Their eyes met, and Auraya suddenly understood that Dyara’s toughness was not absolute. She was cold, but not uncaring. The death of Tireel had distressed her greatly.

Stepping away, Auraya drew a deep breath and sent herself into the sky.

37

Tryss woke to find his face pressed against the membrane of his portable bower. Muffled voices penetrated the thin walls. He rolled away and felt the pressure of a warm body behind him.

“Hmph, you woke up,” Drilli observed as he turned over. “I was expecting to have to shake you. You came back so late last night.”

He smiled, moved closer and rested a hand on her bare waist. “I’ll always wake up early when you’re next to me.”

She caught his hand as he began to slide it up toward her breast. He pouted, and she laughed. “It’s not that early,” she told him. “I’m surprised Sirri hasn’t come to see why we haven’t packed up yet.” She kissed him then pulled away. Sitting up, she grimaced and rubbed her belly.

“Still feeling sick?” he asked.

“A little,” she admitted. “It’s just the food. Too much meat and bread. Not enough fruit and vegetables.” She looked around the bower. It was barely big enough for them to sit up in. But her attention was on the sounds beyond the walls.

“Something has stirred everyone up.”

He listened to the muffled voices. From one side came an exclamation of dismay. Somewhere close to the front of the tent two Siyee were having a rapid discussion. He couldn’t quite make out the words.

“Let’s get dressed and find out.”

She was already reaching for her clothes. They quickly shrugged into their vests and wriggled into trousers, then strapped on harnesses and weapons. Drilli finished first, but she waited until Tryss was ready before crawling out of the bower.

Siyee had gathered into groups. From their expressions Tryss guessed that something serious had happened. Some looked frightened, others angry.

“Tryss, Drilli,” a familiar voice called.

He turned to see Sirri step out of a group and start toward him. Drilli hurried toward her, Tryss a step behind.

“What’s happened?” Drilli asked.

“The scouts found the Pentadrian army. Their leader, Tireel of the Green Lake tribe, has been captured.”

Tryss felt his heart sink. “How?”

“He flew too close to them. He didn’t see until it was too late that the sorceress with the black birds—the birds that attacked the men of the Sun Ridge tribe—was leading that part of the army. The birds saw him, and the sorceress brought him down.”

“Is he dead?” Drilli asked in a low voice.

Sirri grimaced. “We don’t know. He wasn’t killed by the fall, but was in a bad state when Auraya’s link with him was broken.”