Winger nodded. “S’right. Abbot sent ’em south. They go by Altamont, Lake o’ Clouds, then east, back where they started. Most of ’em. Abbot left a few there in Netherfields jus’ in case any armor comes back that way from Kamfels.”
Precious Wind managed to keep her face placid. Too many people were going south. Abasio and Xulai were no doubt headed that way. Bear was headed that way. Now the army of the abbey, and did anyone know whether the commandant of that army was part of the prior’s plans? Well, there were many ways of laying a false trail!
Precious Wind lingered outside the dining hall when her dinner bell rang. The prior was also fed during the first night meal. She managed to be in front of him, to look up and see him, to let a smile light up her face as she greeted him. He was not as well schooled. Just for an instant he looked terribly surprised, even dismayed.
“Elder Brother, I’m so glad to see you. I know you were interested in our embassy’s analysis of the situation here.” She shook her head. “They’re very concerned. They’ve told me if there’s no immediate message here from Xulai herself, I’m to go on to Merhaven. Before I leave, I want to tell you about our people from Woldsgard. The two women and the men, except for Bear, who left earlier, may take advantage of your hospitality for a time. The duke told me he had already made recompense to the abbey for their care. Once I have gone, however, all the Tingawan presence will vanish, and you can quit worrying about the diplomatic consequences. I know you’ve been concerned.”
By this time the prior was in command of his face and able to offer her an expression of polite concern. “Oh, indeed. Concerned, of course, certainly. There will be no problem about the people from Woldsgard. I’m told one of the women has found an aunt here, one of our cooks. She has offered to work for us if we have work for her. The elderly woman is welcome to stay, of course, and the men will be useful.”
Precious Wind had no doubt of it. Black Mike, Pecky Peavine, Bartelmy, and the brothers Farrier were going to be very useful. If anyone could find out who among the abbey’s men were confederates of the prior, those five could. Meantime, she needed to take a few hours’ rest and have a little talk with Oldwife and Nettie Lean. But before that, there was one item of unfinished business.
She went out the little gate at moonrise, giving the guard her word she would return within the hour. She was carrying a sack of scraps she had begged from the kitchen, saying she was baiting traps. She walked out into the night, across the grasslands, down into a hollow. She put her hands around her mouth and howled.
They came out of the forest, all of them, and behind the pack a few loners, strangers to her, who sat to one side, not daring to come closer. Sons of the alpha wolf that he had chased away. Two females. The nucleus of another, related pack. She emptied the big sack for the pack and let them sniff her again, memorizing her smell. With the pack leader, she laid her hand, very briefly, upon his shoulders, then walked away to the place where the loners sat. The smaller sack would do for them. Just meat scraps, bread with meat juices on it, cheese that may have gone a bit moldy, nothing that would hurt them and more food than they found on some nights by themselves. Pig was good, but both boars and sows had tusks and were very good fighters. Deer and wild cattle would feed a pack for days, but they were swift or horned or both, and not easily come by. Rabbits were quick, shifty, and had very little meat on them. Smaller critters were hardly worth the trouble unless they could be caught by dozens. The loners sniffed her as well. The pack leader came to get her and walked beside her as she went away. She knew they had made an agreement. They would follow her south. She would hunt food for them. If needed, they would hunt men for her.
One of Alicia’s servants told her an army was approaching on the road that went through Altamont to the Lake of the Clouds. Alicia called for her horse, her guards, and went to meet it. The commandant rode forward and bowed graciously. “My lady, we ask your pardon for this intrusion. We will not trespass on your property except to use the road so far as the Lake of the Clouds.”
She pretended surprise. “Why, where are you coming from, Colonel . . .”
“Colonel Sallis, ma’am. We were told our people at Netherfields might be in some danger and rode to their relief, but it is we who were relieved.” He smiled, an honest smile. “Netherfields is in the care of the abbey, as you probably know. I am told by the people there that on the duke’s death, it will pass into our care in perpetuity. They have long known of this in Netherfields and at the abbey, but it is recent knowledge for me and those who sent me. We have left a small contingent there to cope with any incursions, and Hallad, Prince Orez, has pledged his help. So, we are returning to our camps east of here. There are brigands enough there to keep us busy.”
“Then I wish you a quick journey, Colonel.” She managed a smile
