Zubaidit’s gaze flickered, and Eridit glanced at her sidelong, the moment passing quickly as the soldiers gabbled in alarm and confusion.

“Thus are those who disobey us, punished!” cried Eridit. “Gather your gear. Move east. Quickly, now. Quickly.”

Cowed, they hastened to their shelters and pallets.

One brave man shuffled forward with head bent to touch fisted hands. “What of the prisoners, lord?”

Neither looked toward Shai.

“Leave the prisoners!”

“Er, eh, as you command, lord. But what of the two favored ones the lord cloak, Lord Bevard, commanded us to bring safely to camp. And what of the lackwit? The lord cloak promised he would tear our hearts out if we did not do as he ordered.”

“Show me the prisoners,” said Eridit in that same full-throated voice, deeper than her speaking tone.

“You there, woodchopper! Get them out.”

Shai ducked inside the shelter. Every child was standing, ready for anything, as he’d trained them to be. “File out in your banners. Stand close beside the door. Be ready to duck back inside if I tap my shoulder. Run like crazy for the woods on the north if I tap my head.”

They filed out. Bai looked them over, her grim expression unchanged.

Eridit’s anger scorched. “These are no longer your responsibility. I know which are chosen by Lord Bevard. I am responsible now. You have your orders.”

Incredibly, the soldiers formed up in a ragged line and jogged out of the clearing and away down the southeastern path, their hulking forms vanishing into the trees one by one by one until—Merciful God!—they were all gone.

The children stared numbly after them. The rising sun brought the trees into color. In the long silence, birds twittered. They stood there for what seemed forever, unable to move. Shai’s skin was atwitch like a thousand bugs crawling.

The brush beyond the path rustled. Vali began to sob. Shai clamped a hand over his mouth.

“Hush, Vali, hold it together!”

Tohon trotted out of the trees, carrying his bow. He jogged up to the two women, nodding at Shai as he halted. “They’re moving off at speed.” He looked at Eridit. “That was done well, lass.”

Her high color sank to a dull sheen. She dismounted hastily and took only three steps before she doubled over and retched, heaving until she had nothing left to bring up.

“Where did you get the horses?” Shai could think of nothing else to say.

“That horse has no wings,” said Dena. “The lord has a winged horse.”

Tohon surveyed the children, then caught Bai’s attention. “I’m going to track the soldiers. These young ones are a complication. Best if they return to their homes.”

“Don’t you think they would have done so long ago if they could have?” cried Shai. “They can’t possibly walk so far now, even if they could find their way, which I doubt. Most would starve along the way or be captured again. The lord went back toward Olo’osson looking to round up more of the soldiers routed at Olossi. Do you want to send them walking back into his hands?”