Tahena slipped from her horse and put her hands on each animal's neck in turn. Neptarik went wide-eyed and shuddered, before sliding off Balnus's mount and picking his way to the front of the small group.
"I'm ready," he said, simply.
Tahena smiled. "That's what I admire about sylphs. Always ready."
As dusk deepened to darkness, they plodded on.
Kelanus and Balnus talked in low voices as they rode, one horse before the other. Tahena listened in. They weren't talking about her, but what might happen to Balnus and Neptarik when they returned.
"I'd hate to think you might be run out of the army because of me," Kelanus said. "If this turns into a chase to nothing."
"That's all right, Sir," replied Balnus. "I volunteered for this, as did Neptarik. The Boss gave us assurances."
"Which I am certain will be kept. But there's a little phrase not much used by soldiers, and that's political expediency."
"Looking after Number One you mean, Sir," translated Balnus, cheerfully.
Tahena almost succeeded in restraining her laugh.
Neptarik looked over his shoulder, but said nothing.
Kelanus joined in the laughter. "One of the major faults of officers, particularly senior officers, is that they sometimes underestimate the knowledge of their underlings."
Balnus inclined his head. "Despite political expediency, I've served The Boss long enough to know he's a man of honor and will keep his word. If we fail in this mission, we're all finished anyway."
"That's probably true," muttered the General.
"If Marcus is not already finished," put in Tahena. "He took a huge risk when he agreed to help with your release. The Senate and Supreme Council will not be very impressed. I suspect the claims will be over if Marcus is blamed for your escape. They were bad enough after Branad's murder. There are still those who believe Marcus is responsible for that, too."
"Some people will believe any rubbish," grunted Kelanus.
"Some people don't know what to believe," added Balnus.
"Road turns to the right," interrupted Neptarik. He hummed the opening lines from 'Foolish Human Owners' to show his opinion of the conversation.
"Something to say, Neptarik?" Kelanus's voice had a definite edge.
"You say these are dangerous lands, donenya," replied the sylph, "yet you all make much noise."
Tahena stared at the sylph. "Do you always put up with this?"
Neptarik's owner laughed. "We encourage it," he said. "The scouts must feel safe to tell the truth."
Ignoring the sylph's insubordination, the three humans carefully eased their horses around the bend.
"We'll stop soon," promised Tahena.
"Why not here?" suggested the scout, close enough for the humans to see a faint glow from his silvery gray eyes. "It is a good place for a camp. A firepit over there. Water, too."
"No fires," said Tahena, quickly.
"There's no pursuit for milas," sighed Kelanus.
Tahena ignored the men, closed her eyes and concentrated. Again, Neptarik's eyes widened and he moved away from the human woman, his agitation noticed only by Balnus.
"What's wrong?" the human asked his sylph.
"She is using her Gift again," Neptarik whispered back. "I do not like it."
"What are you up to, Tahena?" asked Balnus.
Tahena opened her eyes. "Trying to disguise our trail," she replied, candidly. "To throw off anyone following us."
Balnus blinked.
"What's the matter? Didn't you expect me to answer truthfully? I've nothing to hide, Soldier Balnus. I have my secrets, as do we all, but nothing to hide."
"Are people going to sleep?" asked Kelanus. "I'll keep the first watch. No, Neptarik, you kept watch earlier today. Get some sleep."
"Se bata."
***
Tahena moved silently and almost startled Kelanus as she settled down beside him.
"Why aren't you asleep?" grunted the General.
Tahena smiled. "Why aren't you moving around? Neptarik moves about and I'm certain nothing misses his attention. What an excellent watchman."
"He's a scout; that's his job. Besides, sylphs have itchy feet and overactive worms."
Tahena arched an eyebrow. "Is that a joke?"
Kelanus sniffed. "I'm sure we're safe here but if I hear anything to give me cause for alarm, I'll begin moving about. Unless, of course, you distract me by gabbing."
"There is nobody for at least five milas in any direction. I have checked."
Kelanus grunted. "By using the Gift."
Tahena shrugged. "A tool to be used like any other. I have set spells to warn us of any approach, friendly or otherwise."
"So I may as well get some sleep. Especially as you do not seem to need any."
"I need sleep the same as everybody else. Only not quite as much of it. I'd rather you kept your watches; I might not be the only one with the Gift or sorcery about tonight. I also want to find out more about you."
"About me?"
Tahena stared into the velvet night and at the stars, pleased to note the lack of moon. It would make traveling for others less easy. "I'd like to know what sort of man manages to get Sandev on his side without her really knowing anything about him. A man about whom I hear lots of frightening stories."
"Such as?" A dangerous note crept into Kelanus's voice.
"On one hand I hear tales of a commander gifted in the art of war, a brilliant tactician who turned Marcus Vintner's military fortunes around. After all, the man you follow is more politician than warrior."
"And on the other?"
"A man possibly responsible for the murder of Branad Vintner, because he dismissed you from your previous post. A man accused of murdering other people's sylphs. After mutilating them for fun. Many tales take wing on the streets."
Kelanus looked away. "Which do you believe?"
"I doubt if Sandev would support a man who murders sylphs as a hobby and claimants to the Throne if they get in the way. I also find it strange that a man so obviously principled as Marcus Vintner would be prepared to let such a criminal lead his army, no matter how good a general. The presence of Neptarik, who so clearly respects you, sways me to think most of the negative stories must be rubbish. But I'd like to know how Branad decided to believe the stories about you and the sylphs. After all, it is a fact that he dismissed you."
Kelanus sniffed, fighting anger. "You haven't answered my question."
"When I've made my mind up. Who persuaded Branad to dismiss you?"
Kelanus looked away. "They managed to find two sylphs who swore on oath that I assaulted them. There was a spree of murders among sylphs – all males – that lasted seven years. And suddenly they found two that the murderer decided not to kill. They must have believed what they said; it's easy to tell when a sylph lies, because of the earpoints. That they were obviously not lying was enough for most people to believe their stories. But they weren't quite so prepared to face me at a trial, so there wasn't really a case to answer. Ranallic recommended that I be dismissed."
"Do you remember the names of your accusers?"
"I never knew them to forget them."
"Why didn't you resign from your post? You waited to be dismissed."
"I wasn't given the opportunity. That nobody was prepared to testify against me helped mollify some opinions, but it didn't save me from the boot. And resigning looks so much like running away."
"You're still bitter?"
"Of course. Which is why people believe that I'm responsible for Branad's murder. My revenge, is how they see it."
Tahena nodded in the darkness and shifted her position. "Some in Marka say you waited until Branad had renounced his claim to ensure that blame stayed away from Marcus Vintner. Others that you acted under Marcus Vintner's orders, given some time ago, and you waited only for the opportunity to carry out those orders."
"There are plenty of people he could use to assassinate Branad, had he wished. So why use
me? Though I believe Marcus is quite capable of using murder should he feel it's necessary, he would employ it only as a last resort. Branad had renounced his claim and if Marcus ordered a killing, he had plenty of time to rescind his order."
"Did the sylph murders end after you left Branad's service?"
"I didn't wait around to find out. Too many people are willing to bring harm to those who do what I was accused of. Just on hearsay."
"Do you hate Ranallic because he advised Branad to dismiss you?"
Kelanus shook his head. "No. I hate Ranallic because he somehow banged the blame onto me. Exactly as he has done now. Because he stood to gain most by having me out of the way then and now. Worse than that, because of those vile, vile accusations, I lost my family."
"Lost them?"
"My wife and children disowned me. My sons repudiated my name and changed their own. All thanks to Ranallic."
"Well," said Tahena, "you have given me much to consider. I apologize if I've brought bad memories to the surface. I'll go and get some sleep."
"You haven't answered my question."
"I have not yet made up my mind." Tahena paused. "Good night, General Kelanus."
"Good night, Mistress Tahena." Kelanus spent the rest of his watch with his head in his hands.
***
Balnus almost jumped when Tahena appeared silently out of the darkness and sat beside him. He bared six incas or so of his sword before recognizing her and slammed the blade home.
"I'm sorry," Tahena apologized. "Did I startle you?"
"I might have hurt you." Balnus grunted. "Thought it was only me awake. It's the middle of the night, why aren't you asleep?"
Tahena knew Balnus had little chance of harming her, unless he moved quicker with that blade than she could with the Gift. "I often rise during the night."
"I'm supposed to be keeping watch; if anyone gets through and murders us all because of the noise we're making..."
"Not much risk of that." She smiled in the darkness, showing her teeth so Balnus knew. Unless he thought she was snarling. "Spells are set to warn us if anyone comes within five milas."
Balnus looked skyward and stared at the line of hills, the boundary between land and sky delineated by starlight. "So I'm wasting my time here."
A soft giggle came from the darkness. "Kelanus said that when I spoke with him earlier." She lowered her voice. "There are many stories about Kelanus, and not all of them good."
"Forget the bad tales. Ignore them all. I've met few finer men, including perhaps Marcus Vintner." Balnus was sharper than intended, but he made no move to apologize.
"Your loyalty commands respect."
"And earned, fair and square," retorted the soldier. "He is a fine officer and a good man. Our gain and Branad's loss."
"You know why he left Branad?"
"It is easy to ruin a man's reputation with accusations that were never proved in court. None of our sylphs have been hurt or disappeared, or been murdered since he joined us. That answers any question about him as far as I'm concerned. The sylphs would let us know quick time if anything like that went on."
"You have helped make up my mind about something." Tahena abruptly changed tack. "Neptarik belongs to you?"
"Yes, he's a good sylph. Best scout in the army. But I'm not sure if he likes me or his mother more."
"You own his mother?" Tahena sounded surprised.
Balnus gave a low laugh. "Not me."
"You're proud of him." It was not a question.
"Of course." Balnus laughed again. "Don't gamble against him; he's excellent at cards. He loses as often as the rest of us, but his wins are more spectacular."
"You've taught him to gamble? Corrupted him?"
Balnus's eyes gleamed in the moonlight. "I did not corrupt him. Taught him gambling, yes. But his previous owner is responsible for any corrupting. Before me Neptarik belonged to a thief."
"I see. How did you get him?"
Balnus shook his head. "The magistrates sent him to the scout school as an unowned sylph. I acquired him from there."
"And taught him gambling. Must be hard for him to hide a good hand with those earpoints to waggle about."
"Don't you believe it. He winds a scarf 'round his head. Says he wears it for luck, but he never does when scouting and I've never seen him wear it on the battlefield."
"He takes part in battles?" Tahena's voice squeaked.
Balnus smiled. "No sylph takes part in a battle, but they often carry messages through one. Neptarik was commended in the battle when we defeated Branad; wounded while carrying a message."
"So he is brave." Tahena did not sound impressed; she made "brave" sound like "stupid".
Balnus's smile grew fond. "He loves adventure, but he's not quite as fearless as most people believe. Don't tell him I told you that."
"That's a promise. I know many sylphs often push the boundaries set by their owners and need frequent reminders of their place, if not harsh discipline. Neptarik is no exception?"
Balnus stared, incredulous. "Neptarik is friendly and gets on well with almost everybody he meets. He's very easy-going, very respectful and obedient. He needs no reminders of his place and needs to learn no discipline from me."
Tahena nodded her approval. "Impressive. I'm beginning to feel tired again. See you in the morning, Balnus."
The soldier smiled. "See you later, Tahena."
***
Tahena failed to surprise Neptarik. The sylph instead startled her, almost into squeaking aloud. The east held a hint of blue sky, and even Tahena had enough light to make out shapes. Neptarik detached himself from a shadow, seeming to step out of nothing into reality.
"You will get lost if you are not careful, donanya." The sylph's light voice was helpful and his silvery gray eyes glowed faintly in the predawn.
"Just looking for you," replied Tahena, recovering her composure. "You're the only one who keeps wandering about. How do you keep so quiet?"
The sylph inclined his head, but said nothing.
"I just want to talk," continued Tahena.
"I am supposed to keep watch." Neptarik's voice held a hint of reproach.
"My spells will warn me of anyone coming near," Tahena told the sylph.
"I could be punished."
"Ah." Tahena nodded, aware that the sylph could see every expression on her face. "Punished often, are you?"
Neptarik shrugged. "All the time," he replied. "You have no idea how cruel humans can be. The choca rations are terrible. Once a month, if I am lucky."
"I mean physically. Mentally."
The sylph stared. "Waiting for choca is mental torture and the lack must be harmful for body and spirit."
"So you are generally treated very well?" pressed Tahena.
"Apart from too little choca."
"Are you sporting with me?"
Neptarik stared, but said nothing. He blinked deliberately.
Tahena stared. "You're serious! You really are complaining about a lack of choca!"
The sylph inclined his head again and a smile flitted across his features.
"I now see that you scouts are spoiled." She almost laughed aloud.
"You are as cruel as the others."
"Now you are sporting with me." Tahena wagged a finger at the sylph. "Don't deny it, Neptarik-y-Balnus: your ears betray you. Even I can see those now."
Neptarik grinned. "I like you, donanya," he said. "Though I do not like it when you use your Gift." His earpoints gave several violent twitches.
"It's all right." She gave the sylph what she hoped was a reassuring pat. "I know sylphs are uncomfortable when the Gift is used. Believe me, you'll get familiar with it after a while. Sandev owns a sylph named Caya; she's rarely worried when the Gift is being used."
"She probably stays as far away as possible."
Tahena paused. Now that she came to think of it, Caya usually made herself scarce within seconds when the Gift flowed. "You know, I think you're right there."
&
nbsp; The sylph nodded.
"A question for you: have any sylphs disappeared in the past couple of years that you're aware of? Murdered, or run away, or suddenly become depressed or suicidal?"
Neptarik stared, mouth opening and closing. "General Ranallic asked that question, or one very like it."
Tahena tried to ignore the verbal sidestep. "How did you answer him?"
"I told him no."
"Will you tell me any different?"
"Sylphs run away all the time, but most get brought back. Not all owners are nice. Not heard of any being murdered though. Or of any who killed themselves." He shrugged. "It is possible these things have happened, but I do not know. Not among the scouts."
"No runaway scouts?"
"No." The sylph sounded emphatic. "We are punished the same as humans for desertion."
Tahena's mouth thinned. She expected that meant execution, but decided not to ask. Sylphs could be brutally honest at times.
"Thank you anyway. Well, I'm pleased to have found you in a chatty mood. I'll grab some sleep now; I'm feeling tired again. Oh, one more thing. Does a ship sylph without a ship make any sense to you?"
"I do not know what a ship sylph is."
"It doesn't matter. Good night, Neptarik."
She felt the sylph's puzzlement as he watched her walk away. He probably wondered what she really wanted. His perception impressed her. She settled in her blankets again.
***
Tahena feigned sleep and waited for Neptarik to wake the camp. Kelanus had given the sylph instructions to wake them once they had enough light for humans to see, and she guessed that time could not be far off. She analyzed what she had gleaned from her three traveling companions.
She felt certain Kelanus had played no part in the crimes others laid at his feet. The way he carried himself was not that of a murderer or deviant, but of a noble man with high principles and ideals. He had not flown into a rage when she had laid out what she had heard, but countered the allegations with dignity and self-conviction. He not only believed in his innocence, but also that others should believe in it. When she next communicated with Sandev, she would mention that two sylphs had made accusations against Kelanus. Best to find out what had gone on there.
Balnus was a soldier, pure and simple. Down to earth, but thankfully polite while talking to her. Another decent man who favored standing up for what he believed in. He also believed in Kelanus's innocence, another good sign.
And Neptarik, skilled in the art of scouting and recently commended for his courage. And obvious that he adored his master. Very different from other sylphs she knew, carrying himself with considerably more self-assurance than a sylph should possess, his confidence almost bordering on arrogance. Most sylphs griped about a lack of choca, so why would the scouts be any different? Perhaps careful rationing of the delicacy helped keep the scouts healthy. Too much could wreak havoc with sylph digestion.