Sir Gwaine passes the courtyard and enters the lower town. In front of the tavern he stops and looks arround. Everything is alright, the slave traders left the city. He enters the tavern and asks the host: "These slave traders today, what can you tell me about them?" The host fills a tankard with met: "They had their meals here until you and Merlin came in. One of them left the tavern together with you both. The other men finished their meals. After they left the tavern, they soon left the city." Sir Gwaine drinks. As he finished: "Thanks. What about Merlin? Did you see him?" The host shakes his head: "Not after leaving the tavern together with you." He refills the tankard: "But wait, I'll call our boy." Sir Gwaine drinks while he waits.
As the host and the boy arrive, Sir Gwaine asks: "You have watered the horses of that slave traders today, haven't you?" The boy nods. Sir Gwaine adds: "Tell me, when did they left the city?" The boy answers unsure: "I hold the reins of their horses and watered them. Suddenly you, Merlin and the driver came out of the tavern. You left and Merlin bandaged the wounds of that men inside that cage. Nearly at the same time as the other men left the tavern, Merlin finished his work. I handed them their reins back and returned into the tavern. I remember Merlin told them, that he did it. Some minutes later I watched them through the window. They left the city."
Sir Gwaine looks straight into the boys face: "And Merlin?" The boy answers: "I haven't seen him anymore." Sir Gwaine smiles: "Thank you." and hands him a coin. The boy leaves the room. The host brings another jug filled with met: "What is it?" Sir Gwaine shakes his head: "Everything is alright. Merlin is missing. For a moment I thought that this slave trades could have catched him, but the boy would have told me, when he had seen Merlin in that cage while the wagon left the city." He grins: "Maybe Merlin needed some time off?" He looks at the host and his jug: "Why don't you refill my tankard? We don't want to warm up that tasty met inside that jug."