“Our scouts have seen no sign of them.”

“There have been no sightings to indicate that the army has diverted to the north either,” Mil added.

To the north? Tryss frowned, then understanding came in a rush. The Dunwayans were afraid the Pentadrians would turn north to attack them. Their forces were, after all, waiting in the pass rather than at home ready to defend their land.

“There is no sign of the army at all,” the priest added. “The Siyee were the last to have seen them.”

There was a pause, and many of the people present were frowning.

“Surely they’re not still in the mines,” Guire said.

“Waiting, perhaps,” the Somreyan leader muttered. “But for what?” He looked at Juran. “Are you sure they can’t be tunnelling through the mountains?”

Juran smiled and nodded. “Very sure.”

Mil nodded. “I am more concerned that the Pentadrians are taking a different route over the mountains.”

Juran frowned. “Is there one?”

“There is no road,” Mil replied. “The mountains are full of gowt-herder paths, however. It would be a slow and difficult journey crossing by these paths, but not impossible.”

“We must know what they are doing,” Juran said firmly. “If the Pentadrians emerge on the plains while we are in the pass we will end up chasing them across Hania, and beyond.”

“If they are crossing the mountains, my people will find them,” Sirri said.

Juran turned to regard her. “That would be dangerous—more dangerous than before.”

She shrugged. “We know about the black birds now. We will be careful. I will call for volunteers—and this time they will be armed.”

Juran hesitated, then nodded. “Thank you.”

Sirri smiled. “They will leave at first light. Do you want one of them to carry a link ring?”

Juran exchanged a quick glance with Dyara. “Yes. One will be brought to the leader of your volunteers before he or she leaves.” He paused, then looked around the room. “Is there anything else that needs to be discussed?”

The settling of the matter felt a little abrupt to Tryss, but perhaps he only imagined it. He watched the four White closely, particularly Mairae and Rian. Tonight Rian looked…well…unhappy. He occasionally stared out of the tent and scowled. Not an angry scowl, but it was clear something was annoying him. Or perhaps he was disappointed about something.

He’d noted before that Mairae was more inclined to give away hints of her feelings. As he watched, her gaze became distant and she frowned. He chewed his lip. Perhaps all they were anxious about was the coming battle, and the apparent disappearance of the Pentadrian army. He could not help wondering about Auraya’s absence, though. It was odd that nobody had mentioned where she was.

Then, suddenly, the answer came to him.