Hellick could see the arching trails of flame clearly enough. He had no idea what they were intended to accomplish. A few of them fizzled out. But others hit where they were aimed and kept burning. They must have struck something flammable.

Something like dry oilcloth. The kind of canvas that would cover loaded wagon-beds in a supply-train.

More arrows left hot trails across the sub-Commander’s sight. With burning oilcloth to guide them, the archers improved their aim. Most of the second flight found the wagons. Already, four loads of supplies were on fire. Others were beginning to burn.

While the Cleckin were distracted by the ambush, the el-Algreb delivered a more serious wound.

Tiny in the distance, shouts of alarm rose from the enemy camp. Lit by the flames, figures as small as toys ran for the wagons. Some of them had wit enough to bring buckets of water.

Before the Cleckin could muster men to ride out and hunt for their attackers, the fire-arrows stopped. There were many wagons. Only a few of them were burning. But Suti al-Suri’s people had no intention of risking themselves. They disappeared into the darkness.

Quickly, the raiders extinguished their damaged wagons. As the flames went out, the hills recovered their moonlit outlines. The cries, whimpers, and hushed commands among the fallen raiders faded as their comrades dragged them to safety beyond a hill. Soon only dead men and wrecked beasts remained.

In the aftermath, Hellick found that he was shivering. The el-Algreb had banished his disgust. Now he felt something that might have been awe. It was certainly relief.

As soundless as before, Suti al-Suri arrived beside the sub-Commander. “Stay wary,” he advised in a normal voice. The danger that he would be heard had passed. “Cleckin scout good.”

Moonlight made the chief warrior’s smile look ghoulish.

A shudder of cold ran through Hellick. He took a deep breath to calm himself. As soon as he started to think, he had a throng of questions. But he did not know how to ask them. Or rather, he did not know how to phrase them so that he would be able to understand Suti al-Suri’s broken answers.

“What—?” His voice shook. He was too chilled to speak steadily. “What was all that for?”

“Bait.” The chief warrior indicated the ambush with a jerk of his chin. Then he pointed toward the burned wagons. “Also bait.”

Bait? Hellick stared at the man. Then what was the trap?

Bait was useless without a trap.

Suti al-Suri studied General Klamath’s observer for a moment, then shrugged. “Come,” he said. He gestured off the hilltop. “You cold. El-Algreb make fire. Get warm. Much tell.”

Hellick nodded. He wanted to understand.