Isnt this something? Radetic swept an arm round to include everything happening in Sebil el Selib. Isnt this enough? Weve been bled white. We just dont have our strength anymore. Yousif!

The Wahlig stepped back from his sudden intensity. What?

I get the feeling youre thinking about going on through the pass. To meet Nassef and martyr yourself in some big last battle. Dont do it. Dont waste yourself.

Megelin

At least set your schedule so you can do it after youve finished here. Would that violate the spirit of Abouds orders? Only a fool leaves behind an enemy who can close a trap on him later.

Yousif mused. Youre right, of course. You always are. Im not thinking this morning. Im so tired of fighting and Abouds indifference that part of me just wants to hurry the end.

Have you explored the pass? Is there a narrow passage where you could ambush Nassef? Where you could roll boulders down on him? This is our last great cry of defiance, Yousif. Why dont we make it memorable without getting ourselves martyred?

All right.

The Wahlig departed. He seemed less depressed.

Radetic watched as the trebuchet crews cranked the arms of the engines back to throwing position. They were clumsy and slow. Damn! he muttered. What I wouldnt give for a company of Guildsmen.

Fuad materialized. I dont know what you said to Yousif, but thanks. He was ready to throw himself on his sword.

Not much, really.

He told you the news?

That Aboud isnt going to help? Yes. Damn the fool anyway. I thought sure Farid would talk him into sending us something.

The Crown Prince wont be talking anybody into anything anymore. Didnt he tell you? Farid is dead.

Very carefully, like an old cat searching for just the right place to curl up, Radetic looked round and chose himself a stone on which to sit. Hes dead? Farid?

Fuad nodded.

He had help making his exit? The Harish finally got him?

The cult was trying to exterminate the Quesani family. They failed more often than they succeeded, but scared hell out of the family by trying. Farid had become a favorite target. He had escaped their attentions three times.

Not this time. This time Nassef sent his own expert. He slipped Karim and a couple of hundred Invincibles into the wastes north of Al Rhemish. Last week they ambushed Farid while he was lion hunting. It was a big hunt.

Thats sad. It really is. Sometimes I think there really is a God whos on El Murids side.

You dont know how sad it is. They didnt just kill Farid. I said it was a big hunt. They got most of his brothers, his retainers, a bunch of Abouds officers and ministers and the Wahlig of Es Sofala and a lot of his people.

Good heavens. A disaster.