Ive been on my own before, Mather. And I hadnt been happy a moment. But happiness is a fleeting creature. Its no birthright. Not anything I expect but something I accept when I stumble into it. Meantime, power will do nicely. And Jah has liabilities. Hes vulnerable. I have a thousand men over there. Every one will tell you Jah ran out on us at Dejagore. We wouldve won if it wasnt for him.

Swan surprised me. We watched the battle. We saw. So did a lot of men whove come in. Even some of Jahs own men admit it.

A liability, Mather said. But its not going to undo him.

Ghopal reminded me that three Shadar had escaped. True. And they would fly straight to their master, who was sure to make a move. But I doubted hed do it right away. He was a vacillator. Hed worry a while before committing himself.

Back to camp. Swan. Come. Ghopal. Bring the prisoners. I rode ahead as hard as the stallion could carry me.

Sound the alarm and the recall, I told the soldiers at the north gate. Narayan! Ram!

They came running. Narayan gasped, What is it, Mistress?

Were pulling out. Right now. Forced march. Get the men ready. Let the horses carry most of the load. Make sure each man carries food. We wont stop for meals. Move.

They scooted.

It was midafternoon. Ghoja was forty miles away, a ten-hour jaunt if everyone kept the pace. If the night wasnt too dark. It shouldnt be if the sky stayed clear. Thered be a quarter moon rising an hour after sunset. Not a lot of light, but maybe enough.

The horns that wed taken from the Shadowmasters cavalry kept sounding recall. The pickets came running. The gang Id left up the road arrived. Swan and Mather were impressed by the chaos.

Mather said, Youve taught well. I think so.

Whatre you fixing to do? Swan asked.

Take charge at Ghoja before Jah can react.

He groaned.

You have a problem with that?

Only that we just got finished riding down here. Forty more miles and I wont have a spine left.

So walk. Sindhu! Come here. I took the wide man aside, gave him instructions. He left smiling, gathered two dozen men with strong stomachs, mostly his cronies, and crossed the creek. I sent another man to round up the poles we used for practice pikes and spears.

Swan asked, You mind if we get something to eat?

Help yourself. Then find me. I want to talk to you.

Idiot. He gave me a big, nervous smile. I didnt need to be a mind-reader to get what was going on in the back of his head.

The troops got it together faster than I expected. They had the word. Ghoja. Straight through.