“Let’s move,” said Anji as she straightened.

They halted in the shadow of the gate to wait for the reeve sprinting down from the empty market square where his huge eagle had landed.

“What is it, Marshal?” Anji called.

He shook his head, handsome face creased with a deadly frown. “Trouble.” Then he had to stop to catch his breath.

“Call the alert,” said Anji.

The reeve heaved a pair of breaths, trying to get enough air to speak. “Wait, wait! Give me a moment.”

Anji waited.

“A group of perhaps two hundred armed men. About three mey south of here. Riding hard up the main track. They must have worked their way at night northward through the wilderness and only now broken cover.”

“Soldiers?”

“Outlanders. Wearing red sashes or some such garb.”

“The Red Hounds? Riding in such numbers?” He swore, such an ugly word that Mai flinched away and he did not even notice.

Tuvi said, “We did not expect a show of force, captain.”

“Where are the agents we suspect?”

“All under observation. But they would have heard the plans for the wedding festival and could easily have passed out a message.”

“And I arrived only yesterday, with no prior warning.” Anji shook his head. “We should have expected them to strike today. Tuvi.”

“Anji-hosh.”

“Now the soldiers you’ve trained will prove their worth. We’ll call a general alert, and proceed as we discussed.”

“They’ll know you’re on to them,” said Joss.

“It is a game of hounds and wolves, Joss. We knew the agents of the Red Hounds would penetrate this settlement, despite all our precautions, so the Hieros lent us certain of her agents to keep track of their agents.”

“Aui! You never told me!”

“The fewer who know, the less can be spoken. Now they strike, seeing an opening, hoping and perhaps believing we do not suspect. They’re taking a risk with an open attack knowing we have eagles who can spot them—” Abruptly, he grasped Mai’s arm, harder than she expected, pinching her skin. “It’s a feint, Tuvi. To make us careless. Joss, can you take Mai out of here? If I know she is safe, then I do not fear them.”

“Anji?”

“No fears, Mai. We are prepared for them.”

“For poisoned knives? Why not poisoned arrows?”

“Even so, Mai. Therefore, you must go immediately.”

“I’ll take her myself,” said Joss.

“Too bad about the marriages!” she said, really angry now. “How unfair to interrupt the festival! Now it will have to be done all over again.”

“If they’ve placed all the offerings, verea,” said Joss, “then the ceremony is complete. The feast can be celebrated later. Will you come with me?”

She burst into tears and, hating herself for the weakness, sucked them down. “Yes. Of course. I’ll do whatever is necessary.”