“Ha!” snorted the man proudly. “Brother says two days. El-Algreb master rare skill in one. Then we fight.”

Klamath masked his skepticism with another bow. His face hid a jest of his own as he gathered his mount’s reins and stepped up into the saddle.

King Bifalt agreed with his General. Firing a rifle was not as easy as Suti al-Suri imagined—especially from horseback. Bifalt himself had needed seasons to acquire his modest skills. But he said nothing. His world had changed, and his mind was racing. His whole view of the coming struggle took on new dimensions. It required different plans.

His dream of a last stand left him. The coming of the el-Algreb dismissed it. He had more to do.

Without haste, Suti al-Suri vaulted onto his horse. As the el-Algreb nudged their mounts to follow General Klamath, Bifalt said, “One question first, Suti al-Suri.” Brother? Hells. “The Repository must have asked for your help.” Those Magisters had known the el-Algreb for a long time. “Did you refuse them?”

He meant, Why? The warriors would not be here if they had not refused the library.

Suti al-Suri tossed his head disdainfully. “Those folk mighty,” he sneered, “but they promise nothing el-Algreb want. We come for rifles.”

Leading his people, he rode past the King and Elgart.

As the leader—the chief warrior?—passed, Elgart told King Bifalt softly, “His people have a word for him. Amandis translated it for me. It means, ‘Foal of two mares.’ ”

“And that means?” asked Bifalt.

Elgart shrugged. “You can guess as well as I can, Majesty. Perhaps it means he loves a fight only as much as he loves his people.”

To his surprise, King Bifalt found he was starting to like Suti al-Suri: another man with a divided nature. Bifalt wondered if the chief warrior’s bravado masked an anguish to match his own.

Probably not. Suti al-Suri was too sure of himself.

King Bifalt let the question go. Changes and possibilities clamored for his attention. And Elgart had mentioned Amandis—

“Ride with me, Elgart,” he said with something like his usual severity. “We can leave the el-Algreb to Klamath. Tomorrow we will see how quickly they learn.” And by then, new reports would come from the west and the south, fresh estimates of the enemy’s progress. “Now I want to hear your tale.” He meant, Right now. “If we go slowly, you will have time to explain yourself.”

Elgart replied with a wry grimace that made him look more like himself. “As you say, Majesty.” When he had retrieved his mount, he added, “But I must warn you. Only the devotees can explain themselves. They left me no choice. I did nothing except give your word.”

He sighed. “I was away too long. I hardly believed my own promises. If the el-Algreb had not been familiar with the devotees, I would have had no credibility at all.”