The soldier looked down. Stracker's expression now matched his half-brother's. "You unreliable swine!"

Loethar held a hand up to prevent the tirade. "Do we know what happened?"

"We arrived at The Lookout well before closing time, my lord. I saw Master Freath but not Master Kirin. I'm sorry to say I assumed that the Vested had already retired. It seems he had left the inn but we do not know why. We never saw him again."

"And Freath?"

"He was sitting at the back of the inn, talking with someone, just another guest. I never saw the man's face-he had his back to me-but he was not memorable by his clothing or build."

Loethar sighed. How obvious, he thought.

The Red continued. "Freath saw us and nodded." He shrugged. "That was enough. We knew where he was and that all was well."

"When did you lose track of him?" Loethar pressed.

"That's just it, we don't know. We were all watching this big man trying his luck at a game they play in the north called Arrows. Everyone was betting, the atmosphere was very lively. It was-"

"A diversion," Loethar cut in, his voice weary.

The man frowned.

"Deliberately done, I'd say. I'm sure the next time you looked for Freath he'd disappeared."

The Red nodded. "Exactly so, my lord. We never saw him leave and to be honest I thought he'd escaped the noise and revelling to retire."

"Finish this tale!" Loethar said, a wave of his hand accompanying his snap.

"Yes, my lord. The next morning we couldn't raise either Master Freath or Felt. We spent several hours questioning people and following every lead but to no avail. Then some travelers raised the alarm about a body found on the pass. It was not too deep into the mountains-almost at the gates, in fact. It was Freath, my lord. He had been run through with a sword."

"He was dumped there, presumably?"

"We believe as much. He had no reason to be in the pass, had no way of getting there and there was no blood to suggest he'd been killed where the body lay," the Red replied.

Loethar felt something die inside him. He already missed Freath. "Before you are executed, make sure General Stracker has all the information you can possibly remember about the man Freath was talking to and the big fellow you mentioned who created the diversion. He was memorable, surely?"

"Yes, my lord," the Red said. Stracker ushered him out.

Loethar noticed his warrior had not flinched at the news of his death and he felt a momentary prick of pride. It was short-lived, though; none deserved to live for failing in their duty to him. He wondered if the man had a family-whether any of the guards were married or were fathers. He was glad he didn't know, but at the same time he was angry with himself for even considering their situations. Ten anni ago it would not have even crossed his mind to wonder about the real victims of his tyranny-the family members left without their husbands or sons, fathers or brothers. He hated that he had turned more Set-like-some might say soft-in his approach to life. But then again, no one could accuse his predecessors of being soft. He was following in Valisar footsteps in putting Crown and duty ahead of family and personal feelings.

"Stracker," he called, halting the general as he returned to the chamber. "Let the Red live. He is young and was raised mainly in peace time. His elders led him down the wrong path; they were the ones who should have known better."

"All three were guilty of-"

"The Red may live. Punish him however you see fit but do not take his life. And make sure the families of the other two are compensated for their losses. Pay them well." He saw the look of disappointment creep across Stracker's face, laced with disdain. Stracker pitied him. It would not be long now before his half-brother made his move. The man was bored. Bored by the fact that the realms had cleaved into empire with relative ease and were getting on with the harmonious business of being led by one man surprisingly well.

Ignoring Stracker's badly disguised contempt, he continued, "Where is Vulpan right now?"

"Heading north."

"Get word. He's to set up base in Francham immediately. And you go up there and meet him. Find who killed Freath but do not kill him. Bring whoever's involved here. Do you understand?"

"I do. Do you understand that it appears soft if you allow the Red to live?"

"Don't question me, Stracker."

"Don't push me, brother."

"Half-brother."

Stracker smiled, and Loethar saw menace in his eyes. Perhaps he would have to take measures against his sibling sooner rather than later. He would have to speak with Dara Negev.

"What do you want to do about the Vested?" Stracker asked.

"He's not important to me but I would like to know what he was doing leaving the inn. Perhaps we will have some answers if we find Master Felt."

"You think Felt has betrayed Freath?"

"It's possible, isn't it?"

"They seemed bonded."

"All bonds are stretched sometimes," Loethar replied quietly.

"Indeed, little brother. And sometimes they break."

Their glances locked momentarily. Yes, Loethar decided, he would have to make a decision about Stracker soon. "Find Felt if you can," he said, deliberately moving away from the innuendo. "He's the missing piece in this jigsaw. One more thing. I would talk to the oldest member of the party before he's executed. I'll see him at the chapel. You too."

Stracker nodded and mercifully left.

Loethar sent a runner for his mother to be brought to the palace chapel.

Faris stared at his man. They were high in the forest again and meant to be feeling safe but Faris felt a knot of fresh anxiety forming. "Say that again," he demanded.

Coder obliged. "Lily and the man called Felt were taken by soldiers."

"To where?"

"I'm not sure, Kilt. We pretended to be brother and sister as we'd planned but Felt suspected we were lying, I'm sure of it. Not that it mattered. He only had eyes for Lily."

Faris bristled. Jewd caught his gaze and raised his eyebrows, silently warning him to calm down. Leo walked into the camp and placed his saddle over the railings built for the purpose. "What's going on?" he asked.

Jewd whispered, filling him in as Faris ignored the interruption. "What happened?" he asked Coder.

"We were traveling with the merchants. It was a perfect cover and Lily and Felt had just fallen into conversation when we were interrupted by a party of imperial soldiers. Among them was a Wikken."

"You're sure? He wore purple and was scarred?"

Coder nodded. "I'm sure, Kilt. In fact, he was the one who kept whispering to the guard. I'm certain that he urged that Felt be taken."

Faris frowned. "What has Lily got to do with this? Why was she taken as well?"

"They pulled them away from the main party and I wasn't privy to what was discussed but I could tell the soldiers insisted Felt accompany them," Coder said, visibly embarrassed, his eyes darting from Jewd, to Leo and back to Jewd, avoiding Faris.

"Why Lily as well?"

He shrugged. "I can't tell you; she didn't consult me. Be assured, Kilt, I would never have let her go. She was talking to Felt when the soldiers arrived and for some reason when they singled him out, she moved her horse with his." He looked anguished at the unspoken accusation in Faris's face. "I think she felt obliged to stay with Felt because of your instructions to stay close. I know he looked surprised when she began talking but unfortunately I couldn't hear what was exchanged. It happened in the space of such a short time, and I thought it made more sense not to follow but to get back here quickly and raise the alarm."

"But why would they let her accompany him?"

"I'm sorry, Kilt. I really don't know how she managed to persuade them to take her with them."

Faris spun away, fury mingling with his exasperation. "Is she mad? Where have they gone?"

Coder seemed to take a breath. He glanced around at the others, especially Jewd, who took the hint and nodded. "I found out a bit more later from one of the merchants. There's a man called Vulpan, he-"

"Yes, we know all about Vulpan," Faris said, waving a hand irritably. "He's all I'm hearing about it seems." At Coder's anxious hesitation, he snapped, "What about him, anyway?"

"That's where they're headed, apparently. They've taken Lily and Felt to where Vulpan's based at the moment-a town called Woodingdene."

"Where the mint is?"

Coder nodded. "They have no reason to hurt Lily. And the merchant believes they're taking Felt to be listed."

"They were murdering people for less just a few anni ago and she's put herself right into the mouth of the dragon!"

"Steady, Kilt," Jewd said. "We'll get her back."

Faris turned to stare at his friend, feeling suddenly lost. He was not used to this. He lived by his wits and was always so careful, so controlled, that no barbarian had ever even got close to him or his men. Even before the barbarian invasion he had prided himself on dodging the king's men. And now Lily was in enemy hands. He reminded himself why he and Jewd had often talked about enjoying women without falling in love with them.

As usual, Jewd sensed his mood. "We suggested Lily tail this fellow. We should be praising her commitment, not wondering at her mental state. No more recriminations. Let's plan our strategy to get her back."

"Before it's too late, you mean," Faris said, uncharitably. He sighed. "I'm sorry."

"I know," his friend replied. "Seems like both you and Lily say the first thing that comes into your heads. Lo knows what she's told them but she was obviously convincing."

The men listening smiled uneasily.

"I'll go, Kilt," Leo spoke up. "It's too dangerous for you but-"

Faris laughed ruefully, cutting him off and backing away.

Leo looked hurt. "No, listen to me. As far as anyone else is concerned I'm a nobody. I'm young; I can act dumb. I can-"

"No, your majesty. With every due respect, no!" Faris growled. "You forget he has tasted your blood."

"But he doesn't know what that means, or who I am," Leo protested.

"Loethar suspects it's one of us. That's all that matters. And he will pursue you until he has your body strung up from a tree or much worse. He thinks he's onto me, but doesn't know you're even alive. I intend to keep it that way. You will stay away from this man...this Vested creature. Jewd, you've been seen by the soldiers; we can't risk you, either. I'm leaving you in charge."

Now Jewd looked cranky. "I'd prefer to come along."

"Too risky," Faris snapped. "Clear up here, everyone, we're moving back to the camp."

His men drifted away, although Leo looked as though he wanted to have a fresh debate over his suitability to rescue Lily. But it was Jewd who grabbed his friend's arm and swung Faris around.

"Face me and tell me why, Kilt," he said. "We don't split up, you and I, not on something like this. And don't give me the caution about the soldiers from the inn. The chances of them being at Woodingdene is slim and the chances of those same soldiers not only being at Woodingdene but precisely where we might be is virtually nil."

"It's a risk all the same, Jewd," Faris persisted.

"One I'll take if it helps to keep you safe."

"No."

Jewd's gaze darkened and his brow creased in a mixture of irritation and confusion.

"Just leave it," Faris urged and walked away. He had to prepare for his departure.

"What's going on, Kilt? What's this about?" Jewd called after the outlaw but won no answer.

"It's about fear, I think," Leo said quietly.

Jewd looked around, surprised. "What do you mean?"

Leo shrugged. "He loves Lily. Has Kilt ever loved anyone before?"

Jewd paused, thinking. "Not a woman."

"Well, you said it. I reckon if he was prepared to confess, he'd own up to loving Lily, and he loves you. His two favorite people in the world are suddenly at risk. Perhaps for the first time in his life something worth losing is being genuinely threatened." Leo swung his hand around in an arc. "Look at the way he lives. His home is the forest, his closest friends are outlaws. He owns nothing. What money he needs he steals." Leo gave a sad laugh. "He doesn't even keep it. When my father used to talk about the highwaymen of the north, I imagined you were all rich and debauched." Jewd gave a rueful smile. "Now I learn their leader gives most away."

"Aye, his favorite recipient is the convent in the mountains. Plenty goes to the Academy at Cremond, of course."

"Did my father know this?"

Jewd nodded. "He would have had his suspicions, I think, and I imagine that's another reason he came looking for Kilt in the first place. He probably reasoned that no one who gives so much away could be all bad. And he found that to be true, because he gave him his most precious possession of all."

"His heir," Leo said, a maudlin tone creeping into his voice.

"Are the relations any easier between you two?"

Leo shrugged. "Not really. He's very angry. And he's hardly ever been affectionate toward me so I can't tell. I'm just Leo, the irritating burden. Lo knows why he protects me."

"Loyalty to Valisar. I know he has a strange way of showing it but he's a king's man."

"Not this king's," Leo admitted.

"He has every right to be angry."

"He does. It was stupid and impetuous. I know that now." Leo shook his head. "Kilt is right. My actions were the revenge of a child, not the disciplined action of a king."