“What about the sentries, Ward?” asked Tosten. “I’m not worried about the guardsmen, but I don’t like having a wizard scurrying about.”

“I don’t like it, either,” I agreed. “But what are our chances of taking him out first without alerting the camp?”

“Not good,” answered Axiel. “He’s too close to the camp. Even the sound of his body dropping is likely to wake someone.”

“Our first goal is to get the Bane,” I said. “That almost certainly means confronting Jakoven. Remember he’s a wizard, and the only safe wizard is a dead one. Oreg or I, whichever one of us gets through with his target first, will have to go after the mage on sentry duty. The rest of you remember that sentry mage and keep to the shadows until the guards come out. Hopefully they’ll serve to keep the mage from attacking you for fear of hitting them.”

“I can take the mage, before we move on the camp,” said Oreg thoughtfully. “I’ve been used as an assassin before.”

I shook my head. “No.”

He snorted and appealed to Tisala. “It’s really the ‘used’ he objects to. If I’d just told him I knew how to kill quietly, he’d have let me do it.”

“No,” I said again, though, indeed, he was right. But there was a better reason. “If Axiel says it can’t be done, I’ll not risk it. We need surprise on our side.”

“So we leave the wizard and hope he doesn’t kill one of us before you and Oreg get to him,” said my brother.

I nodded. “I don’t see any way around it.”

So we crept through the mire and underbrush. I silently blessed the dampness that quieted the leaves that littered the ground at the same time as I cursed it for soaking up through leather and cloth. I lost sight of everyone except Tosten as we burrowed separately around the foliage that surrounded Jakoven’s camp.

One of the sentries walked out of the shadows not a hand’s span from Tosten’s outstretched hand. My brother and I froze, breathless, waiting for the man to look down and see Tosten lying on his belly in the mud. Eventually, the sentry continued on his way.

My aunt usually posted sentinels rather than roving guards. She said it was too easy to be seen when you walk, and harder to see an enemy’s movement. The only reason to have roving sentries, she claimed, is when the troops are all tired and walking is necessary to stay awake.

Tosten and I continued on our way after exchanging quick, relieved grins. I lost sight of Tosten shortly before I emerged, mud and leaf covered, into the clearing where Jakoven’s camp was set.