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horse’s mane to keep her balance. Amazingly, the animal didn’t seem to object. Instead, it shifted to the side, shielding them behind the dying Graygual to keep the last enemy out of striking range.
    The mental assault battered at her shields as Rohnan yelled, “I have him!” He worked his horse in the small space to get behind the remaining Graygual. The other man turned in his saddle, trying to see behind him. Rohnan reached forward with his long staff and jabbed the back of the man. The blade sank in halfway, no more than a knife strike.
    The Graygual reached behind him in reflex, screaming with the pain. Shanti slapped the horse in her way, but by the time the animal moved, Rohnan had closed in. He raked his weapon across the Graygual’s throat. The man dropped to the ground.
    “I can’t fight on these accursed animals,” Shanti growled in frustration, kicking her horse’s sides to get him to move. “How did you learn such skill, Rohnan?”
    “I stole a horse early and traded up as often as I could. Riding a horse is faster, and less tiresome, than walking.”
    Shanti wasn’t convinced about the latter.
    “Toss them some of your wealth to pay for what I’ve done,” Rohnan said, motioning toward the broken shop window. “If we can afford to give it, we should.”
    Shanti tossed a couple gold pieces through the broken window before they turned their animals west. Shanti opened her mind again, ready for a mental attack without the interruption from a physical one. None came—the Sarshars were probably regrouping, or getting into a different position. She didn’t dare search them out, though. They would be forced to attack if they felt her presence, and she needed to save her mental resources for whatever might be to come. Instead, she made a mental map of the area surrounding them, making sure no Graygual lay in wait. All she found was the sleepy minds of townspeople going about their morning routine. No Gifted and no Graygual. For now.
    “The Superior Officer is behind this,” Shanti said as they raced down the empty, residential street. People pressed their faces against windows or stood in open doorways, half-dressed, with fear and shock on their faces. Most watched them pass. Only a few ducked back into their houses to hide.
    Shanti spread her mind wider, lightening her touch. To the east, beyond the awakening minds of the town, coiled a cluster of anxious and eager individuals. There she felt the Sarshers , but her readiness was not called on. If they felt her lightly brush against their shields, they made no sign, gave no reaction.
    “There are too many Sarshers for me to break their blocks, and even if I did, I would expend all my energy if I tried to take down that many. They’re getting ready for something, though. They think we are going that way, I’d bet. Or waiting for instructions.”
    Rohnan turned into an alley and reined in. Shanti’s horse mimicked the action, once again ignoring her attempts at control. The old man stopped beside them, his expectant gaze trained on her. If he was looking to leave, it wasn’t to get back to the Graygual. He’d had his opportunity to run, but he’d remained out of the action, weaponless, waiting for Shanti and Rohnan to deal with the attackers. It wasn’t much of an assurance, but it would have to be enough.
    Shanti yanked out the map and opened it. Three loose sheets of paper tried to slide off the top. “Rohnan, look at this.”
    Each map detailed a portion of the land. Each section contained detailed plans of cities and towns and the wilds surrounding. Within the wilds were routes marked in blue, red and yellow. Red circles appeared in various places, black “X’s” often next to those, or in isolation, and orange circles randomly spread out throughout the land, most often in the wilds, but with at least one in every city.
    A gnarled pointer finger stretched toward the corner and touched a small key at the bottom right of the map. Shanti