Allies: 1

And now we bring bad news to Harbend again. Gods! They all want Lord Garak, Master Garak or Harbend de Garak representing our shared interests with Keen. Is there no one to see how tired he is?

Sighing Nakora shrugged and returned inside the canvased group of wagons serving as their barracks. Emptier than unusual. She had ordered night patrols doubled since the attack. Come morning she'd receive complaints from tired soldiers.

I believe you have no such worries, Captain Laiden. What have you seen together? I see your men look at you as an older brother or father. Paid mercenaries. I wonder.

Suspicions or not. Captain Laiden still had no way of understanding the ways of Khi. Had no personal interest invested either, she admitted sourly. Did she really care so much?

Gods! Someone has to lessen the blow.

She wrapped her cloak around herself and went back into the dark coldness outside.

#

"What do you mean they're gone?"

"There are clear signs of an attack, M'lord, but we can't find any bodies. My guess is they've been taken."

Harbend gave Trindai a helpless look. "So what do we do now?"

"I can send out scouts tomorrow, M'lord."

"Do you believe they can catch up?"

"Maybe, maybe not. But we should have a better chance knowing if anyone's planning another attack."

Harbend nodded. Sound thinking. "Do so," he said at last.

Trindai rose and left.

Harbend waited until Trindai was out of sight before leaning forward, face in hands. Now what? Arthur and Chaijrild both gone. Lianin would be livid when he told her. As for Arthur. He didn't even want to think about the repercussions when they finally returned to Verd. If worst came to worst they'd probably encounter a band of Khraga blaming him for losing Gring as well.

"So, what do we do now?" he asked himself and was surprised to get an answer.

"We go after them or we continue, or maybe even both."

"Who?"

A figure slowly became a visible contour against the night sky. Nakora! Gods! For a moment he thought he'd seen a ghost.

"I hope I did not scare you. I never intended to."

"No, not at all," he lied. "Have a seat." He pointed at the low chair Trindai had occupied just a little while earlier.

Nakora gracefully accepted his offer.

"Are you not cold?" he asked to break a silence starting to become awkward.

"Cold? You must be joking, Lord Garak," she laughed. "You have made a fine fire here, and with the tarpaulin all around us there is no wind."

Harbend silently agreed. She still wore her leather coat and he sat here in his shirtsleeves. "So, what to do?" he asked, more to change subject than to listen to her repeat what she had already said earlier.

"Send a search party. You have to. The rest continue to Braka."

"Do I have to?"

She looked at him quizzically and nodded. "Yes, I believe so, but can you?"

He returned her look and sighed. "I do not know. I honestly do not know."

"Find a way, for your own sake. At least this you can handle the way you prefer. They shall not demand your sacrificing your conscience to prove yourself being one of us again. Not with a taleweaver involved at least."

He stared out into the darkness. In his mind he followed the long line of circles of wagons stretching out behind them. Ten wagons to each circle, thirty circles, and one out of five of the men and women who depended on him would want him to make the human decision. Only one out of five who wouldn't ask him to abandon his friend even if none of the others would ever dare to voice that to his face. Gods! He was guilty of losing a taleweaver to who knew what kind of destiny.

"Are you sure?" he asked, and a coldness having nothing to do with winter crawled down his back as he waited for her answer.

"I am certain. Not this close to the executions. Who knows, it might be a matter of a couple of days that is needed this time as well."

"I do not know," he whispered hoarsely. "I really do not know."

"You must decide. The law requires it. Good night, Lord Garak. I leave you now." The softness in her voice belied the harsh words, and Harbend knew he had an important ally.