'I think-'
'Uberwald,' said Granny. 'That'll be it.'
'What? How can you know that?'
'Because nowhere in the village'd be safe, she wouldn't go up to the gnarly ground on a night like this and with a baby to carry as well, and heading down on to the plains'd be downright daft 'cos there's no cover and I wouldn't be surprised if the road is washed out by now.'
'But that'll be right into danger!'
'More dangerous than here?' said Granny. 'They know about vampires in Uberwald. They're used to 'em. There's safe places. Pretty strong inns all along the coach road, for a start. Nanny's practical. She'll think of that, I'm betting.' She winced, and added, 'But they'll end up in the vampires' castle.'
'Oh, surely not!'
'I can feel it in my blood,' said Granny. 'That's the trouble with Gytha Ogg. Far too practical.' She paused. 'You mentioned guards?'
'They've locked themselves in the keep, mistress,' said a voice in the doorway. It was Shawn Ogg, with the rest of the mob behind him. He advanced awkwardly, one hand held in front of him.
'That's a blessing, then,' said Granny.
'But we can't get in, mistress,' said Shawn.
'So? Can they get out?'
'Well... no, not really. But the armoury's in there. All our weaponsl And they're boozing!'
'What's that you're holding?'.
Shawn looked down. 'It's the Lancrastian Army Knife,' he said. 'Er... I left my sword in the armoury, too.'
'Has it got a tool for extracting soldiers from castles?'
'Er... no.'
Granny peered closer. 'What's the curly thing?' she said.
'Oh, that's the Adjustable Device for Winning Ontological Arguments,' said Shawn. 'The King asked for it.'
'Works, does it?'
'Er... if you twiddle it properly.'
'And this?'
'That's the Tool for Extracting the Essential Truth from a Given Statement,' said Shawn.
'Verence asked for that one too, did he?'
'Yes, Granny.'
'Useful to a soldier, is it?' said Oats. He glanced at Granny. She'd changed as soon as the others had entered. Before, she'd been bowed and tired. Now she was standing tall and haughty, supported by a scaffolding of pride.
'Oh, yes, sir, 'cos of when the other side are yelling, "We're gonna cut yer tonk- yer tongue off,"' Shawn blushed and corrected himself, 'and things like that...'
'Yes?'
'Well, you can tell if they're going to be right,' said Shawn.
'I need a horse,' said Granny.