“Nevertheless,” concluded the First Captain, “Master Ungabwey asks for more defenders. He expects greater opposition as he continues.”

King Bifalt listened without giving Matt his full attention. The defense of the south belonged to Set Ungabwey. Whatever happened there, Belleger had neither the riflemen nor the Magisters to fight two armies at once. Bifalt had to believe that Ungabwey would succeed. His own battles were more imminent.

Brusquely, he thanked the First Captain. “If Set Ungabwey wants more men,” he continued, “we have decisions to make.” How much of his army could he afford to send south? “I leave them to you and General Klamath. I have other matters to arrange.”

On that subject, Matt had more to say. “My home is in the south, Majesty. Raiders came near us. I knew some of their victims. I heard the tales. Those men are savage, but they have no weapons like ours. They may be shocked to learn how easily they can be shot before they are close enough to strike back.”

He seemed to mean that he had already dispatched enough men to accompany the caravan.

General Klamath was not persuaded. “Or,” he countered, “they may have sorcerers among them. They may strike back with the Decimates, or with sorceries we do not recognize.”

King Bifalt had no answer. He did not trust anything that the Magisters of the Last Repository said or did. But he believed that they wanted to live—and to preserve their storehouse of knowledge. They had not risked a friend as valuable as Set Ungabwey on a whim. They knew what he could do.

To end the debate, Bifalt said, “The caravan’s fate is your concern, First Captain. You and General Klamath will choose your response. I will not question it.” Of Klamath, he asked, “Is there more, General?”

Glowering, Klamath relented. “As you say, Majesty. Matt and I will do what we can”—he glanced at the First Captain—“when we have given the matter further thought.

“I have little to add. As you know, the Queen-Consort has sent sub-Commander Hellick and forty of her honor guardsmen to join us. Second Captain Hegels has folded them into the army. And daily we receive pleas from Commander Soulcess. He believes that Amika is threatened. He wants reinforcements.”

The King shrugged. He and Klamath had already discussed the honor guard Commander’s appeals. They had agreed to ignore the possibility that Amika was in danger, at least for the present.

“Also”—General Klamath paused to brace himself for his King’s reaction—“the Queen-Consort’s Magisters have begun to arrive. Chancellor Sikthorn declares that they will all join us.”

Hells! muttered the King to himself. More Magisters? This was not news. He and Queen Estie had agreed on it. But he did not want her Decimate-wielders. He hated relying on any theurgist. Through his teeth, he said, “They will be welcome.” For Klamath’s sake, he lifted his shoulders a bit. “What else did Sikthorn say?”