I want to know. Put out a picket line a quarter mile into the wood. Twenty good men. Theyre not to interfere with scouts coming north but theyre to ambush them headed back. They wouldnt be expecting trouble going away. Use men who arent good for anything else to raise an embankment along the creek. Drive stakes into its face. Sharpen them. Find vines. Sink them in the water. Theres no room to maneuver on the south bank. Theyll have to come straight at us, hard. Once youve got that started, come back. Best get everybody busy and distract them from their fears. I snapped, Narayan, wait! Find out if any of the men can handle horses.

Other than my mounts there were just a half dozen animals with the band, all strays wed captured. Id had to teach Ram to care for mine. Riding amongst Taglians was restricted to high-caste Gunni and rich Shadar. Bullock and buffalo were the native work animals.

It was the tenth hour when Narayan returned. In the interim I prowled. I was pleased. I saw no panic, no outright terror, just a healthy ration of fear tempered by the certainty that chances of surviving were better here than on the run. They feared my displeasure more than they feared an enemy not yet seen. Perfect.

I made a suggestion about the angle of the stakes on the face or the embankment, then went to talk with Narayan.

I told him, Well scout their camp now.

Just us? His grin was forced.

You and me.

Yes, Mistress. Though Id feel more comfortable if Sindhu accompanied us.

Can he move quietly? I couldnt picture that bulk sneaking anywhere.

Like a mouse, Mistress.

Get him. Dont waste time. Well need all the darkness weve got.

Narayan gave me an odd look, took off.

We left a password, crossed the creek. Narayan and Sindhu stole through the woods as though to stealth born. Quieter than mice. They took our pickets by surprise. Those had seen nothing of the enemy.

Awfully sure of themselves, Sindhu grumbled, the first Id heard him volunteer an opinion.

Maybe theyre plain stupid. The Shadowmasters soldiers hadnt impressed me with anything but their numbers.

We spied their campfires before I expected them.

Theyd camped among the trees. I hadnt foreseen that possibility. Damned inconsiderate of them.

Narayan touched my arm diffidently. Mouth to ear, he breathed, Sentries. Wait here. He stole forward like a ghost, returned like one. Two of them. Sound asleep. Walk carefully.

So we just strolled in to where I could see what I wanted. I studied the layout for several minutes. Satisfied, I said, Lets go.

One of the sentries had wakened. He started up as Sindhu drifted past, firelight glistening off his broad, naked back.

Narayans hand darted to his waist. His arm whipped, his wrist snapped, a serpent of black cloth looped around the sentrys neck. Narayan strangled him so efficiently his companion didnt waken.