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himself and Omber into the slashing confusion under the trees, bellowing for his men to rally to him, and the suddenness of his charge gave them some small advantage for the time. They cut themselves away and broke free, fleeing down the mountainside, but the dark and the unknown terrain soon slowed them. They stopped after a bit in a dense stand of cover and stayed the rest of the night there, tensely standing guard, no one sleeping. Dawn showed them each other somewhat cut and bloody, tired and pale. The captain was there, and Kyrem, and three men. Two others were missing, and Seda.
    â€œWe must go back,” said Kyrem.
    â€œTake the wise path, Kyrem, and go on,” said the captain grimly. “Those who are gone are gone for good and aye by now.”
    â€œWe do not know that. They could have hidden themselves, as we did.”
    â€œI heard at least one give his death cry at my side. And remember, your first duty is not to them or to your rag-tag youngster, but to your father’s bond.”
    That thought gave Kyrem pause for a while. But then he stubbornly shook his head.
    â€œYou young fool—” The captain lost patience and temper, but Kyrem stopped his words with a black glance.
    â€œI may be a fool and young too, but I know myself. I cannot merely ride away and leave them. I will go back, with you or alone.”
    In the end they all retraced their tracks, riding warily. They found the dingle and the battle-scarred soil amid blackthorn, and they found their two comrades there, quite dead. There was no sign of Seda, though they circled the dingle.
    â€œNow may we go on?” the captain snapped.
    They rode away westward, heavy-hearted, the soldiers on account of their comrades, and Kyrem, though he frowned hotly to admit it even to himself, on account of the lad he had so unceremoniously deserted. But before they had gone much beyond the next belt of trees, they heard a clatter of quick, light hooves coming up from behind. They turned, half fearfully, wondering if certain black birdlike things preferred walking to flying. But there came two donkeys, each heavily loaded with packs and blankets and gear, and leading one and bouncing about on top of the other was Seda, driving the creature forward by twisting its ear.
    She presented the booty wordlessly. There was food in the packs, and a few garments, and flasks and cooking pans, and many of the things they lacked. The captain spoke to her harshly.
    â€œWhere did you get all of this?”
    â€œThose who attacked you last night—they left their train unguarded.” She faced him blankly, wrinkling up her nose a trifle at his tone. “I make a better thief than a brawler,” she added finally. “Are you not glad to have food? Do you still say I bring you bad luck?”
    No one said a word, but Kyrem put down his hand to her and hauled her up once again onto Omber’s back. The others took the packs and blankets and sent the donkeys away with a whack.
    â€œWhat is the matter?” Seda asked after they had ridden for quite a while in silence.
    No one answered her. No one would say what it was that preyed on their minds: that the two who had died were the two who had spoken against her.

Chapter Four
    Down from the mountaintop, the holy mountaintop, the highest in the Kansban range, called by the Devans Anka, by the Vashtins Kimiel, down came the cursing, flapping, black demon things. For days they followed above the riders, hurling their imprecations. “Devan dogs!” would come the neighing shout, causing the soldiers to mutter angrily. “Curse you! Curse you all!” A dozen or thirteen at a time would be lurching about in the air, shaking their black-maned heads crazily or thumping into the trees. Each one had its own litany of ill will. “Dung of Suth!” one would cry, and others would join in, “Blood of Suth! Balls of Suth! Bowels of Suth!” until the whinnying chorus deafened those