I got the message. Been to the center, and in flight. What lay at the center? "You think whatever got away might try to open the Great Barrow?" "It might try engineering it."

I had a brainstorm. "Why not sneak Darling out here? She could…"

One-Eye gave me a don't-be-stupid look. Right. Raven was the least of the things a null would loose.

"The big guy would love that," Goblin chided. "Purely love it."

"There's nothing we can do for Raven here." One-Eye said. "Someday we might find a wizard who can. Till then?" He shrugged. "Better make a pact of silence. Darling might forget her mission if she finds out." "Agreed," I said. Then: "But…" "But what?" i "I've been thinking about that. Darling and Raven. There's something there we don't see, I think. I mean, considering the way he always was, why did he cut out and come here? On the face of it, to sneak around the Lady and her gang. But why would he leave Darling in the dark? You see what I'm saying? Maybe she wouldn't be as upset as we think. Or maybe for different reasons."

One-Eye looked dubious. Goblin nodded. Tracker looked baffled, as usual.

"What about his body?" I asked.

"A definite encumbrance," One-Eye replied. "And I can't say but what taking him to the Plain might not snap the connection between flesh and spirit."

"Stop." I looked at Case. He looked at me. Here we had another double bind.

I knew one sure way of solving Raven's body problem. And of getting him brought out. Betray him to the Lady. That might solve several other problems, too. Like the escaped whatever, and the threat of another escape attempt by her husband. It might buy Darling time, too, for the Lady's attention would shift dramatically.

But what would become of Raven then?

He could be the key to our success or failure. Give him up to save him? Play the very long odds that we could somehow get him in hand again before his knowledge could hurt us? Ever a quandary. Ever a quandary.

Goblin suggested, "Let's give it another look. This time I'll take the point. One-Eye will cover."

One-Eye's sour look said they had had a knock-down-drag-out about this before. I kept my mouth shut. It was their area of expertise.

"Well?" Goblin demanded.

"If you think it's worthwhile."

"I do. Anyway, there's nothing to lose. Different viewpoint might help, too. I might catch something he missed."

"Having only one eye don't blind me," One-Eye snarled. Goblin glowered. This had arisen before, too.

"Don't waste time," I said. "We can't stay put forever."

Sometimes decisions get made for you.

Deep in the night. Wind in the trees. Chill fingering into the shelter, waking me to shiver till I fell asleep again. Rain pattering steadily, but not restfully. Gods, was I sick of rain. How could the Eternal Guard maintain any semblance of sanity?