“Not if they manage to get the best of you. I’m sure it will be a learning experience.”

“There were reasons why I—”

“Excuses?”

“Reasons,” he repeated as he started the car. “And the last I heard, you were talking about going down and exploring that canyon passage near Jubaldar with Margaret. Why are you here now?”

“I’m waiting on a return of the call I placed last night, and I changed my plans. I decided I’d rather go with you. Samlir will be more convenient for me.” She smiled. “I promise I won’t be bored, and I won’t get in the way of your negotiations with the Berbers.”

He was silent. “What call?”

“Just a little negotiation of my own. I’ll tell you about it if I manage to pull it off.”

“Alisa.”

“That’s all you’ll get from me.” She looked away from him. “How long will it take for us to rendezvous with that helicopter?”

“Almost an hour, and then another forty-five minutes to get to Samlir.”

“Not exactly a convenient distance if we need them to help launch an attack on Jubaldar.”

“That’s the second time you’ve used the word ‘convenient.’” He shook his head. “Forget convenience. Nothing is convenient in these mountains. That’s why Masenak built his castle here. He’s as safe as it’s possible for him to be considering what a murdering asshole he is. There are ways to get around it, but it’s damn hard.” He scowled. “And your director isn’t making it any easier. But all I can do right now is make sure that Samlir is on our side and cooperative.”

“From what you told me about the council, that isn’t going to be simple, either.”

He shrugged. “We’ll see. The council members are basically politicians, and it’s been my experience that you can stop them in their tracks by appealing directly to the people they represent. I’ve been working on it. I’ll know when I get there and talk to Cazvar.”

“Cazvar?” Then she recognized the name. “The trader whom Gilroy first got to bring him to Samlir? What’s he got to do with anything?”

“It had better be plenty. When I knew Gilroy was going to be going to Jubaldar, I drafted Cazvar to act for me at Samlir. So far, he seems to be working out. He’s the quintessential wheeler-dealer, very money hungry, but he knows these people and how to reach them.”

“That sounds as if you’re planning an uprising.”

He smiled. “Only a minor one. And I promise everyone will be happy with it except the council members.”

*  *  *

Alisa began to understand what he meant when their helicopter started its descent on the edge of Samlir Village. There was a crowd of people looking up and smiling and pointing. “A welcoming committee?” she asked Cal Harris, their pilot. “Are they always this enthusiastic?”