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small farms where the buildings had been burned, with the ripe grain standing unharvested. Except for a few ravens that flew silently, as if awed to silence by the country they were passing over, and an occasional startled rabbit that came popping out of one thicket and ran toward another, they saw no life. About the whole country there was a sense of peacefulness and well-being, and this was strange, for this was the Desolated Land.
    Some hours later they were traveling up a steep slope through a woods. The trees began thinning out and the woods came to an end. Ahead of them lay a barren, rocky ridge.
    â€œYou stay here,” Conrad said to Duncan. “I’ll go ahead and scout.”
    Duncan stood beside Daniel and watched the big man go swiftly up the hill, keeping well down, heading for a rocky outcrop that thrust above the ridge. Daniel rubbed a soft muzzle against Duncan’s shoulder, whickering softly.
    â€œQuiet, Daniel,” Duncan said.
    Tiny sat a few feet ahead of them, ears sharp-pricked and bent forward. Beauty moved over to stand on the other side of Duncan, who reached out a hand and stroked her neck.
    The silence wore on to a breaking point, but it did not break. There was no sound, no movement. Not even a leaf was rustling. Conrad had disappeared among the rocks. The afternoon wore on. Daniel flicked his ears, again rubbed his muzzle against Duncan’s shoulder. This time he did not whicker.
    Conrad reappeared, stretched out full length, slithering, snakelike, over the rocks. Once he was clear of the ridge, he came swiftly down the slope.
    â€œTwo things I saw,” he said.
    Duncan waited, saying nothing. Sometimes one had to wait for Conrad.
    â€œThere is a village down below us,” Conrad finally said. “Black and burned. Except for the church. It is stone and could not burn. No one stirring. Nothing there.”
    He stopped and then said, “I do not like it. I think we should go around.”
    â€œYou said you saw two things.”
    â€œDown the valley. There were men on horses going down the valley, far beyond the village.”
    â€œMen?”
    â€œI think I saw the Reaver at the head of them. Far off, but I think I recognized him. There were thirty men or more.”
    â€œYou think they’re after us?” asked Duncan.
    â€œWhy else should they be here?”
    â€œAt least we know where they are,” said Duncan, “and they don’t know where we are. They’re ahead of us. I’m surprised. I hadn’t thought they’d follow. Revenge can get expensive in a place like this.”
    â€œNot revenge,” said Conrad. “They want Daniel and Tiny.”
    â€œYou think that’s why they’re here?”
    â€œA war-horse and a war-dog would be very good to have.”
    â€œI suppose so. They might have trouble getting them. Those two would not change masters willingly.”
    â€œNow what do we do?”
    â€œDamned if I know,” said Duncan. “They were heading south?”
    â€œSouth, and west, too. A little west. The way the valley runs.”
    â€œWe’d better swing east, then. Go around the village and widen the distance from them.”
    â€œThey are some distance off. Still more distance would be better.”
    Tiny rose to his feet, swinging around to the left, a growl deep in his throat.
    â€œThe dog has something,” Duncan said.
    â€œA man,” said Conrad. “That’s his man growl.”
    â€œHow can you know?”
    â€œI know all his talk,” said Conrad.
    Duncan swiveled around to stare in the direction Tiny was looking. He could see nothing. No sign anything was there.
    â€œMy friend,” Duncan said, conversationally, “I’d come out if I were you. I’d hate to have to send the dog in after you.”
    Nothing happened for a moment. Then some bushes stirred and a man came out of them. Tiny started forward.
    â€œLeave him be,” said Conrad