The rider reined in before Juran. “No sign of him yet, Juran of the White. We could send a second group of trackers.”

“Yes,” Juran replied. “Do that.”

The man hurried away. The White continued down the slope toward the camp. When they had nearly reached it, Auraya heard a familiar high-pitched voice call her name. She heard Danjin let out a relieved sigh as Mischief leapt down from the roof of a tarn and bounced over the muddy ground toward her. Two more veez followed him, one black, one orange. As Mischief ran up Auraya’s robe onto her shoulders, the other veez raced to Mairae and Dyara.

“Little escapee,” Dyara said, scratching the bright orange head of her pet. She looked at Mischief suspiciously. “Is he teaching Luck bad habits?”

Auraya smiled. “Probably. Does he—?”

Hearing the sound of wings, Auraya felt her heart skip. She looked up eagerly, and sighed with relief to see Speaker Sirri and two other Siyee circling down. As they landed, Juran stepped forward to meet them.

“Speaker Sirri. We are indebted to you and your people. You have been invaluable to us today.”

Sirri’s smile was grim. “It was our first experience of war. We have learned much today, at great cost, although our losses are nothing to yours. When the vorns attacked our non-fighters, they were able to escape.”

“All losses are equally terrible,” Juran replied. “Our healer priests will tend to Siyee wounded as well as landwalker.”

Sirri looked bemused, and Auraya saw images of the hundreds of Dreamweavers that had descended upon the battlefield in the woman’s thoughts.

“Then I will send the non-fighters of my people, who are fresh and able to carry small loads quickly, to help them.”

Juran nodded. “Their help would be most welcome. Is there anything else you need?”

“No. I just learned something that you may be interested to hear. One of my people noticed a man sitting in a tree to the northwest of here. My hunter said she was attracted by his shouting, but dared not land as she could hear one of those large predatory creatures of the enemy nearby.”

Juran’s eyebrows rose. “That is interesting. Could you send this hunter to us so that we may locate this man?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you, Speaker Sirri.”

She nodded, then stepped away. “I will gather my people and send as many helpers as I can to you.”

Her companions followed as she ran down the hill, leapt into the air and glided away. Juran turned to Auraya.

“I think it would be best if you accompanied this hunter.”

:Just…don’t rub it in too much, he added. There’s a fine line between earning gratitude and resentment.

:I imagine that for King Berro the line is fine indeed. I will be careful.

“This poor man will need a mount to carry him back,” she said aloud.