We crossed the creek into the wood, walking our mounts behind Sindhu, who had scouted till he knew every leaf and twig of the surrounding terrain. He led us along a meandering game trail which paralleled the creek going westward. I wondered what had become of the game. We hadnt seen anything bigger than a squirrel. A few native deer might have eased the food problem, though neither Gunni nor Shadar touch meat.

It was a long walk. My companions grumbled and bickered.

The watching presence centered on a grove on a knoll whence it would be possible to observe events in our camp. Id lapsed. Id been thinking too far ahead. If Id had the sense of a goose Id have had a squad posted there. The outlying pickets were too scattered to spot everything moving in the area, even if people werent sneaking around. Fugitives slipped through all the time. They left their traces.

I had a good idea what Id find on that knoll. Somebody from up north whod heard rumors and had gotten worried that I might be trouble. I meant to be a lot, for the Shadowmasters and anybody who got between us.

We crossed the creek a few miles downstream, out of sight of the knoll, moved back to the east, and discovered that there was no way to approach the grove unseen the last third of a mile. I told the men, All we can do is ride straight at it. Lets do it without getting in a hurry. Maybe they wont run till were so close they cant get away.

I didnt know if they could control themselves. The excitement had them again. They were pumped up, scared and eager.

Lets go.

Wed covered half the open ground when the watchers flushed like quail. Shadar, somebody noted.

Yes. Mounted Shadar, in uniform, cavalry equipped. Jahamaraj Jahs men! I snapped.

The men cursed. Even those who were Shadar.

Jah was the leading Shadar priest in Taglios. Croakers doing. Jahs concession to his debt hadnt lasted through the fighting at Dejagore. He and his cavalry had abandoned the field while the outcome was in question. Most of the men had seen them run, or had heard. Id been pushing the idea that the battle wouldve been ours had Jah stood his ground.

It could be true. Jah had contributed nothing when a feathers weight might have tilted the balance.

I thought hed run because hed suffered an opportunistic flash. Hed intuited that the battle would go poorly and had decided to beat everybody home. Hed play a strong hand there because hed be the only man with a military force-however inept-to back him up.

He deserved some special thought now.

I didnt have to order a chase. There were five Shadar. Their flight was proof they were blackhearts. The men rode with blood in their eyes. Unfortunately, the Shadar were better riders.