“I thought,” said Yordenas peevishly, “you said Bevard was on his way back.” He fidgeted like a distempered lad too spoiled for his own good.

“Patience,” said Lord Radas. “Shall we go? Ramit?”

She’d have slugged him for all the good it would do. She had to go to Toskala and the council meeting. She had to try.

With night they flew, Lord Radas taking the lead and Yordenas flying in the rear, while in the camp below them the soldiers, like so many night-crawling serpents, began creeping into attack formation.

AS BAI’S CHOSEN escort when she trolled the camp pretending to be a merchant, Shai had plenty of opportunity to observe because folk tended to ignore him, thinking he was an outlander slave. The army that had laid siege to Toskala had good discipline, a neat camp, and clear lines of authority. An off-duty sergeant could drink a bit, knowing others had his back. He could afford to be expansive.

“You see, it’s like this,” said the sergeant, leaning close to Bai in a confiding manner. “There was a woman who wore the green cloak, but now the green cloak is a man. The woman displeased them, and Lord Radas raised someone else up to the honor, eh? So who’s to say that some of us, the best and most obedient ones, might not have a chance at being raised to a cloak? Why not?”

“Do you think that’s how it works?” Bai asked him. “That Lord Radas chooses? I thought the cloaks—Guardians, that is—were made by the gods.”

“The cloaks rule all, even death. I think the Guardians that was, in the tales, that they’re all gone. Dead, maybe. Maybe they never even existed. Our commanders, now, they’re something else.”

“What do you think they are?”

His gaze flickered toward the high banner pole, deep within the camp, that marked the big tents where the cloaks sheltered. He had a broken nose, healed crookedly, and a scar under his left eye. His expression shifted uneasily, and Bai quickly changed the subject.

“I’m getting my slaves fattened up and healthy, although it’s costing me a cursed lot of vey. What do you think, sergeant? Think I should sell all of them outright? Or just the younger ones, and keep the older for a business? There’s plenty here who will pay coin for sex. I could set right up in camp, maybe even work out of a pair of wagons if the army keeps moving south to Nessumara. I’m new to merchanting, as you might have guessed, but you seem like an experienced man who’ll give me fair advice.”

He cleared his throat and handed her his cup. “That woman who watches your slaves, is she your lover?”

“Neh.” Bai sipped at the wine. “I’m not fashioned that way. We made a deal. She works for me while she’s looking for a protector.”

“Think she’d consider me?”

“Since I like you, I’ll be honest, my friend. I think she’s aiming for a captain, at the least. A commander, if she can reach so high. Where’s your company’s captain, anyway? I don’t see his fat ass around.”