It was too late to fight.

Where are you now? he thought, and it was the first time in his life he'd issued anything like a prayer, to anything like the Sleeping Gods.

He dismounted, drew his pitiful knife and darted behind the cairn. At least if he hid he might be able to surprise one of them.

Where are you now, if you really want me to find you?

“Ramus?” a voice shouted.

Lulah!

“Ramus, nothing to fear.”

Still holding the knife, he stepped from behind the rock. The three horses were thirty steps away, and he could already make out Lulah on the lead beast. The other two bore Konrad and Ramin, the big man's face split into a grin, rainwater dripping from his teeth like the blood of the sky.

“Ramus,” Konrad said, his voice quiet yet carrying through the storm. “Put the knife away or you'll prick yourself.”

THEY FOUND AN overhang on one side of the cairn, and it sheltered them from the weather. Until the four of them were seated and a fire was lit, the subject of why Ramin and Konrad were here was successfully avoided.

“Ceyrat tea,” Ramin said. “That's what we all need right now.” While he brewed it, Ramus tried to catch Lulah's attention. But she was not looking at him. She stared at her feet, a worried frown creasing her features.

“Nomi sent you,” Ramus said.

“Of course,” Konrad said.

“Or maybe we decided to come and join you?” Ramin said, but Ramus saw that he was joking. A cruel joke, perhaps.

“No,” Ramus said. “She sent you. And as she's killed me already, I assume it was not for that.”

“We're not mercenaries,” Konrad said. He stared at Ramus as if challenging him to disagree.

“Then you came for the pages,” Lulah said. “Nomi sent you to track us and take those parchment pages from Ramus.”

Konrad smiled tightly and nodded.

Nobody spoke. Ramin continued brewing the tea, and soon the sweet smell filled the air. The rain fell in a torrent from the overhang, loud and unremitting. When the tea was ready they presented their cups and Ramin poured, careful not to spill a drop. They each sipped, and Ramus felt its immediate effect chase tiredness from his muscles and sharpen his eyes.

“You can't have them,” he said, and the atmosphere changed instantly.

“After brewing you such a nice drink, I think you'd at least consider our place in this,” Ramin said.

“You have no place. You're Nomi's soldiers, and she's sent you after me for something she cannot have.”

“Are you a soldier, Ramus?” Konrad asked.

“You know I'm not. But you also know I was ready to fight you three when I thought you were marauders.”

“We're not here to fight you,” Ramin said. “Either of you.” He glanced at Lulah but she was still looking at her boots.