He went to the basin near the bed and washed his face and neck, finally pausing and looking at Layla. "Of course I'll help. Come with me."

Miro found High Lord Rorelan discussing food stores with three solemn men from the granaries.

Rorelan exclaimed in surprise when he saw Miro. "Lord of the Sky! Is everything all right, Lord Marshal?"

"We held," Miro said, realising how he must look. "I left Marshal Beorn at the border." He glanced at the High Lord's attendees. "May I speak with you, High Lord?"

"Of course. Please, wait here," Rorelan said to the three men.

Rorelan led Miro into the next room, a grand hall of high ceilings where the crystal was a beautiful rose colour, and paintings of historic events lined the walls. Layla followed. "The situation at the Halrana border is growing desperate, High Lord," Miro said. "We must divert some of the men from the Petryan border to the east."

"Yet you held," Rorelan said, "and I'm assuming it's safe to discuss this in front of your guest?"

Miro reddened. "Yes, yes of course. High Lord, this is Layla of the Dunfolk."

"The Loralayalanasa," Layla said primly.

"It is a pleasure, Layla of the Loralayalanasa," Rorelan smiled down at her.

"Yes, High Lord, we held. However the enemy's numbers are growing greater, just as ours are falling. We've questioned the prisoners we've taken. They're sending more men here, in a constant stream. When that stream becomes a river, they will push straight through to Sarostar."

High Lord Rorelan sighed. "I hear you, Miro, but it is a matter of balancing risks. When that stream becomes a river, let me know, and I will listen."

"By then it will be too late!"

"Marshal Scola has two divisions in the south, you have ten divisions in the east, and that's how it will stay until something drastically changes…"

"What about the north?" Layla asked.

High Lord Rorelan turned to Layla. "I'm sorry?"

"These men in black, we can hold them back," Layla said, "and those in orange also. But there are two demons that fight with them, like living trees. Our arrows do nothing against trees. We have lost many of my people to these demons."

"The Veznans are moving south," Miro said. "Orange is their colour."

"Which makes the demons nightshades," Rorelan said. "Scratch it, yet another thing for us to worry about. The cultivators have been quiet since the Sutanesta. I was beginning to hope that Raj Vezna's part in this war was done, and perhaps Dimitri Corizon had learnt some restraint. They've always kept to themselves in the past."

"Their High Lord has the taint," Miro said. "I saw Dimitri Corizon turned with my own eyes."

"Will you help us?" Layla asked.

"Of course," Miro said.

"And how do you intend to do that?" Rorelan demanded. "You'll never get men from the south here in time, and you told me yourself that the east is barely holding."