The horses pounded closer. Clearly, this was no casual social call. Thomas stood and put his hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Do you mind leaving me alone with this trouble, as you put it? You’ll find Ciphus in the Thrall.”

“I’d rather not.”

He looked down at her. “No?”

“I’d rather see what this trouble is all about.”

“I’m sure you would. And one day, when I make you a lieutenant, I’ll let you settle matters like this.” He couldn’t help a gentle grin. “Though what could possibly be the problem now is beyond me. Maybe I should just let you deal with them.”

“Okay.” Karas made no move to leave.

Darsal raced in, pulled her horse to a rearing stop, slid from her saddle, and dropped to one knee. “Requesting an audience, sir!”

Her long, dark hair was pulled back and tied, baring the scar on her left cheek. If anything, the scar accentuated her cheek’s firm lines and her soft lips. A fine woman, a fierce warrior, a passionate heart.

Thomas squeezed Karas’s shoulder. “Leave us,” he said.

She hesitated only a moment before turning and jogging down the beach toward the Thrall.

Johnis and Silvie jumped to the ground and hurried forward. But they seemed at a loss for words. This was Darsal’s show.

“What is it this time?” Thomas demanded.

“We must lead an expedition into the desert immediately, sir,” Darsal said, head still bowed. She looked up at Thomas. “Billos has gone missing, and we have reason to believe that he’s—”

“What she means to say,” Johnis interrupted, “is that we can’t find Billos. She’s in love with him. You understand how that goes. Her mind is totally—”

“Silence!” Thomas had chosen the four from a thousand fighters, and despite their rather unique accomplishments in these last weeks, they were erratic, untamed, impulsive, and in general a very high-maintenance lot. If not for the half-circle birthmark on Johnis’s neck, which confirmed that Elyon had chosen the boy, Thomas thought he might reconsider his choice.

“What do you mean, Billos is lost? You’ve all just been found, for the love of Elyon!”

“Billos is a hothead,” Johnis said. “It seems he’s . . . well, we don’t know that he’s actually missing yet, do we?”

“No, we really don’t,” Silvie said, eyes holding Thomas’s.

Darsal stood to her feet, staring, mind clearly spinning. Quiet for the moment.

“Well?” Thomas demanded. “Is Billos missing or isn’t he?”

“He’s missing all right,” Darsal said.

“And is it true that you are in love with him?”

She breathed deeply through her nose. “Yes. So I would know if he’s missing.”

“How so?”

“Billos and I are . . . very close.”

“What makes you think he’s not just sleeping under some wood pile?”

Darsal hesitated. “Sir, is it true that you’ve been to a place beyond this world?”