'And you thought that by helping us…'
'We hoped you'd aid us in exacting revenge on Jennesta.'
'Jennesta's thought dead. Didn't the Unis tell you that?'
'They said she hadn't been seen for quite a while. That's not the same, is it? Unless you know different.'
Stryke and Coilla stayed tight-lipped.
'So you reckoned we'd be so grateful that we'd join your little mission,' Stryke summed up.
'Something like that.'
'And if gratitude wasn't enough?'
'A reward, maybe. If the gems were recovered, my master would be willing to share them with you.'
'We kill what we eat and take what we need. We've no use for riches.'
'Where does that leave us?' Standeven asked uneasily.
'Where you're not wanted.'
'What do you intend doing?' Pepperdyne said.
'I'll think on it,' Stryke replied. 'Stay out of the band's way. I'll deal with you later.'
He turned on his heel and strode away, Coilla in tow.
When they were out of earshot, she remarked wryly, 'So, how does it feel to be a legend?'
'Did you believe any of that?'
'I don't know. Maybe.'
'Sounded like horse shit to me.'
'Notice how the servant had more to say than the master? That's the most I've ever heard him say.'
'Perhaps he's the better liar. And I think it was a slip when they said they knew about the stars. We didn't ourselves until a few years ago.'
'There might be no mystery in that. We lived closed-off lives when we were in the horde. A lot was kept from us.'
'That didn't stop us picking up hearsay. I don't buy it. And why would Jennesta hijack shipments of jewels? She had whatever she wanted nearer to home.'
'I don't know; I wouldn't put anything past her. But, Stryke… I owe Pepperdyne. I might not be here if he hadn' t — '
'I know. And they did warn us about the attack, whatever their motive. That's why I didn't just have their throats cut and done with it.'
'Would you?'
'If I thought they were set on betrayal, sure I would.'
'But they could be telling the truth. What do we do about them?'
'Dump 'em as soon as we can.'
They came to where Dallog had planted the band's standard. It fluttered feebly in the light wind. The corporal was busying himself with the wounded, though he still seemed queasy after the transference.
Wheam looked a lot worse. He lay on his side, presumably to avoid putting weight on his earlier injury. Propped on one elbow, he stared into a wooden bowl he'd been filling.
Dallog rose when he saw Stryke and Coilla.
He indicated the landscape with a sweep of his hand and said, 'You know, this could be Ceragan.'
'We've done that,' Coilla informed him.
Pepperdyne and Standeven watched Coilla and Stryke go.
When they were far enough away, Standeven's expression hardened. 'What were you hoping to achieve with that bullshit you just fed them?'
'Only saving our lives, that's all. And giving them a reason for letting us stick around.'
'But shipments of gems? And this Jennesta woman, who we've only heard about in tall tales? You're digging us in deeper here.'
'They can't disprove any of it.'
'The thing about lies is that you have to build other lies to support them. Believe me, I know.'
'As you're such an expert on the subject it shouldn't be too hard for you to keep up, should it?'
'Tall tales need to be thought through. They have to be plausible. When we overheard those Unis planning the attack, when we hid there listening, we should have formulated a plan. A watertight lie.'
'We didn't have the time; we had to grab the opportunity. We knew these orcs were rumoured to have the instrumentalities. Now we're sure.'
'Oh, yes, we're sure now,' Standeven replied, the trauma of the crossing etched on his face. 'But what good does it do us?'
'Do you want those artefacts or not?'
'Do I need them now?'
Pepperdyne gave an exasperated sigh. 'You've been slavering at the prospect of getting your hands on them! If you've bent my ears once about their value, you've done it a hundred times.'
'Watch your tongue!' Standeven retorted, haughtily puffing himself up. 'Remember who's master here.'
'Or you'll do what? Circumstances have changed. It's about survival now.'
Standeven seethed, but didn't push the issue.
'I'll tell you why you need the instrumentalities,' Pepperdyne said. 'Kantor Hammrik. He'll never give up until he's found you, and they're the only thing you can barter with.'
'How could he find us here?'
'I intend getting back. Don't you? And it's my neck as well as yours.'
'I still don't think — '
'I can't fight our way out of this like I did with Hammrik's escort. It'd be insane to square up to an orc warband. We have to use stealth, and bide our time. Or do you have a better idea?'
If Standeven had an answer there was no chance to give it. A clamour broke out further along the riverbank, where most of the band was concentrated. Two of the scouts were back, and they had someone with them.
'Let's see what's happening,' Pepperdyne said.
Standeven held out a hand. Pepperdyne hoisted him to his feet.
As they approached, they saw that the scouts had brought back another orc. He looked mature, perhaps old, as far as the humans could tell. His garb consisted of a sleeveless lambskin jerkin, baggy cloth trews and stout leather ankle boots. He was nearly as tall as the wooden crook he carried, which he used to help him walk.
They took him to Stryke. The prisoner's anxious eyes darted from face to face as the band gathered round.
'We're not going to hurt you,' Stryke assured him. 'Understand?'
The shepherd nodded.
'What's your name?'
'Yelbra.' He spoke hesitantly.
'Are you alone out here?'
He nodded again.
'We didn't see anybody else,' one of the scouts confirmed.
'Where's the nearest town, Yelbra?' Stryke asked.
The shepherd ignored him. He was staring at Jup and Spurral. 'What are… they?' he exclaimed, pointing at them.
'You've not seen dwarfs before?'
He shook his head, much more vigorously than he'd nodded.
'They're with us. Don't worry about them, they won't harm you. The nearest town?'
'You don't know?' he said, his confusion mounting.
'We wouldn't have asked otherwise,' Haskeer rumbled.
'It' s — ' His attention had shifted again, and his eyes widened. He let out something between a gasp and a groan.
The cause of his alarm was Standeven and Pepperdyne, who were pushing their way through the crowd.
Visibly shaking, Yelbra sank to his arthritic knees and uttered, ' Masters.' His manner was one of complete
