“I’ve never regretted making sure I had a quick way out,” Tavi said. “Centurion.”

“Sir,” Schultz said.

Tavi nodded to the legionares on duty at the gate to the First Aleran’s camp as they passed through. “I want you to speak to your Tribune. Let him know that I want the Battlecrows for detached duty. That’s all he needs to know.”

“Sir,” Schultz acknowledged.

“Pack them up for a mounted march and take them up to the engineering cohort’s position. It’s on a beach north of Antillus. Secure the engineers and keep an eye out for any suspicious Canim. If they’re going to make trouble for us, it will be at the staging area, so I want your men on station before nightfall.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, sir,” Schultz said seriously. He saluted and turned to start walking. “On my way.”

“Max, take the cavalry with him. Keep one wing ready to respond to an attack at all times. Don’t be subtle about it, either. I want anyone who thinks about interfering with the engineers to know what they’re in for if they try it.”

Max nodded. “Got it. What are we guarding again?”

“You’ll figure it out,” Tavi said. “Crassus, I know they aren’t going to like it, but I need the Knights to pretend they’re engineers again. The next couple of days are going to be difficult. Go with Max and Schultz and report to the senior engineering staff.”

Crassus sighed. “At least it won’t be more ice ships.”

Tavi glanced over his shoulder and smiled. “Not... exactly, no.”

Max and Crassus traded a look.

“Does he know how annoying that is?” Max asked.

“Oh, absolutely,” Crassus said.

“You think we should say anything about it?”

“The burden of command is heavy,” Crassus said soberly. “We should probably let him have his sick fun.”

Max nodded. “Especially since he’s going to do it anyway.”

“He is the mighty First Lord,” Crassus said. “We are but lowly legionares. We obey without question.”

“We do?”

“That was a question. You’re questioning.”

“Right,” Max said. “Sorry.”

“Just get up there, both of you,” Tavi said. “The vord will be here in force in two days. We need to be on the move by then. I need you to help make it happen.”

The brothers rapped fists to breastplates and marched off, continuing to bicker lightly with one another as they walked.

Kitai watched them for a moment and smiled. “They have become friends. I like that.”

“They’re brothers,” Tavi said.

She looked at him, green eyes serious. “It is not the same for everyone. Blood draws some together. Their blood came between them.”

Tavi nodded. “They weren’t always this way, no.”

Kitai smiled faintly. “They are your friends as well. They went when you asked them to go.”