997: Moreau is unfit to travel the next morning. Mariam convinces him to let her put him to sleep, at least for a few hours. He is able to get a little rest before they break camp. Matthew and Laughing Bear check around the camp for signs of the headless creature, but although they see many mule tracks, they find only one claw print nearby. The party reaches the west bank of the Thunder River around noon. After building a signal fire, they wait about two hours before the Finch, a large riverboat, drops anchor in the middle of the river. Mariam and Matthew cross over to bargain with Eckard and Sienna, the master and mistress, for passage south to Eaglereach. The bargain is struck at 12 silver pence, and the party and its five mounts are brought aboard. They are introduced to the only other passenger, the dwarf Dairn, a carpenter who is also on his way to Eaglereach. He has with him a crate of mysterious "pets", which make odd scrabbling noises. Dairn has been working up north making siege engines for Landsrue Town, among other places, and Alain asks him for news. Rumor has it that Eaglereach is now importing as much iron as it can get, although no one knows why. In Kesh, Lord Krinth has been turning away mercenaries, and a small earthquake was felt on the day the party emerged from the Wyrm. Laughing Bear asks Dairn to make him a new atlatl, which he agrees to do "to pass the time". Matthew is propositioned by the crewwoman Bretel, and meets her on deck that night.