Though he moved no closer, the man remained a threat, his tone harsh and aggressive. But the more he spoke, the more Damen could understand him even if he could not understand or explain his presence here.

He raised a single hand then, palm out, placation and surrender both.

'I'm sorry, I do not know this Dutch,' he explained. 'I was in a Vaskian village last night. I went to sleep in a tent with--' Here he cut himself off, not wishing to reveal too much. 'I will not ask you to believe me as I'm having some difficulty believing any of this myself. Can you tell me where I am?'