Swan thought. No one had entered or left the camp, but Mather had a point. If they wanted to remain unnoticed theyd better move on. Youre right. Lets go. Blade, you were down here before. Know how to cross that creek somewhere thats not too far out of the way?

Blade nodded. In those desperate days before the Black Company picked up the reins hed led guerrillas behind the Shadowmasters main forces.

Lead on. Smoke, old buddy, I wish I could get a peek inside your head. I never seen anybody so ready to drizzle down his leg.

The wizard said nothing.

Blade found a game ford three miles east of the south road, led the way through woods narrower than Swan expected. When they reached the southern side, Blade said, Roads two miles that way.

I figured. The sky was dark with buzzards. Thats where well find our dead men.

That was the place.

The air was still. The stench hung like a poisonous miasma. Neither Swan nor Mather had a stomach strong enough to let them take a close look. Blade, though, seemed to have no sense of smell.

He returned. Swan said, You look green around the gills.

Not much but bones left. Been a while. Two hundred, three hundred men. Hard to tell now. Animals been at them. One thing. No heads.

Eh?

No heads. Somebody cut them off.

Smoke moaned, then chucked his breakfast. His mount shied.

No heads? Swan asked. I dont get it.

Mather said, Ive got an idea. Come on. He rode south, toward where crows circled, dipped, and squabbled.

They found the heads.

Blade asked, Want to get a count? He chuckled.

No. Lets drop in on our friends.

Smoke made protesting noises.

Cordy asked, You still hot to trot with your proud beauty?

Swan couldnt think of a flip answer. Maybe Im starting to see Smokes viewpoint. Dont let me get on her bad side.

Blade said, Only a mile to their camp straight up the road.

Swan snorted. Well go around, thank you.

After they crossed the game ford, Mather suggested, Suppose we go up the road a ways and come down like we dont know nothing about back there? See what they say if they think we just rode in.

Stop whining, Smoke, Swan said. Go with it. You got no choice. Youre right, Cordy. Itll give us a clue if shes going to play games.

They rode north till they were behind a rise, turned west to the road, then turned south. They were almost back to the crest when Mather, in the lead, yelled, Yo! Lookout!

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen