Haroun looked at him sideways, wearing an amused little smile. After a moment, Megelin chuckled. You devil. You see right through me, dont you?

He had his excuse, though. It would be good enough to prolong his stay as grim weeks piled into months and years.

Haroun whipped into Megelins room, almost falling as he swung through the door, almost overturning the little table where the scholar was pouring over his notes, inscribing one of his regular missives to a friend in Hellin Daimiel. What is it, child?

Uncle Fuad is coming.

Radetic asked his next question by raising an eyebrow. Haroun understood. No.

Radetic sighed, pushed his papers back. I didnt think so. There would have been messengers carrying his brags. Lets go down to the gate.

The troops were dragging in when Radetic arrived. Megelin located Fuad. The Wahligs brother was tired, deflated and had exhausted his stock of contrariness. He answered questions dully, frankly, apparently not caring how bad the answers might make him look. Just get it down the way it happened, teacher, he muttered at one point. Just write it up the way it happened. We came up one company short. One stinking company. One fresh company, in reserve, and we would have had them. Stalking toward his brothers quarters, he added, One company from any one of those whoreson sheiyeks who didnt show at muster. Theres going to be some new chieftains in el Aswad.

Three months later Yousif issued his own call to arms. It took Megelin by surprise. Why? he demanded. And why didnt you tell me? He was severely piqued because the Wahlig had not consulted him.

Because, Yousif replied, donning a teasing grin. Because I wanted to deal with your protests at one sitting, instead of endlessly.

Hardly mollified, Radetic demanded, Why this hosting? Thats the important question.

Because I need to assert my primacy over the tribes. They need to be shown that Im still strong, that I remain in command. We children of the desert are a lot like your forest wolves, Megelin. Im the leader of the pack. If I stumble, if I reveal any weakness, if I hesitate, Im lost. I have no desire to attack El Murid. The time isnt right, as you no doubt would have told me endlessly had you been informed earlier. But the eyes of a hundred chieftains are on el Aswad, waiting to see my response to my wounding and Fuads defeat. Not to mention the turnout for Fuads hosting.

Megelin now recalled the busy comings and goings of recent weeks, movements he hadnt thought significant at the time. Messengers, of course. But, too, he had seen several of Yousifs most devoted captains leading sizable patrols into the waste. Not one of those had as yet returned. I presume your representatives will be in place when the call reaches certain sheiyeks of questionable devotion.

Yousif chuckled. Gently put, teacher. And true.