'Just like old times, eh?' Coilla observed, breaking the impasse. 'Your memory's short, Haskeer. When did Jup ever let us down? And Spurral fought righteously today.'
'Well, that's fine, ain't it?' Haskeer replied with a hint of mockery. 'And now you've got another female to play with.'
'Yeah, we can press flowers together.'
Spurral stifled a grin.
'Waifs and strays,' Haskeer muttered disgustedly. 'Bloody circus.'
' Haskeer,' Stryke intoned menacingly.
'All right, all right. But what about them?' He pointed along the riverbank, to Pepperdyne and Standeven. 'If they're not deadweight then I don't know — '
'The younger one helped me out of a tight fix,' Coilla reminded him.
'Ask yourself why,' Haskeer came back. 'What're they after?'
'You're right,' Stryke agreed. 'For once. I want some answers from those two before we move on.'
'About time.' Haskeer started to move.
'Not you, Sergeant. You posted guards? Sent out scouts? No. Do it. Now.'
Haskeer departed, grumbling.
'Is it always like this in the band?' Spurral asked.
'Just about,' Coilla replied.
'Particularly when Haskeer's got a wasp up his backside about something,' Jup added.
'I don't want to tackle those two mob-handed and make this look like a grilling,' Stryke decided. 'They're bound to clam up.'
'We could beat it out of 'em,' Jup suggested, half seriously.
'I will if I have to. But they get a chance to talk first. We owe them that much for the warning, and for aiding Coilla. So help out with the band, Jup. And stay away from Haskeer. Hear me?'
Jup nodded and left. Spurral went with him.
'What about me?' Coilla said.
'We'll see the humans together. You get on with them.'
' Whoa. I don't count humans as friends.'
He turned without answering and headed along the riverbank. She followed.
The band was recovering. Those who didn't have a chance earlier were cleaning the gore from their blades. Others were having wounds tended. Haskeer was working off his temper by barking orders.
They found the two men by the water's edge. Pepperdyne stood looking down at Standeven, who sat on the grass, clutching his knees to his chest. He was sweaty and trembling.
'What's the matter with him?' Stryke said.
'You might have noticed that getting here was quite a ride,' Pepperdyne replied.
'You seem all right.'
He shrugged. 'Where the hell are we?'
'We're asking the questions. Who are you?'
'Like I said. I'm Jode Pepperdyne and — '
'I mean what are you.'
'Merchants,' Standeven said, a little too quickly. He glanced up at them and shuddered. 'That was hellish. I never believed them. I never thought it was true.'
'What you talking about?'
'Those… objects that got us here.'
'So you knew about them? Before you came to us, I mean.'
The pair of humans exchanged the briefest of glances.
It was Pepperdyne who answered. 'There've been rumours about instrumentalities for as long as I can remember.'
'We knew no such stories,' Stryke said. 'Not until recently.'
'You hear all sorts of tales in our business. Including things outsiders aren't privy to.'
'You say you're merchants.'
'Yes,' Standeven replied. 'That is, I am. He's my aide.'
'He fights pretty well for a merchant's lackey,' Coilla remarked.
'His duties include guarding me. You attract the attention of brigands in our line of work.'
She addressed Pepperdyne directly. 'You didn't pick up your skills from traders.'
'I've been around,' he told her.
'Military service?'
'Some.'
'You Manis?' Stryke wanted to know.
Standeven looked surprised. 'What?'
'You tipped us off about them Unis.'
'No, we're not. Not all humans support religious factions. Besides, we're not from Centrasia. Things are different in our part of the world.'
Coilla bridled. 'It's called Maras-Dantia. Centrasia's the name foisted on us by you outsiders.'
Pepperdyne spoke for his flustered master. 'Sorry,' he offered.
'I don't get it,' Stryke said, frowning. 'You're not Manis, yet you helped us against other humans. Why?'
'You're after something, aren't you?' Coilla added.
'Yes,' Pepperdyne admitted.
Standeven looked shocked, and opened his mouth to speak.
Pepperdyne got in first. 'We need your help.'
Stryke stared hard at him. 'Explain.'
'We didn't warn you because those Unis were our enemies. We warned you because of someone who is. Your enemy and ours.'
'That's clear as mud.'
'The sorcerer queen,' Pepperdyne said. 'Jennesta.'
A cold chill took hold of Stryke's spine, and he knew Coilla felt the same way. 'What the hell are you talking about?'
'She owes us. And we heard she's in debt to you too, in a manner of speaking.'
'What do you know about Jennesta? Be plain, or this ends here and now. The hard way.' Stryke's expression left no doubt as to what he meant.
'My employer here lost a valuable consignment. It turned out to be her doing.'
'What was it?'
'Gems. Along with not a few good men. Including some of my master's kin.'
'This happened where?'
'On the edge of the wastelands. That's what we call it anyway. The wilderness separating the wider world from Cen — … from Maras-Dantia.'
'So you went to Maras-Dantia yourselves.'
'To seek recompense, yes.'
Coilla was sceptical. 'Just the two of you? And only one with the guts for a fight?' She glanced at Standeven.
'We weren't alone. We had a group of fighters with us. But when we got here… there, rather, we found the place in chaos. Unis ambushed us and most of our men were killed. Some of us were caught and held for a while. That's how we knew about the attack, and where we learnt your story.'
'The Unis told you about us?'
'Yes. Didn't you know the Wolverines are a legend in those parts? Anyway, we escaped and — '
'How?' Stryke said.
Pepperdyne shrugged glibly. 'Nothing very heroic. They were more interested in attacking you and the dwarfs. We were lightly guarded.'
