Sandreena noticed that a small tower, barely two stories tall, had been erected near the base of the trail. Had they continued down earlier in the day, they no doubt would have been spotted by any sentry on duty. Sandreena used hand gestures, barely visible, to inform Jaliel they were going to circle even farther away from the trail.

The gulley down which they crept emptied out in a basin a hundred yards across, before running into a dry riverbed that moved around the base of the hills. A fairly large river must have flowed through here in ages past, though Sandreena found it hard to imagine this land lush with ample enough rain to fill a brook, let alone a river. Yet the evidence of erosion was under her feet, and currently hiding her from view as she and her companion crawled up the southern edge of the basin, to get a closer look at what was being fashioned in this once abandoned place.

Both Knights were battle tested and ready for any trouble, but both knew this was a reconnaissance, not elective combat. Something this massive, in a place this removed from any civilized authority, could only be the work of forces inimical to those authorities, and that made it a matter of concern for the Temple as well. And the stench of demon was so strong here Sandreena knew these were urgent concerns.

She rose up and studied the walls. Lights had been erected, large flaming braziers hung from chains attached to tripods evenly spaced along the battlement, for that was what this place was—a fortress. But one unlike any Sandreena had ever encountered or heard of.

“What is this place?” whispered Jaliel.

“No place good,” answered Sandreena. “We need to split up. I want you to go that way.” She pointed toward the southernmost end of the basin and moved her hand to indicate he should make his way along a line that paralleled the walls. The entire structure appeared to be circular, though she would need to get closer in better light to be certain. The curve of the wall before her suggested it, a massive circle of stone with a gigantic gate in the middle, with towers being erected.

She gripped him by the arm and whispered, “Go until midnight, then return here. If I’m not here, make your way to the top as best you can. If Farson has left for Durban, make your way to the Oasis at La-amat-atal, and wait for a caravan to get you safely to civilization. If you get there before he leaves, tell him what you see, and go with him to Krondor.”

“Yes, Sergeant,” he replied. “You?”

“I’m going to circle in the other direction, and I’m going to do my damnedest to be at the top of the trail before Farson leaves with my horse.”

He chuckled and said, “Goddess be with you, sister.”

“And with you, my brother,” she replied.