Lots of headshaking. Someone suggested, Must have gotten killed. The Captain sent a detail after our dead. Guess well see him go in the ground this afternoon.

What happened to the kid?

Elmo snorted. Find him and youll find her.

Talking about the kid, you see what happened when they tried to clobber second platoon with some kind of knockout spell? It was weird. The kid acted like nothing ever happened. Everybody else went down like a rock. She just looked kind of puzzled and shook Raven. Up he came, bam, hacking away. She shook them all back awake. Like the magic couldnt touch her, or something.

Somebody else said, Maybe thats cause shes deaf. Like maybe the magic was sound.

Ah, who knows? Pity she didnt make it, though. Kind of got used to her hanging around.

Raven, too. Need him to keep old One-Eye from cheating, Everybody laughed.

I looked at Silent, who was eavesdropping on my conversation with Goblin. I shook my head. He raised an eyebrow. I used Darlings signs to tell him, They arent dead. He liked Darling too.

He rose, walked behind Goblin, jerked his head. He wanted to see me alone. I extricated myself and followed him.

I explained that I had seen Darling while returning from my venture with the Lady, that I suspected Raven was deserting by the one route he thought would not be watched. Silent frowned and wanted to know why.

You got me. You know how hes been lately. I did not mention my vision or dreams, all of which seemed fantastic now. Maybe he got fed up with us.

Silent smiled a smile that said he did not believe a word of that. He sighed,/want to know why. What do you know? He assumed I knew more about Raven and Darling than anyone else because I was always probing for personal details to put into the Annals.

I dont know anything you dont. He hung around with the Captain and Pickles more than anybody else.

He thought for about ten seconds, then signed, You saddle two horses. No, four horses, with some food. We may be a few days. I will go ask questions. His manner did not brook argument.

That was fine with me. A ride had occurred to me while I was talking to Goblin. I had given up the notion because I could think of no way to pick up Ravens trail.

I went to the picket where Elmo had taken the horses last night. Four of them. For an instant I reflected on the chance a greater force existed, moving us. I conned a couple men into saddling the beasts for me while I went and finagled some food out of Pickles. He was not easy to get around. He wanted the Captains personal authorization. We worked out a deal where he would get a special mention in the Annals.