Jicks’ little talk with the innkeeper had only produced the result that they got extra bread and butter, and there was now more vegetables and shreds of meat than broth in their soup. Evidently the mayor’s parsimony weighed heavier in the scales than Jicks’s “persuasion.” But none of the Masters had time to comment on this minor change because Stev got right to the point of what was going on and what was going to happen as a result as soon as they all sat down.

“There are four Karsite agents, one of them a Mage-priest who can invoke their demons, posing as the Valdemaran delegation,” he said bluntly. “We know this now. We know that while they haven’t hurt or killed anyone yet, given that they don’t care if they do, it’s only a matter of time before they will. And when that happens, the moment we set foot in that town, there will be a mob looking for our blood. By the time the mob is appeased, one or more of us is going to be hurt or dead, It’s too dangerous for you to be here now.” Stev paused. “And another thing. As soon as they find out you’re fixing what they destroyed, they’ll come for you themselves. You need to go back home.”

They all looked up at him, blank-faced as they digested this. Abi half expected objections, but they didn’t make any; evidently they took what Stev said seriously. They looked at each other, then at Abi and Stev, then back to each other. Master Vance spoke first. “I don’t like to leave a job half done,” he said reluctantly.

“You’ll like it even less leaving it in a coffin,” Jicks said dryly.

Master Vance blanched. But Padrick and Beyrn nodded, as if this was what they had expected to hear. “Can we go straight north to the Border from here?” Beyrn asked anxiously.

Jicks shook her head. “Too much rough ground for the wagons. Retracing your steps is the only way. You’ll have the caravan and one wagon and you can’t take those across country or on the little tracks you’d need to take. But you’ll go back faster because you won’t be stopping to solve problems.”

“And we’re used to riding all day, so that will speed things up as well,” Vance mused, and then realized what she’d said. “Wait. One wagon? Are we leaving one here?”

“No, we’re taking it, Abi, Jicks, and I,” said Stev. “We need to hunt these men down and eliminate them before they destroy Valdemar’s reputation.”

“Abi? I absolutely forbid—” Vance began.