Silent joined me at the tail of the negotiations. Once we had strapped the supplies aboard the horses, I asked, You learn anything?

He signed, Only that the Captain has some special knowledge he will not share. I think it had more to do with Darling than with Raven.

I grunted. Here it was again.... The Captain had come up with a notion like mine? And had had it this morning, while we were arguing? Hmm. He had a tricky mind....

I think Raven left without the Captains permission, but has his blessing. Did you interrogate Pickles?

Thought you were going to do that.

He shook his head. He hadnt had time.

Go ahead now. Still a few things I want to get together. I hustled to the hospital tent, accoutered myself with my weapons and dug out a present I had been saving for Darlings birthday. Then I hunted Elmo up and told him I could use some of my share of the money we had kyped in Roses.

How much?

Much as I can get.

He looked at me long and hard, decided to ask no questions. We went to his tent and counted it out quietly. The men knew nothing about that money. The secret remained with those of us who had gone to Roses after Raker. There were those, though, who wondered how One-Eye managed to keep paying his gambling debts when he never won and had no time for his usual black marketeering.

Elmo followed me when I left his tent. We found Silent already mounted up, the horses ready to go. Going for a ride, eh? he asked.

Yeah. I secured the bow the Lady had given me to my saddle, mounted up.

Elmo searched our faces with narrowed eyes, then said, Good luck. He turned and walked away. I looked at Silent.

He signed, Pickles claims ignorance too. I did trick him into admitting he had given Raven extra rations before the fighting started yesterday. He knows something too.

Well, hell. Everybody seemed to be in on the guesswork. As Silent led off, I turned my thoughts to the mornings confrontation, seeking hints of things askew. And I found a few. Goblin and Elmo had their suspicions too.

There was no avoiding a passage through the Rebel camp. Pity. I would have preferred to have avoided it. The flies and stench were thick. When the Lady and I rode through, it looked empty. Wrong. Wed simply not seen anyone. The enemy wounded and camp followers were there. The Howler had dropped, his globes on them too.

Id selected animals well. In addition to having taken Feathers mount, I had acquired others of the same tireless breed. Silent set a brisk pace, eschewing communication till, as we hastened down the outer border of the rocky country, he reined in and signed for me to study my surroundings. He wanted to know the line of flight the Lady had followed approaching the Tower.