“They’re staying,” Hati told him. “Aigyan and Menditak have sworn water peace forever. They’ve merged the camps.” Hati waved a gesture forward. “Aigyan’s up there, leading. He insists on that.” And back. “Menditak is just behind the Ila’s company, next behind her men, running the camp. The servants are behind him. So are the priests, and they don’t get past the tribes unless Menditak says they do.”

A lasting peace. Access to each other’s wells, fiercely defended for generations. The Ila all but imprisoned in the camp and effectively deprived of her priests. He was gone one day and two, and the rules of march all changed.

“What did the Ila say about it? What did Memnanan say?”

“The captain took the offer for the Ila’s sake. What was he going to do? I told him the Ila shouldn’t give the tribes any orders, that they’re too valuable to offend, if you were down, and I warned the captain they won’t talk to her, so not to expect it. But they have talked to the captain, all the same, and he’s talked to his men, and we’re guarded on every side. They don’t intend to see any more shots fired into this camp. They want you and me and Norit in tribal colors. Less of a target.”

“A damned good idea,” he said. The tribal presence more than thickened the head of the column and made sniping into it more difficult. The union of Haga and Keran carried an unprecedented force of tribal will, as well. If the tribes were upset about what Tain had done, and if the Haga and the Keran now ruled the Ila’s camp, then the Ila’s camp became a tribal camp—if Tain violated that, there was a price on his head, on the part of every tribesman.

Tribal unity—and around the Ila.

And around him, and Hati, and Norit… Norit, who added in the villages, and, he saw, also in dark-striped cloth.

“It’s not been easy,” he said to Hati, grateful for her levelheadedness.

“No,” Hati said. “It’s been hell. Don’t leave me like that. Don’t ever leave me like that.”

“I won’t,” he said. “I was crazy. I was crazy for a few days, and you weren’t. I wouldn’t even listen to Luz. But I’m sane now. And won’t ever be crazy again. I promise you that.”

“I hold you to it.” They were within the witness of all Tofi’s workers, packing the baggage. Her hand stayed steady, holding his arm, while she had the rein of her besha with the other, but her voice was a soft touch, a gentle forgiveness. “Let Tain ride up and down out there where the vermin are. Let him take his chances being eaten alive. We all need you. I need you. And the Ila won’t get you either.”