Not her, Sindhu said. Kina sleeps. The Daughter is bound in flesh. Sindhus association with the Deceivers was an open secret. But he was not much help. Usually it was like this. He would say one thing, then contradict himself.

Swan said, Im not going to try to figure that out, buddy. Somebody fits the description went in and tore them new buttholes down there. Kina or not-Kina, I dont care. Somebody wanted people to think Kina. Right?

Sindhu nodded.

So who was that with her? That fit anywhere?

Sindhu shook his head. This confuses me.

Mather hoisted himself to a seat in the window. Swan shuddered. Cordy had a forty-foot drop behind him. He said, Be quiet. Let me think.

Swan echoed, Quiet. Let him. Cordy was a genius when he took the trouble.

They waited. Swan paced. Blade studied the map. He let no time waste. Sindhu remained impassive and still, yet seemed shaken.

Mather said, Theres another force in the field.

Say what? Swan chirped.

Only way it adds up, Willow. The Shadowmasters are out to get each other but they wouldnt go that far. Helps us too much. Our side doesnt have anybody who could pull off the sorcery angle. So somebody else did it.

What the hell for?

To confuse things?

They did that. Why?

I couldnt guess.

Then who?

I dont know. Just like everyone else wont know, and will be chasing their tails trying to figure it out.

Was Blade listening? Didnt seem like it. He asked, How bad were the Shadowlanders hurt?

Huh?

Shadowspinners armies. How bad off are they?

Bad enough they cant take a crack at Dejagore again till they get replacements. But not so bad our guys have a crack at breaking out.

Just enough interference to keep the balance, then.

Our guys got cut up bad, way the prisoners talked. As many as half of them killed. Meaning the Shadowmasters men really got mauled.

But they could still send out patrols for you to catch?

Shadowspinner is scared well move on him. He doesnt want any more surprises.

Blade paced. He returned to the map, tapped out the garrisons and posts he had established as much as a hundred fifty miles south. He paced. He asked Mather, Is it true? Or is it something they want us to believe? Bait for a trap?

Swan said, The prisoners believed it.

Blade said, Sindhu, why havent we heard from Hakim? Why did this news reach us this way?

I dont know.

Find out. Go talk to your friends right now. If this is true we should have known before their patrol got here with the prisoners.

Sindhu departed, disturbed.

Swan said, Now you got rid of him, whats on your mind?