“That’s because you’re thinking you know all my resources, but you don’t.”

The men looked nervously around at the trees.

“Told you not to rush in like a cursed bull,” muttered the second.

“Shut up.”

“I got no quarrel with you lot,” added Bai in a reasonable tone. “I’m taking cargo to Walshow. I don’t want any trouble.”

“What manner of cargo?”

“Slaves. Children mostly. From the Olo Plain.”

“Olo? How were you down there?”

“How do you think I was down there? Marched with the cursed army, didn’t I? Got our asses kicked, didn’t we? Cursed bad fortune, wasn’t it? Captain Mani is dead, gods rot him, and the rest with him. That left me in charge of these dregs. Here, Ladon, you pissing dog. Stand up.” The youth stood, startling one of the soldiers so badly that the man yelped and thrust with his spear, but the jab wobbled and went far wide as Ladon jumped back into a rattle of branches.

“Settle!” barked the leader. “I heard of Captain Mani.”

“Sheh! Let me not speak ill of the dead, though I’d like to. What a tight ass he had, eh?” Some man among the company snorted, as in agreement, but Shai couldn’t tell which one it was. “We fled with the clothes on our backs, these horses, and our weapons.”

“And slaves.” He nodded toward the awning.

“We were told we’d get the pick of the loot in Olossi, so we took what we could.”

“I’d like to see your catch.”

“Sure you would. Wait ’til dawn.”

“I surely would wait, if I didn’t suppose you might have a cadre of soldiers hidden under that awning like to murder us in our sleep.”

Aui! They were two wolves facing off.

Bai bared her teeth. “Listen, ver, I’m happy to give you a look, but a look is all. I’m not one of those gods-rotted temples where anyone can go in as long as they show a little respect. I’m aiming to collect coin for leasing the older ones and to sell the younger.” She spat. “You give me trouble, you’ve got a fight. And believe me, you’ll go down first. You and your brother, there.”

The leader glanced at his second, but the other man looked unsure as the fire played light over his face. Some people, Shai realized, simply were in charge and, being so confident, cowed others. Captain Anji was that kind of person. So was Zubaidit.

“Give me a cut of the action?” ventured the leader.

Zubaidit heaved her shoulders in a big sigh. “And then won’t every cursed lout be wanting a cut, eh? Still. Keep your end of the bargain, and I’ll consider your offer.”

Even knowing what to expect, having heard Bai explain how she intended to con her way into camp, Shai shook with an anger he could not express. Yet when the children were called out, they kept heads bent obediently and shuffled into a tight huddle, youngest in the center. Yudit was trembling, arms crossed in front of her scrawny body, but she said nothing, did not bolt, did not cry. Vali clutched her arm.