“Aye.” Dry lips withdrew from teeth. “Did you see the ravens?”

“Ravens?” Tanaros glanced about with alarm. The rookery was sparsely populated, but that was not unusual. It was more seldom than not that he espied his tufted friend. “Is it Fetch? Has something happened to him?”

“No.” The half-breed rested his head against a beech bole. “Your feathered friend is safe, for the nonce. He keeps watch, with others, on Haomane’s Allies as they make ready to depart for Pelmar. But something has happened.”

Tanaros seated himself opposite the Dreamspinner, frowning. “What is it?”

“I don’t know.” Ushahin grimaced, raising crooked fingers to his temples. “Therein lies the problem, cousin. All I can do is put a name to it.”

“And the name?” A chill tickled Tanaros’ spine.

“Malthus.”

One word; no more, and no less. They gazed at one another, knowing as did few on Urulat what it betokened. Malthus the Counselor was Haomane’s weapon, and where he went, ill followed for those who opposed him.

“How so?” Tanaros asked softly.

Ushahin gave his hunch-shouldered shrug. “If I knew, cousin, I would tell you, and his Lordship, too. All I know is that Malthus’ Company entered the Unknown Desert. Some days past, they emerged. And they brought someone—and something—with them.”

“Bound for Darkhaven?”

“No.” Ushahin shook his head. “They went east That’s what worries me.”

“Toward Pelmar?” Tanaros relaxed. “Then Malthus himself has bought our gambit, and there is no cause for fear—”

“Not Pelmar.” The half-breed tilted his head, the dim, patterned shadow of beech leaves marking his misshapen face. “Malthus’ Company is bound for Vedasia.”

There was a pause, then.

“Send your ravens,” Tanaros suggested.

Ushahin spared him a contemptuous glance. “I did. Three I sent, and three are dead, strung by their feet from an Arduan saddlebag. And now, the circle has closed tight around Malthus’ Company, and there is no mind open to me. I cannot find them. I do not like it. Who and what did Malthus bring out of the Unknown Desert?”

Both of them thought, without saying it, of the Prophecy.

“Does his Lordship know?” Tanaros asked.

Dabbling his fingers in the beech mast, Ushahin frowned. “What he fears, he does not name. And yet I think some part of it is unknown to him, for the desert was much changed by Haomane’s Wrath.”

“It doesn’t matter, does it?” Sitting on the soft ground, Tanaros squared his shoulders. “We’ve already thwarted the first part. The daughter of Elterrion’s line is in our keeping, and the son—” his voice grew hard, “—the son of Altorus’ line is bound for Pelmar at the head of a doomed army.” Crooked lips smiled without humor. “Then why is Malthus bound for Vedasia?”