Swan and Mather had their own scouts out, farther south. Swan said, Word we have is the Shadowlanders really did get whipped bad. Our guys got past their pickets and checked their camp. Theres only two-thirds as many of them as there should be. Half of those are dinged up. That character Mogaba keeps hitting them with sorties, too. They never get to relax.

Are they watching us? Do they know were coming?

Mather said, You have to assume they do. Shadowspinner is a sorcerer. They dont call him a Shadowmaster for nothing. And theres the bats. Croaker thought they controlled the bats. There have been plenty of those around lately.

Then we should be very careful. How many effectives can they field if they decide to meet us?

Listen to this guy, Cordy, Swan said. Hes starting to sound like a pro. Effectives. My, oh my. Shes going to turn him into a real ass-kicking warlord.

Blade chuckled.

Too many of them if you ask me, Swan continued. If they sneak them away without Mogaba noticing they probably could put eight or ten thousand veterans in our way.

With the Shadowmaster?

Mather said, I doubt he would leave. That would be an invitation to disaster.

Then the thing to do is advance cautiously, scout thoroughly, try to know as much about them as they know about us. Right?

Mather chuckled. Thats what the book would say. We have one factor in our favor. Their scouts dont move during daylight. And the days are long now.

Blade grunted thoughtfully.

Blade halted thirty miles north of Dejagore. Scouts brought word that Shadowspinner had moved troops into the hills ahead, at night, when the citys defenders could not see them go. The men who had stayed behind were making a show of preparing another assault.

Where are they? Blade asked. The scouts could not tell him. Somewhere along the road as it snaked through the hills. Waiting. Only four thousand, apparently, but that was enough against this mob.

You going to mess with them? Swan asked. Or just hang around and keep some of them off Mogaba?

That would make sense, Mather suggested. Keep some tied up while Mogaba does the fighting. If we could get a message to him...

Ive tried, Blade said. Theres no way. They have the city sealed up. Sitting down there in the middle of that bowl like that...

Well? Swan asked. What do we do?

Blade assembled his cavalry officers. He sent them to find the enemy. When they encountered no immediate resistance he moved his army ten miles southward and camped. Next morning, as soon as the bats went away, he formed line of battle but did nothing else. His scouts worked the hills carefully. He repeated that the next day and the day following. Late that afternoon a rider came in from the north. His news put a smile on Blades face. He did not tell Swan or Mather immediately.