owl, not a raven. It observes them and circles back, flying slow enough that they can follow where it's headed.

The man with the bow notices first, nudges his companions and calls out something- there's a brief irritated-sounding exchange in the language the owl doesn't speak before the little party notices the distant patrol and picks up the pace to follow.  As much as they can, anyway; despite not freezing they're clearly unused to moving through snow, and worn out besides.

The imposing edifice of #11 isn't far off anymore and it comes into view. Oddly, it's not flying any flags at the moment.

The little party confers briefly as they crest the rise and spot it, most of the affect being relief if the owl is still keeping an eye on them.  Finding it easier going once they reach the patrol's tramped-down path, the larger man waves and calls in thickly accented Common Taldane, "Hallooo!  This is who fort?  We are very lost, thank you!"

"Chelish fort!" calls back one of the fighters from the patrol.

Some wariness but mainly shrugs: apparently Chelish Fort is less than ideal but far better than endless snowstorm.  Trudge trudge after the patrol towards the possibility of Indoors.

There's an area by the front door with enough shelter from the wind to be marginally less miserable to stand in, but then they have to stand there and wait till someone can be by with Detect spells. They can wait with the patrollers while a guy up on the wall watches them.

The teenager slumps against the wall; the fighter glowers out at the snow; the presumably-ranger checks on a small bundle in the front of his shirt and if the guy on the wall is at the right angle, he can spot a tawny cat's ears before he covers her back up and wraps an arm around her.  He seems to be doing somewhat better than the others, and tries out some similarly rusty Taldane.  "Very happy to find you.  We packed only for a day journey, did not know how far north we land.  Last of our food we ate yesterday, except the camel."  He winces slightly at this. 

"There's food inside. But we weren't expecting you so you need Detecting even more than the regular patrol. You see any demons on your way here?"

He nods, unsurprised by the caution.  "No, your bird is the first we see three days."

"Camel is six hours north," adds the larger man.  "If most dead camel you think worth walk back, all yours."

"Four hours, shorter days."

This gets an eyeroll.  "Since dawn walk.  Whatever."

"It's probably not even on short rations, but good to know."

Here comes the commander in his coat, suited for the weather.

He's got an Iomedaean holy symbol dangling out in front of the buttons.

The ranger blinks at the sword-and-sun and nudges the teenage- wizard?, who's been huddled into the lee of the wall, eyes closed, and the larger man steps forward, evidently the spokesman for the group.  "Hello.  Thank you find us.  I am Tariq, this is Omar," the ranger, "Khalid," the wizard.  "We are very lost."  He's glowering at the situation in general, but doesn't seem to be glowering at the commander in particular any more than anything else.

"Yes. This is Fort #11 at the Worldwound's northern border. I'm Commander Artigas. Do you expect that any of you are strong enough to be detectably aligned?"

He shrugs.  "No-", pauses to confer with the ranger briefly in Osiriani, "not likely.  Soon maybe?"  They certainly don't have any visible gear good enough to suggest it, even accounting for being in entirely the wrong climate.  

He nods. He Detects Magic, first, that's an orison.

A faint evocation aura on the bow and another faint aura on the satchel- no, two, one abjuration and one conjuration.

"What's the magic on the bag?"

"Scroll for remove magic, wand for cure wound.  Half used."

All right, that showing all the expected results he'll cast his Detect Chaos for the day.

Nobody here pings.

"Admit them," he tells his men, and the doors open.

"Thank you."  They follow the patrol in, having a hissed Osiriani conversation in which he can probably catch "Iomedae?"  Once the doors close behind them (the wizard jumps), the ranger undoes the bundle and lets a half-grown sand-colored cat out to ride on his shoulder, where she starts grooming a paw with a decided air of definitely having been huddling in a spare pair of pants because she chose to not because she had to.  

Does the entryway of the fort have any obvious places to sit down, or are they being shepherded in a particular direction?

There is a bench they can sit on. There's a couple of soldiers in the entryway. "Prestidigitator on duty is that way to get you dried off and cleaned up," point, "mess hall is that way but we are not on full rations so you aren't either. Channels are at noon and sunset in the mess. Commander Artigas'll want to hear from your party leader or whoever's best at Taldane when you're ready."

"Thank you", again, and some more muttered conversation, including 'Iomedae' a couple more times and something that might be 'High Inquisitor' if anyone recognizes the title.  "Khalid know prestidigitate, once we rest, but channel is likely good, thank you, we walk much.  We have some camel also, we share.  Commander speak alone?"

"Uh, probably?"

A couple of meaningful looks are exchanged, and the ranger nods.  "I speak best Taldane.  Tariq and Khalid wait in mess hall?  Is it commander who channel at noon?"

"Yeah. He tried to get a Gozrehn to stick around but her party left, it's just him."

This does not really answer any of Omar's questions but okay.  It's nearly noon already, they can shuffle off to the mess and wait to meet the commander there after he channels?  And most importantly they can SIT DOWN.  (Or Omar can wait here but it's probably pretty obvious the party would prefer to stick together.)

At noon, there he is, standing on a specific table; people crowd in around him and when they settle down he channels.

The stray adventurers squeeze into the edge of the radius and- yup, that's a positive channel all right, there go all the miscellaneous aches and strains from keeping up a punishingly hard pace through snow for three days with a minimum of rest, and Tariq's wrenched elbow from where he landed wrong- whatever else is going on here this guy is definitely a real priest of Someone.

The other two go back to the table they were sitting at, Khalid slumping back onto Tariq's shoulder and continuing to halfheartedly clear the snow off their boots, and Omar hangs around for the commander to be available, scratching behind Noor's ears and trying not to look nervous. 

And then the commander steps off the table, accepts a bowl of Worldwound stew from one of his men, and makes his way to the lost adventurers. "My office is upstairs."

Whatever the Worldwound stew consists of, it is not cold raw camel and therefore it is the most delicious thing in the world.  Omar will collect a bowlful for himself and Noor before he follows.  (Tariq has the remains of the haunch in his pack and will seek out whoever seems to be in charge of the kitchen once they've eaten.)

"You have questions, or I should tell from the beginning?

Worldwound stew is rice and beef and sometimes, if you're lucky, dried tomatoes or cheap zucchini or potatoes or something. They are not lucky at this time. It's rice and beef.

"Go ahead from the beginning," says Commander Artigas.

It is hot rice and beef and it is glorious.

"We are from Sothis, in Osirion, work normally as-" he struggles for a word, comes up with an archaic one, "skiptracers?  Follow man who flees and bring him.  Other things also, but this pays best because with a wizard we go further into desert, most wizard parties think this is not worth it, so since Khalid join we do mostly these. 

Three days ago we follow man, he is- very afraid, he run into tomb ruins.  We follow-" a twist of his expression probably means he's eliding an intraparty argument that he lost, "we do not see trap, it send us to snow.  We think, we go south, maybe Worldwound, maybe Tian Xia, probably freeze, still better than stay put and certain freeze."

"That's quite a trap. You can accompany patrols around the edge of the Wound and progress to Kenabres that way but I don't know your prospects for affording passage back to Osirion from there. Teleports are scarcer than they normally are at least on this front, I don't know how much you get of Avistani news there."

He nods.  "Khalid think it is old trap, not meant do that, not sure what it did meant.  Think we maybe lucky it was not worse.  In Kenabres they speak Taldane, yes?  We likely make boat money, not teleport money, but most places enough work for willing swords to make boat money.  Slower, but we none have family waiting."

Noor delicately fishes bite-size pieces of beef out of his bowl as he talks; he pushes a few over to the edge so she doesn't put her whole paw in.

"We hear- a lot of things.  Cheliax has revolution, no Galt conquers Cheliax, no Lastwall does, no the High Inquisitor's party does, war is over, Aroden has returned, Nefreti Clepati has closed the Worldwound, no it was the archmages with the High Inquisitor, no it is still open, no it goes other place now... but mostly we hear war in Cheliax.  We did not think to find Chelish fort still up, still patrolling.  ...Even more, I did not think to find Iomedae has Chelish forts now?"

"They have Taldane there but also Hallit. It was insofar as my information is correct the Inquisitor's party in both cases. Iomedae has me specifically, not the fort entire. Chelish forts continue operational but in most cases with fewer clerics even than this one. Asmodeus dropped all of his clerics not too long ago. You'll be able to sell that wand for considerably more than it'd be worth in a city if you care to."

"All His clerics...?"  Omar looks badly disconcerted.  "If they..."  but whatever foundation just shook, he apparently doesn't have the Taldane to discuss it, and after a moment takes a breath and returns to practical matters.  "Good tip for the wand, thank you- we will talk this, dangerous to go without but if it buys us teleport, maybe worth it."

"It might, I'm not sure. Not too many people have the necessary knack with wands if they can't cast their own Cures. It'll be dearer at a neighboring fort than this one. Would you like to be assigned to the next patrol going clockwise?"

"I sp- will speak with Tariq but I think yes.  Or, it leaves how early?  If we have one or two nights to rest, this is better."

"You can rest here a night or two in the guest quarters, yes. Patrols go out frequently, you can catch one when you're ready."

"Thank you, yes.  More questions?"  Noor has eaten her fill and climbs back onto his shoulder to look around at the office; he starts finishing up the rice and remaining beef.

"What are your abilities? It's usually quiet here but if you're taking Worldwound hospitality I need to know how to deploy you should Worldwound events occur."

"I have my grandfather's bow, and very good at follow- track?  In desert, I have not try this in snow before now.  In desert also Noor helps me scout," he rubs the back of her neck affectionately, "but she is young cat still and does not like snow in her paws.  Tariq is good brawler, I think grapple demons is bad idea?  But he can fight sword also- needs loan sword if this, though, it is in Sothis still.  Khalid is second circle, mostly useful spells, less fighting spells- because Endure Elements we are alive, Comprehend Languages, some illusions, some I do not know the Taldane."

"Endure Elements is very valuable, on the men and the horses, and will be most of what I would ask of you. It is generally a bad idea to grapple demons. I can source a loaner sword; you do not have to return it to this fort in particular but must leave it at some Chelish fort unless you buy it, that kind of equipment slosh is accounted for in the budget. Archers and wizards are usefully posted on the battlements. How rigid is Khalid's sleep schedule? Does he have a familiar?"

"I will tell Tariq of loan sword, hope it will not need."  He makes a bit of a face (to Chelish eyes, possibly a lot of a face); it's never pleasant to split the party but especially when you're sending your friend into worse danger. 

"No familiar yet.  Rigid is... stiff, firm?"  The question is clear enough from context anyway, even if he's completely off.  "Khalid sleeps best in dark and no footprints, does not need precise before dawn?"

"Well, there's plenty of dark to be had at this time of year. If you have no further questions I'll have Caldentey show you to quarters and get you on the schedule."

He has so many questions but this man's god is clearly his private business- no, some of them are relevant.  "Other forts as we go, they are... also still up, still patrolling?  War in Cheliax is not war here?"

"Other forts are still up and patrolling, though at reduced rations and spotty timings. When Asmodeus dropped His people there was a bit of a scramble to turn wizards into Nethysians and pursers into Abadarans and soldiers into Gorumites, and to encourage adventuring clerics to stay, with limited success but enough that in conjunction with the Wound closing no forts have fallen outright. I believe I'm the only Chelish person to be collected by Iomedae. The war in Cheliax affected the Wound substantially, but only indirectly."

"That... works?"  He extremely does not have the Taldane for this, adventurer bars are not heavy on theoretical theology and he's feeling the lack right now.  "...we should fetch more camel before we go?  Not worth it to you but if next fort is more hungry, maybe worth it to them?"

"I can't spare men to accompany you but you can make the excursion for the rest of the camel if you choose."

He nods again.  "We will talk this.  I have no more questions, thank you."

The commander hands them over to Caldentey, who shows them to guest quarters and where the schedule is posted.

Tariq and Khalid are where he left them, glad to see he's unmurdered, and they can all read Taldane numbers no matter how thick their accents are, and then they can go do No Things for a bit until whatever they're next needed for on the schedule.

...Khalid has four Endure Elements that they're not going to need today if they're staying indoors, is there a patrol going out that could use them?

Always. They can save wand charges that way. These patrollers please and thank you.

Then Khalid can go do that while the other two- okay, they can have yet another brief muttered argument in Osiriani, and then Khalid having apparently won it can go cast Endures and meet the other two back at the guest quarters.

Any of these patrollers especially perceptive?  Or Caldentey for that matter?

Not strikingly so, nah.

Then it's down to their base rate expectations and the whims of fate whether they notice anything odd about the slight foreign wizard (and perhaps how much they know about Osirion).

Endure Elements.  Endure Elements.  Endure Elements.  Stumble and recover.  Endure Elements. 

And out goes the protected patrol.

And up to the guest quarters goes a tired wizard to FLOP.

If the adventurers hide in their guest room (they're all in the same one, so they can warm it up for each other) they will remain largely undisturbed, but if they come out - for water, or dinner, or a fire, or company - they will get attention from this guy! "Hello - which of you is the party wizard?"

"It is I," in an even thicker accent than the other two (one of whom is snoring loudly behind the door).  Said wizard is also shivering violently, a blanket wrapped tight around thin shoulders, having apparently learned the hard way why you Prestidigitate yourself all the way dry before Endure Elements wears off.  "I, um, I seek the k-kitchen?  Or any other fire which is at h-hand."

"This way. I'm First Arcane Grec, and you're..."

"Khalid," through chattering teeth.  "F-first Arcane, this is a title of wizardry, is it not?  Or solely of c-command?"

"It means I'm in charge of wizardry for this fort. I wanted to ask if you wanted to trade spells, we don't get a whole lot of foreigners this far north."

"Oh yes!"  Some things can usually be relied on, however differently they manifest, and a young wizard's hunger for new knowledge is one of them.  "I have but little ink remaining- attend a m-moment-"  Cold briefly forgotten, the youth dashes back to the guest room and returns with the satchel slung awkwardly over the blanket.

Grec attends a moment patiently enough. He's got his spellbook already.

Khalid catches the door just before it slams and eases it closed a bit more quietly.  "There.  Which w-way?"  Another bout of shivers.  "And may we t-trade nearer the fire?"

"This way. Did Caldentey not get you three proper coats?"

"Oh."  Somewhat sheepish wizard.  "He may have done so, I confess I did not think to look when I returned, nor I did not wish when I woke to make too great a light and wake the others."

"You, check with Caldentey if he got the adventurers coats, and if he didn't see that it's corrected," Grec tells a passing soldier, who salutes and runs off.

Sheepish wizard is even more sheepish!

And they can get set up near the fire - a couple people move out of Grec's way - and sit down with their spellbooks. "How are Osirians about Infernal Healing, that's one you might not have..."

"Ooh, no- how does that work?  Unless I know it by a different name, I had not heard of such a thing."

"Gives people fast healing. Works on undead, if you have friendly ones, on top of being an arcane healing spell at first circle. You need devil's blood or unholy water, but even since going Iomedaean the commander's said we're allowed to summon devils for it if we run out - don't ask me how he squares that."

"First circle arcane healing?  It works on undead and mortals?  Infernal priests do not channel positive energy, though?"  Khalid starts flipping pages.  "I dearly wish to see that but mine are mainly common, at least in Sothis- hm, do you have Secluded Grimoire?  Not as useful as what you could instead prepare but such efficient planar transport..."

"I have that one, too bad."

"Hmmm... Flaming Sphere?  If you have another first-circle one to make change?"  The shivers have  stopped enough now to handle a cantrip without dropping it more often than not, and Khalid starts drying their things off again.

...yeah, that's definitely a girl in drag.  Older than she looked at first glance, if you parse the delicate features and soprano voice as a woman's rather than a beardless boy's, maybe seventeen or eighteen.

Well, sometimes wizards are girls. Maybe Khalid is a girl's name. Maybe that's how Osirian girls dress, or she's in extra layers that belong to her party members to handle the cold. Grec doesn't care. "I don't have Flaming Sphere - is it good for swarms?"

"Yes, quite good, at least if the swarm is small enough or fears fire.  It's not unlike Fireball - I can't cast Fireball yet but I've seen it - except much smaller, only a quarter the size, but it lingers for a few moments and you direct it about if you can keep the link up."

"I would quite love to have that one. Not for here, really, probably won't singe a vescavor."

"Oh, be forewarned it doesn't fly- it can hop about ten yards straight up, but no higher, and it must roll on the ground to go sidewise, not in the air.  At least so far as I can do, anyway, it's possible there's a variant with finer control, or it takes practice."

She flips back to the earlier pages.  "What is a vescavor?  Apart from a swarming demon.  Alarm, Feather Fall, Sleep...  have you anything good for range, I got Bull's for Tariq because Omar had an heirloom bow already..."

"Toothy, bite straight through armor and rock if they're of a mind to, glow a bit green. I have those... have you got Abundant Ammunition, it comes up here a lot. Bed of Iron. Longshot."

"I've none of those, I think Abundant Ammunition will be most useful, and I don't yet have any really good physical conjurations besides.  Bed of Iron is the one for sleeping in armor only, yes, it would not have helped with rocks or snow?"

"Yeah, armor only."

"Flaming Sphere for Infernal Healing and Abundant Ammunition, then?  And... perhaps we could speak of other ways to trade later?"

"I'm not giving you two spells for one when the one won't even work on vescavors."

She wrinkles her nose and mutters something annoyed in Osiriani.  "Well, have you anything interesting at second circle, then?  Unless you're missing Unseen Servant or Silent Image, those are my last first-circle spells.  Aside from Endure Elements and Comprehend Languages which I expect you must have."  

"I actually don't have Comprehend Languages. It doesn't come up much, everyone knows Taldane."

"Oh- well, then would you accept that for Infernal Healing?  Or..."  She squints thoughtfully at him.  "I'd trade Flaming Sphere for Infernal Healing and the ink to scribe it, if your stores could spare it?  Considering that your fort saved our lives."

"We haven't gotten a supply run with anything less essential than food and ammo in a while, I'm using my personal ink supply."

"Much as I want Infernal Healing I don't actually need it, not enough to swap for my best second-circle.  Maybe somebody else along the way will lack Feather Fall."  She flips back to the loose folded leaf of charcoaled notes marking the beginning of her second-circle spells.  "Do you know Rope Trick?  I almost bought it last time I could afford a new spell... not that it would have been any more use to the poor camel, I suppose."

"Don't you? If you're taking the long way around that's a lot of forts without clerics you'll be going through. I have Rope Trick."

"They'll still have wizards, though, will they not?  People say Chelish wizard schools are the best in the world."  Some people said that, anyway, despite it usually provoking an immediate argument and occasionally a brawl when they said it in adventurers' taverns.  "Rope Trick for Flaming Sphere?"

"Wizards stretched a lot thinner on the Endures. This is how they have you trying to trade in Abadarland, first circles for seconds or for extra ink or for twice as many spells?"

She opens her mouth, closes it again, stares confused at him for a moment.  "Did I not-  Flaming Sphere is second circle.  I fear I must apologize for my poor Taldane."

"- oh, well then I'll trade you Rope Trick for it."

She gives him a small relieved smile, flips her spellbook to the right page and slides it over into the light for him to copy from.  "For your question... Abadar teaches that the true price of something is solely what someone will knowingly pay for it."  There's a rote quality of recited catechism to it even through her accent, not the enthusiasm of a zealot spotting a potential convert. 

"Were I desperate enough and without other prospects, I should have traded you my second circle for your first, and not accounted myself cheated thereby."  Her smile twists a bit.  "Or, a truly proper Abadaran wouldn't begrudge you it.  I am a fallible mortal and make no promises."

He pages to Rope Trick and turns his spellbook around for her to see. "The commander loves Abadarans, I think his best friend's the insurance adjuster who comes round once a year, but I don't really get it."

She rummages in her satchel for charcoal and another leaf of scrap paper, and starts sketching.  "I could quote you scripture if you wish, my father was very devout, but- I suppose people find it more meaningful when they can see Abadar's hand at work improving their circumstances.  I've been fortunate compared to some, but... gains from trade have not been an unmixed blessing.  If I had to pick only One I would incline more towards Nethys."

"That's how I've been leaning too these days, though He's not tapped me with anything useful for it yet."

"That's part of what I like about Him, really, He doesn't- make bargains with you, or the church doesn't imply bargains?  He's just- there, it doesn't matter to Him how you live your life."

"That's appealing?"

Eyeroll.  "To one who was raised to be a very proper Abadaran and- didn't?  Very appealing."  She seems about to ask something, then thinks better of it.  Sketch sketch.  "...this here, this is the planar interface?"

"That part and also this part, I don't keep it all together."

"Ohhh...."  She frowns at the page, tilts her head, sets down the charcoal to move her hands through the air over it, 'visualizing' how a spell would come together on that scaffold.  "Oh, I see now- and then when you hang it-" and she can happily chatter away with shop talk which this margin is too underspecified to contain until both their spells are copied, someone interrupts them, or Grec changes the subject back to something that isn't magical theory.

Why would he do that.

It's truly an inexplicable desire but her party never wants to hear about topology, she's very glad to have found someone more sensible. 

Other fort wizards drift over eventually to see if they can get in on this. Some of them are women.

Khalida has, actually, met other female wizards before: her first teacher was a laundry-wizard's widow, carrying on the trade for those families both wealthy enough to pay extra for a woman to come do the small household magics and insecure enough for the conspicuously strict seclusion to be worth it in expectation.  There's two she's seen visit the little branch temple of Nethys nearest their usual tavern, although they won't speak to her.  It's not the kind of neighborhood that gets foreign adventuring parties but she met a Galtan refugee couple once, both of them wizards, stretching their coin with the cheapest available lodgings before making their way upriver.  And of course everyone has heard of Nefreti Clepati, who's an exception to everything.

She has never, on the other hand, seen this many in the same place at once.

She can continue talking magical theory with the larger group at first, with scarcely a pause, and if any of them want to trade spells she can write out a list of the ones she's willing to swap, carefully organized by circle so she doesn't embarrass herself again.  But soon the group gets bigger and multiple people are talking at the same time and the women wizards (!!!) are prettier than her and she forgets to pay attention to her vowels and her accent goes from thick to incomprehensible and she doesn't realize until someone is staring at her and they probably all think she's a weird stupid hick-

Every word of Taldane flees her head in an instant.

Khalida covers her mouth with a hand, then both hands, and suddenly (and for the first time in years) wishes she had a veil to hide behind. 

(She's pathetically easy to read.)

"What," says the woman wizard who's staring at her, "all I asked was if you wanted Shield Companion? It doesn't look like you've got a familiar but some of them hide."

Headshake.  Still with both hands over her mouth, still looking like a started rabbit.

"No-  no familiar."

"Dangit, that's my only weird one."

"I apologize."

Deep breath, then another.  Put the sentence together before starting it, one word at a time.

"I think, I perhaps am not still recovered fully from, our journey."  

(No, godsalldammit that's the wrong order, fucking Taldane adverbs-)

"Well, get out of her way," says Grec, when this fails to immediately clear a path for her.

"Thank you.  I hope we may speak again tomorrow?"  The textbook phrases fall together easily enough; she gives a grateful smile to Grec and a smaller apologetic one to the cool older prettier wizard she maybe just offended, collects her notes and her spellbook and flees.

The little party doesn't emerge again until dinnertime, now all in suitable loaner coats (Khalid's is a little big on her, but she's turned the sleeves up).  They stick together as they collect their bowls of stew and find a table; Khalid is still a bit subdued, and Tariq slings an arm around her shoulders and glares indiscriminately in a manner more possessive than protective.  Omar is watchful but not visibly worried, letting Noor sit on the table and again making sure she gets her fill of meat before he eats any.

The commander arrives and does his channel for the frostbitten and training-accidented and generally weary people who flock around him and then drifts past their table. "How are you finding your stay so far?"

"Good!"  Tariq booms.  "Is very good, not dead snow.  We thank you food."

"And we appreciate the Endures. Do you have an updated estimate of how long you will be staying?"

Tariq raises an eyebrow at Omar, who confirms something, and there ensues a spirited not-quite argument in Osiriani, from which fact it can be inferred that no, they do not.

"Well, you're welcome as long as you require the hospitality of the fort and as long as I don't need to further cut personnel."

"My spells may be put to the fort's best defense as long as we remain here," Khalid speaks up unexpectedly, in archaic but perfectly grammatical Taldane (albeit with an accent thick enough to cut with a table knife), ignoring Tariq's attempt to shush her.  "I have met First Arcane Grec and found him very hospitalit- hospitable."

"My best officer," nods Artigas.