46,048 / 44,654

I'm sweating a bit, unsure that I'll make the 50K without a hard push. But luckily I'm coming into a part of the story that'll pretty much write itself. I hope!

Wilia cooed. "I should be showing you more respect, Master Tenni."

He pretended not to hear.

Niam unrolled his map. "In a small town, even a writ forged in the most convincing manner will be suspected quickly, as all the officials are close by. We need a city. I think Barcar. It's the nearest city on the direct route to the southern tip of the Drifals, which I am sure is the direction they are taking. Tenni, take Wilia and compose your writ, with one of you posing as the injured party. Lady Harali, I wish you would also go with them. I can't think of anyone else who might be able to find a document such as what Master Tenni will need. Take Galth with you – he will be able to make any arrangements you require. I will remain here to be sure that the Black Talons do continue on the road to Barcar, and Lur will remain with me as a messenger." He rolled the map again, putting it into its leather case. "The rest of my men, I shall send home. I don't think we will need them."

"What about bandits?" squeaked Wilia.

Harali gave her a scathing glare. "You have two of the best swords in Elegar as your companions."

"Also," Niam said, "the dragon will most likely watch over us." He looked around. "We'll leave this place at once. The other Talons may come here, and I don't want us to be seen. Tenni, I'd like the three of you to get to Barcar as swiftly as you can, so that all will be prepared when the Black Talons get there. Lt. Deri can start back to Hawk's Rest now, and Lur and I shall ride part of the way with the rest of you and find some better accommodation than this. I hope."

Chapter 13: At the Dancing Frog

As the men who had attacked them inexplicably galloped away again, Birili swung down from her horse and helped Mazya, Paka, and Arnal to the ground. The horses were as frightened as the people, and might bolt if not calmed, away from nervous riders.

Koras caught the reins of Geram's horse, which was standing only a stone's throw away, frozen in fear, eyes ringed with white. She dismounted and handed the reins of both mounts to Geram, punching him once in the shoulder. "What do you think you're doing? Being some kind of hero?"

He swallowed. He was as pale as a lily. "Instinct," he managed. "Stupid."

"There was nothing intelligent to be done. Our retreat was blocked. Or didn't you notice that?"

None of them had. Birili said, "We were all too scared to notice much, Captain. Thank you. You saved our lives with your quick action."

To her amusement, Koras flushed. "No, I didn't. Whoever that was who called them off, that's who you should be thanking. Like Geram here, I was just delaying the inevitable." She looked past Birili and took a sudden step forward. "Mazya. Are you hurt?"

"No, no," the priestess reassured her. Birili, however, at once moved to Mazya's side, for she saw what Koras had seen. Mazya was as pale as Geram, and she was swaying slightly. "I'm fine," she promised them both, fluttering her hands as if to shoo them away. "I just feel a trifle dizzy."

Geram took her arm. "Come over here, sit down, and put your head between your legs. I hear that's good for fainting and such."

Mazya chuckled, but allowed herself to be led away.

Birili extended her hands to the two girls, who at once came to her side and clung to her. Paka was already recovering her wits, but Arnal was shaking and buried her face against Birili's side. Birili said, "Captain, who do you think those men were? They didn't look like bandits."

"If they were, then it's the first time I've ever heard of bandits being well armed, armored, and in livery. No, those were someone's men-at-arms, and well-trained. Be thankful for that, because a less disciplined group wouldn't have retreated as they did, without any last swing of the sword."

"But why would some lord's men-at-arms attack us, and then, just as suddenly, withdraw?"

"Sorry, but I left my crystal ball back at the shrine," Koras drawled. She rubbed the sweat from her brow and then spoke more calmly. "They could be with the Red Talons, or they could have just confused us with someone else they were hunting and realized their mistake. Damn it! One thing for sure, I am going to teach all of you to defend yourselves. I knew we were vulnerable, but I didn't think I could convince any of you of that before now."

Birili shivered. "You don't need to convince us. I have never felt so stupidly helpless, or so very afraid."

"At the least, we can get shields for all of you, and teach you how to use them. And if nothing else, I'll teach you how to run! Or how to use your horses as shields and weapons. I'll do what I can."

Birili thanked her. "What now?"

"Why ask me? I'm not the leader of this party."

Birili nodded and, followed by the girls, turned and went to Mazya. She knelt before the older woman and took both her hands. The priestess' hands were dry and cold. "Lady Mazya?" she said, trying not to sound alarmed. "What shall we do now?"

"I think that's pretty obvious." Mazya's voice, at least, was strong. "We can't stay here. We should continue as quickly as we can to the nearest town, report the incident to whatever authority is there, and then find an inn."

"Praise the gods," Geram said.

"An inn that will, I hope, not include a tavern," Mazya corrected.

"There is no such thing."

"I feared as much." She sighed deeply, but she was smiling. "Help me up, someone, and get me onto Nardo again."

Once they were mounted and on the road again, Birili led the way, with Capt. Koras beside her. She could feel the soldier's alert tension, as if it were the thrum of a plucked string, but she didn't think they were in any danger now, and she relaxed and allowed herself to think. After Amfeni, the road had split into several smaller, rougher paths, with the one they traveled now being the road going most directly eastward. She had traveled it only a few times, but she recalled that there was a string of villages and small towns around it, and that it eventually led to the city of Barcar, approximately two day's ride from where they were now. Barcar was a civilized city, a market town where farmers, stockmen, lumbermen, and many others from the surrounding region met the city craftsmen in relatively harmonious exchange. Perhaps they could rest there for a day or two. All of them were tired except the apparently indefatigable Capt. Koras. The child Arnal, a sturdy farm girl, was actually in the best shape of all of them, but even she was showing signs of fatigue. As for Birili, every part of her body ached from sleeping on the ground, and most of all her butt hurt from sitting all day in a saddle. They needed rest, even if only one full day.

She realized she was once more trying to make decisions for the group, and shook her head. She wasn't sure how it had happened, but in some way, undeclared and unspoken, she had become the second in command of their group after Lady Mazya. She would have thought that the logical person for that position would be Capt. Koras, but the soldier had made it clear that, in Mazya's absence, she would take orders from Birili. Birili also expected Geram to take over command, as any man might when traveling with women, but he seemed contented to avoid making any kind of decision. The reason might be something as simple as the fact that she had been the first Talon gathered, and therefore with Lady Mazya when Geram had been found.

Whatever the reason, she was uncomfortable with her role. She was a harper, independent and answerable to no one by definition. For the hundredth time she wished Wari were with her. Her need for him now was so strong, she impulsively drew forth her pipes and played one of his favorite airs, as if conjuring him before her.

Koras glanced at her. "I like that. But, say – can that thing make a loud sound?"

"Certainly." She blew one short blast.

Behind her, a horse snorted and Paka squeaked. Birili turned in the saddle to see all of them staring at her.

Koras said, loudly enough for all of them to hear, "That's very good. Ril, keep that thing handy. The next time we're in danger – or if you ever see me give you this signal," she pointed at her own lips, "then you give that blast as a warning to everyone."

Mazya said, "What an excellent idea!"

Birili's ear was well developed, and she turned again in her saddle to study the priestess. Mazya's voice was as smooth and mellow as always, but Birili detected a dissonant note in it. She couldn't quite place the cause, but it concerned her. She jerked her head at Geram and nodded in Mazya's direction, mouthing the words Keep an eye on her. She didn't dare speak it aloud, for Mazya would hear. Unlike Geram, Birili was aware of the sharpness of the blind woman's ears.

They reached the fringes of a small town by late afternoon, and Birili spotted an inn immediately. She had to grin at the sign which swung above the door, a depiction of a frog in a skirt, doing a whirling dance. She pointed it out to Paka and Arnal, and both girls giggled in delight.

The whimsical sign, however, was the best thing about the inn. Birili stepped inside as the others dismounted and handed their horses over to a stableboy, and she saw at once that, unfortunately, she had stepped directly into a tavern, empty of customers at the moment but already being set up for the night's trade. A rickety staircase in the back led to upper rooms, she hoped, but she didn't see much chance of them getting a lot of sleep once the sun set and the tavern began to fill.

The innkeeper came forward, obviously curious as well as confused by the odd party that followed Birili inside, but he welcomed them. "As it happens, by the most fortunate chance, we have plenty of room for you," he announced, pleased.

"Chance?"

"Another party was here, and took over my entire place. Every room. But then, for no reason, they decided to leave. So you see me with empty rooms and willing to give such lovely ladies a discount for the night."

Capt. Koras said, "Another party? Did they have men-at-arms with them?"

"Yes, they did indeed. Friends of yours?"

"Not exactly."