I hold out my hands, but I keep walking. Maybe ten more steps until I can get to him. “No harm intended…Just passing along the news.”

“Stop. I mean it.” He reaches behind the stall and picks up a stout-looking club. I brace my feet and reach for my sword as the man comes at me. I hope I can still fight after my stay in the dungeon.

The man grabs at his neck and falls over.

I turn to see Zivah holding a blowgun. “Get us a horse,” she says.

Right. I look through the stalls and see the roan stallion Arxa had identified as Rovenni breeding stock. The fences at the far end of the riding fields are the farthest and hardest to guard, and this creature should be able to carry both of us there with no problem. Plus, I’m guessing a certain Rovenni tribe would be glad to see this horse again.

That is, if this stallion will mind me. His ears flick back and forth as I come closer, and he paws at the ground. I think back to what I saw the Rovenni do, holding up the brand on my arm so he can see it.

“Easy, there,” I say. “I’m a friend.”

To my surprise, he calms down. I saddle him up, haul the unconscious stablehands outside, and tie the horse to a post, leaving Zivah out there as I run back and start opening the other stalls. Two horses come out right away, but the others stay put.

No, that won’t do. We can’t have all these horses around when the Amparans muster up pursuit. I gather a handful of straw at the back of the barn and hold it to a candle flame until it catches. Smoke curls through the air. A few horses stomp their hooves and whinny.

Neju help them, these horses are too calm for their own good. I put my fingers to my lips and whistle for the crows. A few moments later, Slicewing and Scrawny dart through the door. They give the smoking straw a wide berth before landing on the wall of the nearest stall.

I point to the mare nearest the barn door. “Drive.” This better work, because my eyes are starting to water.

The crows take off, screaming and diving at that poor horse until she bolts out the door. Another horse follows, and then it’s a full-on stampede out the barn. I follow, coughing at the thickening smoke, and then I realize that the crows’ calls have changed. They’re no longer screaming to scare the horses. They’re giving warning calls….

Zivah.