You dont let the serpent strike if you know where he lies in wait. You destroy him.

A simplistic solution with a certain appeal. It could have a big impact if we took him out where he seemed least vulnerable. And at the moment I didnt feel patient enough to spin out a long game. Agreed. But with finesse. Do we have good enough friends over there to let us sneak into camp?

Close enough, Narayan admitted. Thered be a question of timing. So the friends would be on duty.

Set it up. What about other enemies? Jah is just the most obvious because hes right here. Therell be more in the north.

Itll be handled, Narayan promised. When there are men and time. We have too much work and too few hands.

Right. But I felt good about my prospects. No one else was doing as much or pushing as hard. I asked, Can we get any closer to the Radisha and her pet wizard? Smoke? Are Swan and Mather devoted allies of the Radishas?

Devoted? Blade said. No. But theyve given their word, more or less. They wont turn unless the Woman turns on them first.

Something to consider. Maybe they could be misdirected, though that would work against me if they found me out.

Offered places in my camp and safety from reprisals, two hundred of Jahamaraj Jahs men defected. Another fifty just deserted and disappeared. Several hundred of the other fugitives enlisted the same day the Shadar came over. I got the impression the Radisha wasnt pleased.

Nearly a hundred Gunni women walked into fire the same day. I heard my name cursed from that side of the river.

I went over and spoke to a few women. We had no basis for communication.

Smoke was at the fortress gate when I recrossed the ford. He smirked as I passed. I wondered how much the Radisha would miss him.

There are times when you wonder about the self hidden from yourself. I certainly did as Narayan, Sindhu, and I stole toward the Shadar cavalry camp.

I was excited. I was eager. I was drawn as a moth to flame. I told myself I was doing this because I had to, not because I wanted it. It wasnt a pleasure. Jahs malice had called this down upon him.

Narayans friends had confirmed that Jah planned to grab the Radisha and me and make it look like Id carried her off. How he figured he could get to me I dont know. I guessed his plan included me murdering the Radisha-thus eliminating her brothers spine-then being a good girl who committed suttee. With assistance.

So I was moving first, earlier than Id wanted.

Narayan exchanged whispered passwords with a friendly sentry who turned blind as we stole past. The camp beyond was a pesthole. Ordinarily Shadar set great store by cleanliness. Morale was abysmal.