“No way.” His voice was adamant. “Not again. I’m going to be at Jubaldar. I was trapped by my own technology at that base camp. No one else could do it.” He nodded at Novak. “But Novak’s experienced with drones and these aren’t anything innovative. He’ll be able to set them up and launch after I give him the figures.”

“Lucky me,” Novak said wryly. “So, I’m to make an armed camp of Samlir, maintain a crew on standby ready to launch, and be your techno specialist. Not exactly what I’m accustomed to be doing.”

“I imagine we’ll be able to add to those duties…if you prove acceptable.”

“Bastard.” But Novak was grinning. “You’re damn right we will. I’m going to be putting my career on the line manipulating Lakewood, and I’d better come out of this looking like no one else would have been able to do it.”

“You will,” Alisa said.

“And how much time do I have to do it?”

“Not long,” Korgan said. “I want to target the attack on Jubaldar for three days from today.” He counted it off on his fingers. “Today and tomorrow the guests will be flooding into the castle, the next day is the race, and the following day Reardon is scheduled to go home. If we want Reardon, the last possible day I can launch an attack is right before he gets on that helicopter and waves goodbye to Jubaldar.”

“Three days is going to be damn close. Reardon is absolutely necessary?”

“Absolutely,” Korgan said flatly. “He could be more of a war criminal than Masenak.”

Novak shrugged. “Then we’ll get it done. I’ll manage somehow.”

“You always do,” Alisa said. “Now do you want to come in for that cup of tea I promised you and relax?”

He shook his head. “Too tame for me right now. I’m charged. I want to take a look around the village and see what I need to do with it. Then I want Korgan to introduce me to Cazvar and let him know he’s under my orders from now on. After that, I should be back on my helicopter and heading back to Maldara to gather personnel and equipment to bring back here.”

“Is that all?” Alisa asked ironically.

“It has to be. Because all my time on the helicopter is going to be spent talking to Lakewood. It’s going to take that long to persuade him that this is all his own idea, that I’m not trying to upstage him, and there’s no way he would even consider using Walt Edwards.” He lifted his hand. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Thanks, Novak,” she called after him.

“Like I said, it’s worth doing.” He was striding quickly away. “I’ll meet you back at the council house, Korgan.”

“Right.” He turned back to Alisa. “Good man. Extraordinary. But he could be difficult.”