There was but one way out, the way we went in. The children followed us. I did not like that, but what could I do?

We pushed into the room Asa called home. He was lying on a pallet in a corner. Another man, reeking of wine, lay nearby, in a pool of vomit. Asa was curled into a ball, snoring. "Time to get up, sweetheart." I shook him gently.

He stiffened under my hand. His eyes popped open. Terror filled them. I pressed down as he tried to jump up. "Caught you again," I said. He gobbled air. No words came out. "Take it easy, Asa. Nobody's going to get hurt. We just want you to show us where Raven went down." I withdrew my hand. He rolled over slowly, watched us like a cat cornered by dogs. "You guys are always saying you just want something."

"Be nice, Asa. We don't want to play rough. But we will if we have to. We have four days before the Lady gets here. We're going to find Darling before then. You're going to help. What you do afterward is your own business."

One-Eye snorted softly. He had visions of Asa with a cut throat. He figured the little man deserved no better.

"You just go down the Shaker Road. Turn left on the first farm road past the twelfth milestone. Keep heading east till you get to the place. It's about seven miles. The road turns into a trail. Don't worry about that. Just keep going and you'll get there." He closed his eyes, rolled over, and pretended to snore.

I indicated Hagop and Kingpin. "Get him up."

"Hey!" Asa yelped. "I told you. What more do you want?"

"I want you to come along. Just in case."

"In case what?"

"In case you're lying and I want to lay hands on you fast."

One-Eye added, "We don't believe Raven died."

"I saw him."

"You saw something," I countered. "I don't think it was Raven. Let's go." We grabbed his arms. I told Hagop to see about rounding up horses and provisions. I sent Kingpin to tell the Lieutenant we wouldn't be back till tomorrow. Hagop gave a fistful of silver from Raven's chest. Asa's eyes widened slightly. He recognized the mintage, if not the immediate source.

"You guys can't push me around here," he said. "You're not anything more than I am. We go out in the street, all I have to do is yell and ..."

"And you'll wish you hadn't," One-Eye said. He did something with his hands. A soft violet glow webbed his fingers, coalesced into something serpent-like that slithered over and under his digits. "This little fellow here can crawl into your ear and eat out your eyes from behind. You can't yell loud enough or fast enough to keep me from siccing him on you."

Asa gulped and became amenable.

"All I want is for you to show me the place," I said. "Quickly. I don't have much time."