The steady pounding of hooves on the hard-packed roadway surrounded the party with constant thunder. Kevlin’s body moved in time with his mount, but his mind wandered.

For a while he grappled with Harafin’s lessons on magic, but the effort left his head hurting. Hopefully Harafin would grow tired of the game soon and leave him alone. Kevlin wasn’t a sentinel and no amount of training was going to change that.

He had given up trying to understand Ceren’s behavior. She had treated him with professional courtesy ever since their deal and he hoped to build upon that.

His thoughts turned to Indira, as they often did of late. She fascinated him. The gentle healer side of her attracted him with undiminished force, but it was the hidden side of her that he yearned to learn more about.

First he had to deal with Tanathos. After that, if he could escape whatever machinations Harafin was laying in his path, then he would play a long game of cards with Indira.

Around mid-morning, the highway split. The main road turned west toward Diodor, but they followed the smaller branch north without pause.

The road wound into the foothills of the Straton Mountains. By noon, when they stopped for a quick lunch, they were already past the foothills.

While they ate some jerked beef and flat travel bread, Harafin paused mid-sentence. He closed his eyes and a silvery halo surrounded his head.

“What’s going on?” Kevlin asked.

Leander moved to stand next to Harafin. “It appears he has received a mindlink communication.”

Nikias and Ceren, who had been discussing the various noble families of Hallvarr, shifted closer to listen. Nikias knew all the women at court and, if his boasts could be believed, was beloved by all.

“I thought mindlink was dangerous right now,” said Ceren.

“It is.”

They watched in silence for another minute until Harafin opened his eyes. “I was not attacked. In fact, for a change I have good news.”

“Tanathos is dead?” Nikias asked excitedly.

“No, not so good as that,” Harafin chuckled. “I was contacted by Ah’Shan. He founded the kestrels half a century ago. Wayra was right. He’s traveled all the way from Parthalan to come to our aid.”

“What size force does he bring with him?” Nikias asked.

“Just himself.” At Nikias’ crestfallen look, Harafin added, “Ah’Shan is an adept sentinel of the highest caliber, and a force to be reckoned with.”

“Where is he?” Ceren asked.

“On the road from Diodor.”

“He made incredible time from Parthalan,” Kevlin observed.

Harafin nodded. “Sometimes it is possible to manipulate the winds to help speed a ship, if the need is great enough.”

Kevlin frowned. “I hope he told the captain what he was doing.”

“Why?” Ceren asked.

“Because they can’t take credit for beating the record for passage from Parthalan to Diodor if a sentinel tampered with the winds.”

“What record?” Indira asked.

“Traveling between cities usually takes about the same average time,” Kevlin said. “Those merchants able to make the passage faster win prestige and can command better prices. Using magic disqualifies a trip from getting posted.”

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Ceren laughed. “I think Ah’Shan had more important things to worry about.”

Kevlin said, “Don’t make fun of it. It’s an important part of a merchant’s life.”

Ceren raised a hand defensively. “Don’t get upset. It’s not worth the fuss.”

“It is to some people.”

Leander clapped Kevlin on the shoulder. “I’m sure things will be sorted out. It is good to know we have another ally on the way.”

“Indeed,” Harafin said, his expression thoughtful.

They pushed the horses all afternoon, climbing through the hills, ever nearer to the towering bulk of Mount Il’Aicharen. The mountain filled the sky to the north. As the sun slid toward the west, dark clouds began building around the high peak.

“Looks like a storm’s coming,” Kevlin commented when they slowed to walk the horses for a while.

“The sky’s getting hazy,” Drystan pointed out.

“We ride through the night,” Harafin decided, his expression grave as he looked north. “Time is very short.”

They paused late in the day to eat dinner and rest the tired horses again. Kevlin sank to the ground next to the fire and sighed, happy to be out of the saddle for a while to rest his aching thighs.

Indira settled next to him, tucking her legs up under her robe. She pushed her silky black hair behind one ear and met his gaze.

Before she retreated into her shy shell he asked, “Tell me how you can control your gift.”

She leaned closer, her eyes glowing with excitement. “I haven't tried it yet, but I think under the right circumstances I could shield someone with my faith even before they get hurt.”

He liked her best like that, her eyes sparkling, her cheeks a little flushed, radiating confidence. He wondered why she feared showing the world that side of her.

“Tell me about it.” Ceren sat on the far side of Indira. The two huddled together, chatting in hushed tones.

Kevlin decided to leave them be. Indira was inching out of her shell and he was finally reaching a workable relationship with Ceren. He went looking for Jerrik. He needed to learn everything he could about Indira's style at cards.

# # #

“There’s an army camped in the next valley,” a scout reported. Adalia stood with him.

“What are their numbers?” Gabral asked.

Jerrik simultaneously asked, “Tanathos?”

“We couldn’t tell. We saw many campfires, but did not risk approaching.”

“I coulda snuck up on ‘em,” Adalia boasted before jerking her head toward the soldier, “but he wouldn't let me.”

“He was right,” Harafin said.

Adalia muttered, “Nobody woulda seen me.”

“Perhaps not, but why take the risk? I will investigate.” Harafin closed his eyes and a light amber glow suffused his face, concentrated around his eyes.

“He’s connecting with an animal,” Kevlin whispered.

Probably an owl, since it was nearly midnight. The moon had yet to rise and the clouds blocked all the stars. The darkness was so deep that they had slowed to a walk, a single lantern lighting the way.

They waited several minutes before the glow faded and Harafin shifted and smiled in the wan light of the lantern, “It seems Wayra managed to contact Diodor after all. That’s the king’s army you saw. Come, I wish to speak with King Leszek.”

The king greeted Harafin warmly and quickly agreed to order his forces to push on through the night. As the army moved out, the king rode near the vanguard of the company, calling together a war council of Harafin, Colonel Gabral, and another sentinel named Hathor.

Kevlin rode farther back, amid the main troop, his hopes buoyed by the number of new allies. The king’s army was made up mostly of Outriders. Those soldiers were impressive. He’d never met another force so clearly ready for battle.

The company also boasted three sentinels and four Jagen Stalwarts. The combined might of the two forces was a heady thing to consider.

Despite the strength of their army, Kevlin couldn’t help but wonder what secret forces Tanathos was bringing to bear. He had proven a wily, dangerous foe. No matter how strong their force, Kevlin wasn’t naïve enough to think they’d beat Tanathos easily.

Hopefully the army would keep Tanathos distracted long enough for Kevlin to close. That was all that mattered.

Leander reined in beside him, followed a moment later by the leader of the Jagen Stalwarts. He was a thick-set, middle-aged man named Areli, with a heavy mustache and brown hair.

“Well met, my old friend,” he greeted Leander warmly.

The two clasped arms and Leander laughed. “Praise the lady you serve for blessing us to ride together.”

The three of them chatted for a while as they rode through the darkness. At one point, Areli glanced up at the sky. “The air is very heavy tonight.”

“Aye,” said Leander. “It will be a storm to remember.”

“Let’s hope it holds off until we’re finished,” Kevlin grumbled. He hated fighting in the rain.

He enjoyed the company of the old men. Areli proved to be friendly, and liked to laugh as much as Leander.

Climbing steadily, they rode through the chill night. Dawn reluctantly came, and revealed a threatening sky filled with ominous dark clouds that roiled low overhead, blocking the view of Mount Il’Aicharen.

The clouds filled Kevlin with a cold sense of foreboding.

“We must hurry,” Harafin urged, his face grim.