Shirin considered the problem for a moment. “The only way we can know before we return to the Temple is by asking Ty. Surely, she’ll give us some indication of what she was doing outside of the Temple walls and who escorted her.”

  “Even more of a reason to get to camp.”

  Both Sábria and Shirin turned to look at Xyda, who’d just cleared her throat to get their attention. She indicated the tents with a wave. “I know we don’t steal from the dead, but since these men no longer have any use for these tents, maybe we could requisition them for the night and send them on their way back to the Count when we’re done. Or, since you said we’d be traveling to most or all of the Temples around Cibía, we could deliver them to him ourselves.”

  Sábria grinned and gently clapped Xyda on the back. “I love the way the Hunters think. You’re resourceful, and there’s never a lost opportunity to increase your comfort during your stays in the wilderness.” She moved towards one of the larger tents and began loosening the guide ropes and taking down the tents while Shirin ducked inside and began throwing saddlebags and blankets out onto the grass.

  Hoping to repair the damage they’d done to Xyda’s trust, Sábria chatted while they worked. “I never wanted to be a Hunter because it’s such a lonely life. I’m definitely someone who enjoys being around people. That being said, the practical way your minds work is something I think all Blades should learn.”

  Xyda expertly undid a knot and then moved to the next. “Before the hostilities began, I spoke to two or three of the High Priestesses, asking them to allow handlers and shivs to intern with the Hunters. Honestly, My Lady, you’re absolutely right. There’s so much we could’ve taught them, but now….” Her voice trailed off, and she shook her head regretfully.

  Sábria tossed a rope to the ground and started on another. “We have to fix what’s broken, Xyda. I can’t allow matters to stand as they are now. If the Hunters refuse to listen, I’ll have no choice but to disband them, and if they don’t consider themselves Blades, then they’ll have to be dispersed around the Empire as civilians in the Temples.”

  “Impossible. If you embed us within the Temples, I guarantee that before the first turn is up, we’ll be dead, either by our own hands or by those among the Blades who hate us.”

  “Then we’ll just have to fix the problem, won’t we?” Sábria caught and held Xyda’s gaze, hoping the ‘we’ hadn’t been lost on the woman. With a practiced tug, she pulled on the end of the final rope, allowing the tent to collapse.

  Shirin took one side of the square canvas and Sábria the other. They pulled the edges taught in a coordinated effort that spoke of the many trips they’d taken together. Shirin folded her side over once and then looked at Xyda. “The problems between Blade and Hunter are recent. Do you have any idea where the hostilities originated?”

  Xyda moved into the second tent and tossed all of its contents out through the flap. When she emerged, she stepped to a tree and worked at one of the knotted ropes holding up the tent. “I’m not sure when it began or who started it.” She shook her head in frustration. “It came out of the blue. A resentment gradually arose over us hunting down and capturing errant Blades. I don’t think most Blades believe they should be allowed to run because they understand what the rules are when they enter Elyon’s service. It’s been more like an oily, insidious darkness creeping in to whisper lies in people’s ears.”

  She stepped out and nearly tripped over a saddlebag. Looking down at the bags, an uncomfortable thought occurred to her. “You may have already thought of this, My Lady, but where there are saddlebags, there should also be horses, no?” Since none were in sight, if they were to leave in the morning, those horses would remain picketed together until they were either eaten as prey or they broke loose and tied one another up in the ropes used to picket them.

  With all that had happened, neither Sábria nor Shirin had thought to look for horses. Sábria looked around as if they’d simply missed a string of horses standing nearby. “You’re absolutely right. Would you mind finding where they’re picketed and bringing them back here? We’ll finish folding the tents.”

  Shirin glanced between Sábria and Xyda. “Are you sure that’s such a good idea, letting her out of our sight?”

  Sábria stared into Xyda’s eyes. “Are you going to run again?”

  Xyda dropped the saddlebag and chuckled. “You’re kind of growing on me. And I’d hate for you to send the shiv after me again. She’s quite the force of nature.”

  That was an evasive answer if she’d ever heard one, and Shirin pushed the issue. “So, is that no?”

  Xyda looked at Shirin through narrowed eyes. “And you, Commander, haven’t grown on me one bit.”

  “It’s not my job to be your friend, Hunter. It’s my job to protect the Arch Priestess and to make sure all Blades fully respect and obey her. So far, you’ve failed miserably in both of those endeavors.”

  Xyda bristled. “I’ve never endangered her.”

  “Oh really? Explain to me again why we’re out here. Because I’m absolutely sure it’s not for our health.”

  A snarl crept into Xyda’s voice. “And if we weren’t out here, Sábria’s daughter would be dead right now. So you’re welcome.” She turned and, with long strides, disappeared into the trees.

  Sábria wrapped the ropes around the folded tent, making it into a neat, secure package. “I’d rather you didn’t antagonize her, Shirin. I’m trying to establish a rapport with the woman, not drive her away.”

  Shirin’s eyes sparkled as she continued the job Xyda had started on the second tent’s guide rope. “You make nice, and I’ll maintain discipline. I don’t think it’s a good idea to let her think she can walk all over either of us.”

  “I hardly think I’ve been letting her walk all over me.”

  “No, you haven’t, but you are walking a tightrope. I think when dealing with someone the Goddess has gifted with as strong a personality as Xyda, it’s important for one of us to maintain control. Since, as you say, you need to establish rapport with her, then the strict disciplinarian role falls to me. Something I’m well used to and have no problem enforcing.”

  Sábria, who’d finished tying up the first tent, tossed it aside and went to help Shirin untie knots on the second. “And that, my friend, is why we make such a good team. I only ask that you don’t push too hard with this one. I think with the stress she’s been under it will be very easy to completely push her away from her service to the Temple. In fact, my instincts are telling me that if the Goddess hadn’t intervened, Xyda had decided to do just that.”

  Shirin’s head shot up at that. “You mean run?”

  “I mean leave Cibía altogether, and if my hunch is right, she would have taken all of the Hunters with her. She’s a natural leader, Shirin. We already knew before any of this came to light that the Hunters look to her as their champion. A hero of sorts. I can’t be everywhere at once, and I can’t help but wonder whether the High Priestesses aren’t paying as much attention to details as they should. There was a time that you and I traveled more than we do now, and I could assess what was going on with the Temples throughout the Empire.”

  Shirin began folding the tent after it collapsed. “That was before Aloric took the throne. You could trust his father, Jensen, but not him.”

  “Yes. Even when I’m here in Sarlogne, Aloric still makes problems. The Festival Riot is proof of that. But I get your point. Calit is new to her position and while I think she’ll make an excellent Subcommander one day, she’s not there yet. Along those lines, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and have come up with a crazy idea. I’m trusting you’ll tell me I’m wrong if you think it won’t work.”

  Shirin grinned. “This ought to be good.”

  “Well, Rigot is on extended leave with her family, leaving us with only two Subcommanders at the moment. What if, while we’re off meeting with the Hunters and rooting out the Blades and civilians who’ve been attacking them, I assign Calit to cover my administrative duties and act as liaison to the palace? Then I’d put Rahel Arenda in charge of the day-to-day running of the Temple, bring Rúsola back to Sarlogne again, and temporarily promote her to Subcommander in charge of operations. If the situation were different, I’d temporarily promote Geller, but I want her with us because I’m expecting trouble. Between the three of them, I think we’ll be freed up to be away for an extended period of time.”

  Shirin completely stopped what she was doing, straightened, and stared at her Arch Priestess. “Sábria, as Ailith would say, ‘that’s a fowkin’ grand idea, Milady!’”

  Sábria laughed out loud.

  As they finished folding the second tent, Xyda walked out of the forest with a string of five fully saddled horses. She called out as she approached. “They didn’t even take the time to see to their horses properly. Their picket line was back among the trees, and I’m willing to bet all of them are thirsty and ready for a meal. Our camp is next to a stream, and once we’re back, I can make sure all of these beauties are unsaddled, fed, and watered.”

  One of the horses, a big grey gelding, pushed forward and stopped in front of Sábria. She held out a closed fist, which he sniffed before lowering his head, silently asking her to rub him beneath his forelock. “She’s right. You are a beautiful boy, aren’t you?” The gelding nearly groaned with pleasure as Sábria scratched between his ears. “You won’t need to take care of them. Ty is an expert horsewoman and will have them unsaddled, fed, and watered, probably before Ailith has our dinner ready. It’s nice having the younger ones around because they’re anxious to do the jobs that we’ve become tired of doing over the turns.”

  Shirin walked up to a sorrel mare and ran her hand down its sleek, reddish-brown neck. “Maybe we should bring them along to the other Temples so they can do all those jobs we hate.”

  “Do you think for one moment I ever intended to leave Ailith at the Temple without either you or me around? She and Jenx will both learn a lot by coming with us. And if you think I’d leave Ty out of my sight for that long, you need to have your head examined.”

  When Xyda had found the string of horses, she’d left all five horses tied to the picket line. Taking one end of the line, she’d tied it to the last horse, grabbed the other end, and led the whole string back into the camp. She untied the grey and handed the reins to Sábria. “It looks like this boy’s chosen you as his new master. Do you want the sorrel, Commander?”

  Instead of answering, Shirin simply undid the mare’s reins, led her to one of the folded tents, and attached the square bundle to the back of her saddle.

  Xyda rubbed the muzzle of a big black gelding. “I’ve taken a liking to this guy. He seems to be something of a rebel, but the others follow his lead.”

  Sábria looked at Xyda affectionately. “Well, that seems like an appropriate match.”

  With a quick look over her shoulder, Xyda allowed herself a small smile. “I have to admit, he did somewhat remind me of myself. Except, he has big pie plate hooves, and no one’s ever accused me of having big feet.”

  Shirin surprised her by walking over and putting one foot up next to hers. Xyda’s was about a toe’s length longer, and Shirin chuckled, “Well, I won’t be calling them dainty anytime soon.”

  Xyda stared at the Commander, unsure of how to take this friendlier side. After a moment, she lifted a shoulder in a shrug and set about securing the second tent to the saddle of one of the remaining horses. When they were ready, she climbed into her saddle and led Sábria and Shirin back to camp.

  CHAPTER 13

  It took another candlemark before they had the fish spitted over a nicely burning fire. Xyda had found some tubers in the forest and those were roasting on some hot stones around the edges of the flame. She’d also found a thick patch of edible greens, which she’d settled on the top of five flat rocks. It was while they were sitting in a comfortable silence slowly feeding the flames that something Ailith had said earlier suddenly registered. She jerked upright, fully alert. “Ailith, when we were talking before the fight, what did you mean you and your handler were looking for more of my friends?”

  Not sure she wanted to be the one to deliver the news that the Commander had taken Quariss and the rest of her people to the Magistrate Court, Ailith hedged. “Well, didn’t ya come with friends? Or do ya always travel alone?” She gasped when Xyda lunged forward, grabbed her tunic in both fists and pulled her to her feet.

  “I was a handler long before I became a Hunter, Ailith, and believe me when I say I know when a shiv is lying to me.”

  The fire Ailith saw in the Hunter’s eyes sent shivers down her spine. She swallowed hard and frantically searched for a way to soften the blow. “Well, I don’t think yer gonna like what I tell ya, and I don’t fancy bein’ around ya when yer fasched.”

  Xyda jerked Ailith so close their noses were practically touching and ground out her words through clenched teeth. “I really don’t like shivs lying to me, Ailith. So I think we’ve already passed the point of me being fasched, don’t you?”

  Ailith swallowed again. “Aye. Well, ya see, Quariss called Sábria outside and ordered her to let ya come out.”

  “What?” Xyda reflexively lifted Ailith onto her toes.

  “That’s enough, Xyda. Put her down.”

  With a sudden burst of fury, Xyda released her grip on the front of Ailith’s tunic and seized the back of her collar. She forcefully propelled her towards the waiting Sábria, Shirin, Jenx, and Geller, who’d all stood when she’d jerked Ailith to her feet. Her voice cut through the air as she pointed at Ailith. “What does she mean ‘my other friends?’”

  Sábria’s tone was low and soft and meant to diffuse the tension and anger in her Blade. “If you put her down, I’ll be more than happy to tell you.”

  Xyda scowled and released Ailith’s tunic. “You’re worried I’m going to hurt a shiv? That really is what you think of Hunters, now, isn’t it?”

  Ailith subtly moved closer to Xyda, which wasn’t lost on anyone. “She wouldn’t hurt me, Milady. She even said she’d teach me trackin’ when I get to be a Blade.” She turned to Jenx, “And she’s just like you with tellin’ me how I need to keep my eyes up and situa….situ…” Her brows descended, “What the fowk was that ya said?”

  Ailith’s defense helped Xyda relax. “Situational awareness, Ailith.” She casually slung an arm around Ailith’s shoulders. “It means you need to know what’s around you while you’re hunting.”

  Nodding vigorously, Ailith privately enjoyed having the Hunter’s arm around her shoulders. She closed one eye and squinted at Sábria. “I kinda slipped about her friends, Milady. I told her that me and Jenx were watchin’ for ’em to come try to rescue her.”

  Xyda’s eyes narrowed. “In fact, her exact words were ‘my other friends.’ What did she mean by that, exactly? Other friends?”

  Jenx shifted slightly, watching the way Ailith leaned into the Hunter. She turned and shot a quick glance at Geller, who subtly raised her finger, telling her to wait and see how this played out. Turning her gaze back to her shiv and the casual way Xyda had her arm slung across her shoulders, she felt a surprising stab of jealousy shoot through her. She blinked several times, trying to figure out where that had come from.

  Wanting to talk to Xyda in a friendlier atmosphere, Sábria casually walked to their fire. “While the dinner’s cooking. Why don’t you and I take a seat while the others keep an eye out for the bandits we passed on the way here?” She looked to the west, where the sun’s rays slanted at an angle that told her dusk wasn’t too far off. “Shirin, you and Geller set up perimeter watch. I’m sure you were aware of those two camps we passed along the way. Feel free to do some scouting if you want to find the numbers we’re facing. Ailith, I think a few more fish wouldn’t go amiss.” She glanced toward Ty, who was rubbing down the grey gelding with a handful of dry grass. “And I’ll bet Ty hasn’t eaten anything all day.”

  When the three acknowledged her words with a nod, Sábria turned to her remaining Blade. “Jenx. Finish setting up those tents and treat the perimeter as though it’s a primitive camp.” All Blades were trained in primitive camping. Some were better at it than others. When she’d been a shiv, Jenx had taken to it like a fish takes to water. She’d loved primitive camping and wished she could do more of it. In fact, maybe she’d ask permission to take Ailith out for some private time with her in the woods. They’d been so busy lately that it seemed like all of the time she normally spent developing a close bond with her shivs during their training had been eaten up by one emergency after the other.

  Pulling off her tunic, which she laid out as a makeshift sling to carry bundles of bedding, she set about gathering piles of leaves and brush that would eventually become six fairly comfortable beds. To her, primitive camping didn’t mean uncomfortable. She began silently cataloging all of the tasks that needed to be done. Setting up the tents was only the first phase. After that, she’d need to settle the bedding, set alarm traps around the perimeter, build fires around where they’d be sleeping, and provide plenty of sticks and wood next to each fire so whoever was on watch throughout the night could periodically feed the flames.

  With her arms crossed and her legs shoulder-width apart, Xyda watched Sábria organizing the camp. She wasn’t happy with the way things had turned out, but she couldn’t have left the shiv to possibly face the bandits on her own. But Sábria had done something to people Ailith had called her “other friends,” and that not only worried her, it outright pissed her off. “So, what did you do and what does she mean, ‘my people?’”

  Sábria stepped into Xyda’s space, silently telling her she didn’t appreciate her aggressive posturing.

  Xyda held her stance for a while, finally choosing to lower her arms to her side. She glared long enough to make a point, though. She was an Alpha, had always been, and for her to lower her gaze was galling, even if she was being dressed down by her Arch Priestess. The anger in Sábria’s eyes reminded her of the Goddess’s fury, which had been icier than the glacial lakes of Sentara. A shiver of fear ran down her spine at the memory, and she looked away.