"I believe Stilenta knows some secret that will protect us."

Just then, Brader's pony emerged. Valmir caught the reins. Before he could move away, Disa appeared with her pony and Stilenta's. A man leading two horses followed.

"Where are Stilenta and Brader?" Liara asked.

"They come," Disa said.

Valmir grabbed the reins from Disa. "Come, we must take the beasts to the meadow."

Liara remained near the mouth of the cave. The man whose copper-hued hair glinted in the sunlight stared at her and she wondered why.

He bowed. "Andalor, minstrel, at your service."

"And the Queen's Chosen?" she asked.

He grinned. "Some will not believe that tale."

"Mayhaps I do."

Stilenta and Brader arrived on the run. "Help me," Stilenta cried. She grabbed a chain that was embedded in the rocks.

Brader and the minstrel added their weight to hers. Liara heard shouts.

"This way."

A loud crash was followed by a cloud of dust. Brader jumped back and knocked Andalor and Stilenta to the ground.

Liara ran to them. "Are ye all right?" She helped the Blue Holder to her feet.

"We are safe for now. They must travel many kils before they can scale the cliffs, and by then we should be well on our way." Stilenta took Liara's arm.

Brader and Andalor followed.

"Do ye think the minstrel brought them?" Liara asked in a soft voice.

Stilenta shook her head. "I believe he looks on the mages with distaste. About the Guards, I don't know."

They reached the others and mounted. As they rode across the meadow, Brader caught up with Liara. "Why have ye allowed yet another potential betrayer to join the party?"

"There is but one who might betray us. I have no doubts about Valmir's loyalty. He has done all he can to help us."

"But the mages and the Guards learned where we were. Someone must have told them."

"How could Valmir be responsible? He never left the villa the way ye and Stilenta did."

"How would I know? I say that tonight, ye and I steal away."

She shook her head. "I'll need Stilenta and Disa's help when I find the White. 'Tis not a battle I can fight alone. Brader, ye must put your suspicions aside." "I'll say no more." He spurred his pony.

What am I to do with him? Since the night in the inn, he has trusted no one.

Valmir joined her. "Where are we headed?"

"To the Great Desert."

He frowned. "Though we head in the right direction, this seems a longer route. There is a trade road from Quato."

"Except that route would take us into Pala and that is the last place I would go." She smiled. "Tell me about the desert."

His stories about freedoms she'd never known enthralled her. Her life had seen her sequestered behind the walls of the High Sanctuary, except for the times she had escaped into the mountain pastures.

"About this minstrel. I fear we will regret his presence."

"Brader feels the same."

"About me as well. I don't care where we go. My pleasure is to be in your company."

And mine in yours, Liara thought. But now was not the time for a declaration. 'Twould only upset Brader and drive another wedge in the unity they needed in the coming days. How could she dispel the distrust that rode as an uninvited member of the party?

CHAPTER 21.

From The Armsmen's Guide When lives are at stake from acts of nature or attacks from beasts, a truce may be formed with an enemy.

Brader rode in the rear position and took care to cover their trail. Though there were no signs that

anyone followed, he felt caution was needed.

As the road rose toward Stone Mountain, the forest changed from hardwoods to a mix with conifers.

Spring had come to the lowlands, but here the air retained the smell of winter.

Disa rode beside him. He looked at her and smiled. "I'm glad ye wear my mother's Jewel. She would have liked ye."

"I don't understand how the Yellow came to me."

He shrugged. "She called and ye came."

"Why didn't your mother live in Pala?"

"The old Queen sought to taint her Jewel, so my mother fled. 'Twas before Liara's mother became Queen and her evil sister stole the throne from her."

"I thought Liara was your sister?"

"She came to us when I was too small to know how Mother fostered her."

"She is beautiful."

He wished to tell Disa that in his sight, she outshone Liara. The words refused to emerge. "What do ye

think of Valmir?"

"I don't know him."

Stilenta's pony had stopped to browse. "Do not fear Valmir. Desert Riders have ever been loyal to the

White."

"We have only his word he is one."

"He has the look and the manners. Why are ye so wary?"

"I cannot let Liara walk into danger. My mother sent me as her protector. I failed her once. Perhaps

Valmir belongs to the Brotherhood?" Stilenta shook her head. "There has never been a Desert Rider among the mages. Don't battle with shadows. Soon we will face real enemies." Brader nudged his pony and rode ahead. "I'll find a spot for tonight's camp." * * *

As Disa prepared the evening meal, Brader lounged beside the fire. Being in her company made him feel at ease. When Valmir strode from the forest with a pair of coneys, Brader's shoulders tensed. "Good," Disa said. "These will make a welcome addition to dinner."

"What if they're poisoned?" Brader asked. "I won't eat them."

Valmir faced him. "What have ye against me? If I hadn't dragged ye from the ship, ye would be riding

with the fishes."

"I say ye spy for the mages."

Valmir straightened. "I would never serve those abominations. No Desert Rider has a use for the black

robes. To ye, I offer challenge as my people do. No weapons and we fight until one of us can no longer

stand." Brader rose. Though Valmir was a shade taller, he was of slighter build. Brader felt confident that his own knowledge of fisticuffs and wrestling would bring him a win. "If ye lose, ye will leave."

"And if ye lose, we will cry truce." Brader crouched and waited for Valmir to move. The arrogant expression on the Desert Rider's face triggered Brader's anger. He charged. Valmir stepped aside and grabbed Brader's arm. When the Desert Rider spun, Brader's feet left the ground. He landed with a thud. With a shake of his head, he rose and attacked again. Just as fast as the first time, he was upended.

* * * "Are ye happy?" Brader groaned and rubbed his head. "What happened?" "Ye would fight and ye lost," Liara said. "Ye have been unconscious, except for a short time, since last evening. We have lost a day's travel to your stubborn foolishness." "He issued the challenge." "Hah! I do not understand ye. Why must ye see a traitor riding every horse and pony? Since ye have lost the fight, ye must accept that he is not one who will betray us. Andalor is the one, but he is only allowed to let the Queen know what I wish her to know."

Brader clenched his hands. "So ye knew this and did not tell me. Let us find a way to send the minstrel on his way."

"Nay. Though I don't know why, I know he must be with us and I know the Queen must know where we head. Make your peace with Valmir or ye will be the one who leaves."

For the first time since his mother's announcement, he saw Liara as Queen. "I won't fail ye again."

She walked away and spoke to Valmir. Though Brader couldn't hear her words, her stance showed her anger. The Desert Rider left his place by the fire and crouched beside Brader. "I did not mean to cause ye injury."

"Where did ye learn that style of fighting?" "'Tis the way of my people."

"And a secret to be kept?" Valmir grinned. "I can teach ye." * * * Two days later, Brader and Valmir rode together. Liara was at Andalor's side. Her laughter drifted toward them. Valmir scowled. "Why does she seem to favor him?" Brader shrugged. "Who can understand what a woman does?" "Not me. I dislike the way she seeks his company." "Agreed. Since we fought, she ignores me as well. 'Tis a puzzle. Tonight before ye wake them to stand watch, rouse me. When he leaves camp, I'll follow and see by what means he speaks to the Queen." "Ye will be tired tomorrow. I'll stay up." "And if Liara learns what we plan, she'll be angry. It's better if she's angry with me and not ye." Valmir nodded. "Ye are right. Have ye noticed how little small game we've seen?" "Aye. Nor have I seen antel tracks." "'Tis puzzling. I wonder what hunts these hills..."

* * * That night, Brader prowled the campsite. He heard a distant howl that held an eerie tone. He dumped an armload of deadfall near the fire. "Why are ye on edge?" Disa asked. "Do ye sense danger?" He shook his head. "It's too quiet, except for that distant howl." She nodded. "'Twas like this just before the fanged apes attacked." "Are the cries the same?" She shook her head. "The apes sounded like a person in pain." He rose and checked the mounts. Their calmness eased his uneasiness. Though he knew little about horses, he knew hill ponies as wary beasts. When he returned to camp, it was time to wake Stilenta and Valmir. He paused beside the Desert Rider. "Remember our plan." When Valmir touched his shoulder, Brader opened his eyes. He'd chosen his sleeping spot at the edge of camp so he could follow the minstrel without alerting Liara.

Liara and Andalor spoke quietly. About what, Brader wondered. Then the minstrel walked the perimeter of the camp and returned to the fire.

A short time later, Andalor rose again. This time, he moved into the woods. Brader slipped from his blankets and followed.

"Reena, I am here."

Intent on seeing what the minstrel held, Brader peered through a break in the brush. Though moonlight filtered through the canopy, all Brader could see was a dark object in Andalor's hand.

"Over Stone Mountain... Impossible... I am but one and they are five... I see. When do ye leave? I

await the day when we are together... Until tomorrow, unless I do not find a chance to report."

Andalor shoved the object in his shirt. When he stopped to gather deadfall, Brader slipped back to camp and burrowed beneath his blankets.