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enough.
    “One of us can tend to the creature, my lady,” the man said, indicating the sacking she was using on the pony’s damp coat.
    “I’m almost finished,” she said.
    “Best if one of us does it.” He took the cloth from her hand and she sensed that she had broken the rules of the encampment. She smiled and backed away, not wanting to argue.
    A couple of the men set off with bows in hand, evidently to procure supper. The camp had been speedily made: a small, tentlike shelter for herself and Darva, a fire among stones, a place for the provisions and packs. Themen would unroll a blanket apiece and sleep in the open.
    A question occurred to Ana, one that would be a little delicate to ask. Before she had the time to consider it further, Faolan appeared by her side so abruptly he made her start. Another one of those things that spies were good at, she thought sourly.
    “You’ll want somewhere to perform your ablutions in private,” he said. “Down there betweenthe trees there’s a stream. I’ve a man on guard some thirty paces farther into the woods. Go now while there’s still light.”
    “Do you ever make polite requests, or do you only give strings of orders?” She regretted these words as soon as they were spoken; she had sounded discourteous and lacking in self-control. This man seemed to bring out something she had not known was in her. “I’m sorry,”she muttered.
    “Go now,” Faolan said, as if she had not spoken. “Take your woman with you. That’s if she can walk. Make it quick.” He turned away, striding across the clearing to supervise some other task. The men-at-arms moved obediently to his command.
    Scooping out a makeshift privy in the bushes, quickly washing face and hands, roughly tidying up clothing and hair was all that was possible.Darva had to hobble along leaning on Ana’s arm; she would be hard put to climb into the saddle in the morning. There were to be three days like this, then a respite, for the fourth morning should see them arrive at the stronghold of Abertornie, home of the chieftain Ged; there would be beds and warm water. Ana doubted very much that Faolan would allow a stay there of more than a single night.
    He was taking no chances, even so early into the journey. There were ten men-at-arms, and it was evident a watch was to be maintained through the night, on every side of the camp. Ana could not imagine what danger they expected a mere day’s ride from White Hill; it seemed to her they’d be better to get a good night’s sleep while they had the opportunity.
    They ate their meal around the fire; thebread and cheese brought from White Hill were supplemented with hare cooked on the coals. There wasn’t much talk. Faolan watched her as she took out a clean napkin from her bag and wiped the grease from her mouth and fingers. Then she and Darva retired to bed, if bed it could be called; there was little more than a folded quilt between her and the hard earth, and her body, protesting from the day’sride, seemed to have no corner in it that was entirely free from pain. The exhausted Darva fell quickly asleep.
    Ana looked out between the folds of the shelter’s opening. Five of the men were lying by the fire while five had gone to keep watch. Faolan sat staring into the flames, his somber features transformed to a flickering pattern of red-gold light and shadow in the night. As Ana tossed andturned, restless and wakeful, he maintained his still pose. From time to time she looked out as the night wore on, but did not see him move; the eyes, perhaps. There was something there, a look that she did not understand, a bleakness that chilled her.
    She drowsed fitfully, waking now and then with a start. In the middle of the night, when creatures came alive in the woods, hooting, screeching,crying, rustling about the campsite, she saw him get up in a fluid movement, stretch, and wake the others. The watch changed; five men came in to settle in their blankets and five went