Another month slipped by. The days grew shorter, the warmth of summer fading into a cool bite. With no threats reported by Mamar, the Sentry force poured its energy into training. Dem sat with his family one evening, enjoying a simple meal, when he felt Bane's presence tug at him like a shift in the wind.
Dem stood, eyes turning north. "Stay in camp. I'll be back shortly."
Ai reached for her bow. "Should I get Telo?"
Dem shook his head. "No danger. An ally who prefers to remain unseen has arrived."
"Be careful, dasai," Ai said, sitting back down — though she kept the bow within easy reach.
Bane waited in the same place as their last meeting. He looked surprised when Dem approached, then nodded as though satisfied. "You have the letters?"
Dem handed him the folded pages addressed to his mother and sister. "They're doing well?"
"Yes, young King." Bane drew in a thoughtful breath. "You've learned Escadomai?"
"Yes," Dem replied. He took the atlas from his storage ring and opened it. "Can you show me where they are?"
Bane examined the book with raised brows. "Outstanding work. Detailed. Here." He tapped an island in the Independent Isles. "Where the poison warnings are. They cleared the toxic gases and are building a settlement."
Dem traced the island with a fingertip. "At least now I know where they are."
"I want to share some intel with you. You may choose to act on it." Bane paused.
"A threat to us?"
"Probably not," Bane admitted. "Have you heard of Khomane?"
Dem flipped to the full world map. "Here — in the northwest."
"A land of great riches," Bane said. "They've been throwing money at mercenaries since before I was born. The Beast Empire has tried to conquer them for decades and failed."
"What's this have to do with us?"
"They've come to the Four Kingdoms. Some of them, anyway — unaffiliated with the Khomane monarchy, or so rumor says."
"Where?"
"Southern Dhryghal. Not an invasion force — only about six hundred soldiers. But they'll sack a town or two."
"Southern Dhryghal…" Dem frowned. "That's where the Stonefall clan set up. Will they attack the clans?"
Bane shrugged. "If they're after loot, probably not. If this is a seasoning run, they may use tribals to sharpen their swords."
"Is that normal for Khomane?"
"Yes. A new mercenary captain gathers a force, sacks a few small cities in the Four Kingdoms, then seeks work in the Khomane Empire."
"I'll think on it."
"Good enough. Keep getting stronger, young King."
With a rush of wind — grass bending, dirt and pebbles stirred — Bane vanished.
Instead of heading back to his family's camp, Dem veered toward the Travelers' tents. He intended to speak with Mamar.
"Dem!" Elspeth caught sight of him immediately, batting her dark eyes and giving her pleated skirt an unnecessary swish. "You don't visit very often. Perhaps you don't enjoy the cooler weather?"
"It's not the weather," Dem replied dryly. "I'm here to see Mamar."
"Of course." Elspeth brightened, leading him toward Mamar's tent and gesturing for him to enter.
Dem stepped into the dim interior, one brow lifting. Mamar had her back turned, a bare brown shoulder visible for a heartbeat before she finished buttoning her shirt.
"Shouldn't you announce yourself before barging into a woman's tent?" she asked lightly.
"If I have to announce myself before entering my seer's tent," Dem countered, "doesn't that make her a fraud?"
Mamar laughed — the little trap she'd set for fun had been neatly sidestepped. "Fine. I knew you were coming in."
"Now I'm not so sure," Dem snorted. "Let's talk about Dhryghal."
Mamar motioned for him to sit and took the chair opposite him. "Nice place. Hasn't rained there in years — worst drought in decades. I personally think it's cursed, but I haven't verified that."
"A mercenary force from Khomane recently arrived. My concern is the Stonefall clan."
"I did a general scry earlier," Mamar said, thoughtful. "No immediate danger to the clans. But with this detail, I can try again."
"It's a ten-day ride to their winter base. Going only matters if we can get there before something happens. We need to help them, but leaving here puts us out of position if trouble hits somewhere else."
Mamar nodded. "I'll purify myself and use the cards — show your immediate future if you go, and your future if you stay. If the outcomes are the same, we can assume Stonefall is safe."
"Isn't that cheating?" Dem asked with a faint grin.
"Shhhh." Mamar wagged a finger. "You're allowed to think things like that — but never say them."
Dem returned to his family. Mamar had said the preparation ritual would take several hours; she'd bring him her findings in the morning.
"Dosu!" Noko beamed at him, reading one of the Academy textbooks by firelight.
"Use a proper lamp, Noko." Dem laughed, pulling one from his storage ring and setting it beside her.
"Dosu, I'm going to heal you. Come here." Noko patted the big rock next to her chair, arms crossed with lofty expectation.
"Sure," Dem said, taking a seat.
Noko leaned in, whispering, "First, I have to scratch you. Just a little."
"Is this a scam, Noko? What kind of healer injures someone so they can heal them?"
She paused, thinking it over. "Are you injured anywhere?"
"Nope."
"Then don't be such a baby." She took his hand and dragged a sharp rock lightly across his knuckles. Just enough to leave a white mark — no blood.
"Ouch," Dem deadpanned. "If this doesn't work, I'll have to stay in bed for a week."
Noko nodded gravely. "Possibly two weeks."
She laid both hands over his, closing her eyes. Warmth bloomed across his skin.
When she lifted her palms, the mark was gone. "It worked!"
Dem arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean, it worked? Didn't you expect that? Was I some kind of crazy experiment?"
"No… just a regular experiment," Noko corrected.
Dem narrowed his eyes. "You're dead to me."
"Oh. Well, see you tomorrow," she chirped, slipping into the tent without a hint of remorse.
(an hour later)
The Swiftwind family exchanged goodnights. Ai reached for the lamp — but Dem stiffened, sensing Mamar's approach.
"Wait, Ai. Mamar's here." Dem tugged on his pants, left his shirt off, and stepped outside barefoot.
Mamar's tanned face was troubled. "I believe the earlier scry failed because the event is still too distant."
"Is something going to happen?"
Mamar nodded. "If you don't go, something bad will certainly happen.
The two readings were similar, but the second showed this: if you are there, you may be able to influence the tragedy."
"Good enough." Dem headed back toward his tent, pausing at the flap. "Thank you, Mamar."
Dem notified Revan that the Swiftwind clan would need to take over both the perimeter and the river crossing guard. Cycling out those on shift, rousting the off-duty Sentries, and gathering supplies took about an hour.
Dem swung into the saddle, gathering his reins. "We'll ride all night. Small break at first light, then continue until dusk and get a full night's rest."
"Understood, Commander." Telo had been briefed while the horses were saddled. Time mattered — if they could make the ten-day journey in eight or nine without arriving exhausted, that would be ideal.
After four punishing days, they reached what Dem called the halfway point. The Sentries posted two roving guards while the rest rested. Leadership gathered inside the command tent.
"My source says we are looking at six hundred troops; further details are unknown at this time. We can't handle that many in a straight fight," Dem said. "Suggestions."
"Endless harassment," Reyka offered. "Ever watch a pack of wolves bring down a bear? Hit it, run. When it chases, another hits it from behind."
"Tents," Telo added. "Burn them like we did at the slaver camp."
Sark nodded. "Anything that disrupts them. Sleepless nights add up."
"Food and water," Toman said. "The whole region is ravines, gullies, spurs — bone-dry. Most watering holes dried up years ago. They'll have to camp near a river."
Dem smiled, watching until Toman's beastkin flickered over him — a sleek river otter. Perfect. "You're Stonefall-born, right? So you know the terrain better than anyone."
Toman nodded. "I was one of the hunters."
"Sark," Dem continued, "I heard Revan joke about sage tea to Huntmaster Dern. What's that mean?"
Sark's grin spread wide. "It's a Gathering prank. The clans banned it, but back in the old days…"
The rest of the sub-chiefs looked blank — until Telo groaned. "Pretend the rest of us aren't as old as dirt and explain properly."
Sark snorted. "All right, Chief. You chop up sage leaves and put them in water. Makes you… go. Repeatedly. Stomach cramps, dizziness — the whole miserable mess. Same effect on horses. It burns out in half a day as long as you find clean water."
"It's a start," Dem decided. "As we get closer, pull all scouts from guard duty. I want them rested when we arrive. The main force will proceed to the Dhryghal winter camp. Sark — you'll take your scouts and find this army."