Narayan broke up the earth. Sindhu used a tin pan to scoop it onto a carpet hed turned face down, careful not to scatter any. I had no idea what they intended. They were too intent on what they were doing to explain. A litany of sorts, in cant, passed between them. I heard something about auspices and the promise of the crows, more about the Daughter of Night and those people-or whatever they were.

All I could do was keep watch.

Time passed. I had a tense few minutes when the guard changed outside. But those men had little to say to one another. The new men didnt check inside the tent.

I heard a meaty whack and muted crunch, turned to see what they were doing now.

Theyd gotten a hole dug. It was barely three feet deep and not that far across. I couldnt guess what they meant to do with it.

They showed me.

Narayan used the hammer face of his tool to break Jahs bones. Just as Ram had been doing with a rock that morning in that draw. He whispered, Its been a long time but I still have the touch.

Its amazing how small a bundle a big man makes once you pulverize his joints and fold him up.

They cut open Jahs belly and deposited him in the hole. Narayans final stroke buried the pick in the corpses skull. He cleaned the tool, then they filled the hole around the remains, tamping the earth as they went. Half an hour later you couldnt tell where theyd dug.

They put the carpets back, bundled up the excess dirt, looked at me for the first time since theyd begun.

They were surprised to find me impassive. They wanted me to be outraged or disgusted. Or something. Anything that betrayed a feminine weakness.

Ive seen men mutilated before.

Narayan nodded. Maybe he was pleased. Hard to tell. We still have to get out.

The firelight outside betrayed the positions of the guards. They were where they were supposed to be. If my spell worked a second time wed only need a little luck to get out unseen.

Narayan and Sindhu scattered dirt as we walked toward our camp. Good rumel work, Mistress, Narayan said. And something more, in cant, to Sindhu, who agreed reluctantly.

I asked, Why did you bury him? No one will know what happened to him. I wanted him to become an object lesson.

Leaving him lie would have told everyone who was responsible. Innuendo is more frightening than fact. Better youre guilty in rumor.

Maybe. Why did you break him up and cut him open?