blanket to find bandages. He pulled the cotton back and saw the source of his ache. The spear wound was small now, no doubt thanks to the healing of one of his paladin brothers.
Taennen grunted against the stiffness and pain and rolled from the cot to his feet, but he immediately fell to his knees. He paused, taking several deep breaths, then stood and stumbled out of the tent into the dwindling evening light. The joint troops were camped, preparing dinner fires and finishing setting up their tents. Before he could speak to any of them, he heard a whistle and turned to see Loraica shaking her head. Her curly hair danced from side to side, sliding past a few scrapes and bruises that dotted her face and neck.
'I doubt you're supposed to be moving around yet,' she said.
'When did that ever stop me?' he asked. 'How long was I down?'
'Not long, just a few bells,' she said.
It even hurt to smile but he could not help himself. Since they met so many years ago, just laying eyes on his friend always made him smile. No one fought harder, listened more closely, or backed her comrades as fiercely as Loraica did. Even when they were only sparring, she gave her all. Taennen's smile grew when he realized that Loraica was probably the main reason he was able to move even in so much pain at that moment. Her fierce competitive nature had taught him how to deal with pain. He had given his fair share of lumps as well. Everyone seemed only to draw them closer together.
'The healers managed some progress on the wound but they say there's some sort of poison in your body.'
'Poison?' he asked.
'Yes, from the formian's weapon,' Loraica said. 'Formian?' he said, laying his arm around her shoulder' for support.
'That's what the ants call themselves,' Loraica said, taking his weight upon her as if it were nothing. 'We've been questioning the one you were fighting. He…' she paused and then started again. 'It's their leader.'
'Show me this formian,' he said.
On the Durpari side of the camp, Adeenya nodded to her men, who closed the circle behind her, hiding her from the sight of the Maquar. She crouched, the smell of hot grasses tickling her nose. She pulled a pendant from a pocket on her belt. Solid bronze but otherwise quite plain, the piece was round and etched with simple designs of clashing weapons. She concentrated hard and touched the piece to her forehead, whispering the word her commanders had given her to activate the item.
Report, she heard in her mind. The sound was both one voice and many at the same time. One part boomed, others whispered, some sang.
Sirs, we were engaged and took heavy losses, she replied without speaking. The sound of her own mental voice reverberated in her head, and she wondered if her own voice sounded as cold and empty to those receiving her message as theirs did to her.
What enemy, Orir? You've reached Neversfall?
It surprised Adeenya that her superiors had known the nature of the mission where she had not. No, sirs. We encountered a large force of monsters and humans led by a type of creature we've never seen before, sir. They call themselves formians, she said, her mental tongue stumbling at the last word.
A long pause followed, and Adeenya nearly severed the connection, believing there was a problem with the medallion's sending, when the voices returned.
We'll expect a full report on these creatures.
Of course, sirs, but what about the present situation?
Proceed as ordered, Orir, came the response.
Adeenya could not hide her surprise. Though she articulated no words in her mind, the response was rapid.
Is there a problem, soldier*.
We lost troops on both sides, sirs, she sent. Two of our clerics are dead. We will be less capable in our mission at the citadel. We should wait for reinforcements.
You will succeed, Orir.
Adeenya knew not to say more on the subject. She had long thought that part of the process of becoming a high-ranking officer must have been losing your memory of what it's like to be in a bad situation with few troops at your disposal.
Adeenya felt a snap in her mind, like a twig breaking, as her superiors severed the mental connection. The response of the command council went against her own thoughts on the matter, but that was nothing new for her. She stood, clapping her soldiers on the backs in thanks for providing her privacy for the sending as she pocketed the device once again, but still held it in her closed hand. She found it soothing to run her thumb across the smooth metal surface of the device while she thought.
'Sir?' Marlke asked as Adeenya strode to her tent.
'We're to proceed,' she replied.
'Anything else, sir?' the dwarf asked.
'No, Marlke,' she said.
The dwarf saluted and turned tightly on his heel. He began barking orders at the Durpari soldiers who were already working hard on setting up their camp and low fires. Adeenya watched the Maquar side of the camp and noticed Taennen, leaning on Loraica, moving toward the prisoners. She was relieved to see the durir standing, even if not under his own power. The ant leader's spear had nearly rent the young man in half. When she had seen so much blood gushing from his stomach, she had been certain he was already dead.
Adeenya spotted Jhoqo near the prisoners and squinted to make out any details on the man's face. He was writing on a parchment as he watched the prisoners. Cataloging them, perhaps? Even from her present distance, Adeenya felt the tension on the man and she could not blame him. The mission he led was of dire importance, and their first engagement had gone poorly.
'Odd species, aren't they?' came Khatib s voice from behind her.
Adeenya cursed herself for not paying more attention and turned to face the man. She had not noticed his thin moustache when they met earlier. It lent his face a feline quality she found bothersome. He focused his gaze on the prisoners and Jhoqo just as she had done a few moments before.
'The Maquar or the formians?' Adeenya said.
Khatib laughed. 'Before I joined them, I often wondered if the Maquar were human!'
'They aren't, at least according to some of the stories I grew up with,' Adeenya said.
'Indeed, I've seen them perform some amazing feats. Especially him,' Khatib said, nodding toward Jhoqo.
'That does not surprise me,' Adeenya said. 'What brings you to my side of the camp?'
'I did notice it was a bit segregated,' Khatib said.
Adeenya chuckled. 'Why wouldn't it be? To the Maquar we're just mercenaries, aren't we? Hired blades who will do anything for coin?'
'Oh, I don't know about that. I think the Maquar respect anyone who fights as well as your people did back there. But, to answer your question, I was here to see if I could assist you, but it seems you have things well in hand, as it were,' Khatib said, looking toward her pocketed hand that caressed her amulet.
Adeenya did her best to hide her surprise. 'Yes, I think so. Is that all, then?'
Khatib smiled wide, his thin lips a mockery of the effort. 'Yes, commander. I'll take my leave, now,' the wizard said. He walked past her, giving a slight bow, and moved to the Maquar side of the camp.
Adeenya watched him go, wondering if he had come on his own or if the Maquar commanders had sent him to spy. She pulled the amulet from her pocket and looked at her distorted reflection in the polished metal. Either way, it didn't matter. She had no doubt they possessed a similar device to remain in contact with their people. She placed it once again in her pocket and moved to help her people finish setting their camp. She wanted half a bell to sit and think, to absorb everything going on around her, but there was never time for such a thing. She grinned to herself. She had grown so accustomed to living at a fast pace, she would probably fall apart if she ever had to slow down and think too hard about anything.
Taennen navigated the uneven terrain of the camp, having shaken loose Loraica's supportive arm. He passed
