Watching her over Evie’s shoulder visibly takes some of the fight out of the B’ors warrior. He stares into Evie’s eyes, his own still burning with the pain of great loss, although beneath that there’s an even greater sadness. He takes a step back and slowly sheathes his stone knife.

Evie bows to him respectfully to show her gratitude. After he’s walked away, she turns to the infantrywoman and nods to her gratefully as well.

The crowd begins to disperse, some relieved and others loudly disappointed. Evie looks for Sirach.

One of her Special Selection soldiers is whispering something privately in her ear. She listens without a change in expression, then nods to the soldier, who quickly turns and jogs away.

“What is it?” Evie asks.

Sirach sounds genuinely intrigued. “We have a visitor, it seems.”

“Should I be worried?”

Sirach arches a brow. “Was there any particular reason for you to stop worrying?”

Before Evie can press her further, a fresh commotion arises as bodies part to permit a trio through the camp.

Two of Sirach’s black-masked warriors, stationed to guard the perimeter from the shadows, bear a Savage between them clad in ratty furs. The coin poisoning his blood has raised blue runes only on one-half of his face. The Savage needs both hands to support the twisted-up end of a bulging and dampened-dark sack held in front of his body. It looks like a rat catcher’s sack, viscous-soaked and rancid and drawing flies even as he moves.

The Sicclunans march him before Evie and then stop. Their charge doesn’t appear frightened, just weary and confused.

“He says he’s a messenger,” Sirach explains. “He was sent here from the border garrison, by an old friend of yours.”

Evie’s eyes are full of questions, but she keeps them to herself as she watches the Elder Company forming around her, staring at their visitor suspiciously.

“Who sent you here?” Mother Manai asks the man directly.

“Laython,” he says in a shrill voice. “I’ve a message for the… the uh… Sparrow General.”

Evie shoots a glance at Sirach, who shrugs with that devilish grin of hers as if to say, I tried to warn you.

“I was kind of hoping you’d killed him,” Evie all but grumbles under her breath.

Mother Manai laughs. “He wouldn’t die that easily. I’ve no doubt he chased after the Skrain who fled.”

“Why would he send a Savage to us?” Evie asks.

Diggs shrugs. “Why would the Skrain waste a trained soldier or page? Savages are disposable. If we keep the boy it’s just one more piece of fodder they’ll have to sweep away.”

“I want to join you!” the messenger quickly yelps. “I want to stay! Please don’t send me back.”

“What’s the message, boy?” Lariat demands. “Let’s have that first.”