she had no such knowledge of this steadholder bernard or of the folk of the valley by all accounts , they were a tough and independently minded folk , but she knew nothing about their reliability or lack of it she had to talk to this bernard if he had indeed seen a marat horde-master and been wounded by one of the great hunting birds of the outland plains , then she had to know it , secure his support ( and hopefully some new clothes with it ) , and act she frowned but she could expect the opposition to be moving as well fidelias had lead her into a trap she had escaped by the smallest of margins she had been pursued for several hours and escaped the knights aeris sent after her through skill and good fortune did she suppose that fidelias would not continue the pursuit ?