King Bifalt kept his mouth shut until Elgart was seated in his saddle. Quickly, he mounted his own horse. After that, he was done waiting.

“Now, Elgart,” he demanded. “Your tale. If I do not hear it soon, I will find a way to torture you.”

Elgart cackled a short laugh. Then he began.

While King Bifalt and his former spy walked their mounts toward the Open Hand and Belleger’s Fist, Elgart talked.

As Elgart told it, his tale was simple. The Archpriest had mastered his mind, rendering him helpless. Then Amandis and Flamora had intervened. They left the Open Hand with Elgart and Makh, imposing sleep on their captives with drugged wine. Days later, they allowed the former spy and the Archpriest to awaken. Amandis killed Makh. The cross that enabled him to draw on his Great God’s sorcery was destroyed.

That power was a form of compulsion. Elgart had never experienced anything like it. Even the devotee of Spirit had failed to refuse it.

There King Bifalt wanted to interrupt. Why did they force you to sleep? You could have aided them. Muttering curses to himself, he allowed Elgart to continue.

When Elgart was able to ride, Amandis and Flamora separated. With all of the devotees of Flesh who had left the Open Hand, Flamora went her own way. Amandis took Elgart into the distant south beyond the Realm’s Edge. There they met and argued with the el-Algreb. Elgart had made his promises. Enticed by the prospect of rifles, Suti al-Suri and his horse-warriors followed Elgart back to Belleger.

At that point, Elgart had said enough. He fell silent, waiting for King Bifalt’s questions.

In the distance below the ridge, the training-fields were in turmoil. The passing clouds, light and shade, made the exercises Prince Jaspid devised look like chaos. But the soldiers responded quickly to Boy, Spliner, and sub-Commander Hellick. They scrambled for litters while the physicians gathered. With the Prince among them, riflemen and healers ran to aid the First Captain’s wounded.

General Klamath’s arrival with the el-Algreb was another matter, unexpected and unexplained. Descending the slope at an easy canter, they reached the open ground in front of the command tent soon after the company from the south. Their coming caused a rush of confusion. But the General had a voice that could reach the outskirts of the city, when he chose to use it. He did not tolerate hesitation. Within moments, riflemen were running to prepare accommodations and food for the el-Algreb. From Elgart’s side, King Bifalt watched the General delegate half a dozen new duties, then gather a company and ride toward Belleger’s Fist, where the rifles were stored.