XXXVII

“I knew getting out of there was too easy,” Lev said.

“I don’t think it was that easy,” Yoreno added.

Yoreno was still awestruck that Dantera, his mentor, was standing in front of him. They had found her—here of all places.

“Come!” she commanded the group. “Follow me.”

Yoreno climbed after her, followed by the other members of the Emblazoned Party. “They’re mounted!” he said. “We’re at a disadvantage.”

“Not if I can help it,” Dantera said as they climbed back down the rocky hill to a depression with a road.

She turned. “They cannot get over that hill easily—not with those rocks. We have a moment. Up there.” She pointed. “There is a raised plateau and a series of caves leading away from here.

“We can escape!” Mai said.

“No,” Dantera said. “Not yet. Come and I will explain later.”

Yoreno glanced back at the others. Their eyes were still wide as their shock, much like Yoreno’s, hadn’t yet subsided completely.

Stalking after Dantera, Yoreno and the rest of the group followed her up a switchback.

“Look out!” Dorrin said. “One of those riders had made it over the hill.”

“Ignore him,” Dantera said. “Climb!”

But Yoreno kept glancing at the rider as he neared the base of the hill. He wouldn’t pursue them now—not while he was alone. But he did shoot an arrow at them. It clicked harmlessly against the rocks nearby.

Yoreno followed up the last switchback which took them atop the raised plateau that was sheltered by the overhang of the mountain. It was then that Yoreno realized more storm clouds were on the way.

“For a desert,” he said, “it sure rains a lot here.”

“This is not natural rain,” Dantera said as she watched the others join them at the top.

The plateu was a rather large space of smooth black rock. There were some scrubby plants and rocks near the cliff face of the mountain near the craggy opening where the caves were.

“How did you find us?” Dell asked.

“Not now,” Dantera said.

“Why are we not going into the caves?” Mai asked.

“Because,” Dantera said—and Yoreno detected a certain level of… attitude, in her speech—“I have not led you into the caves yet.”

Mai cocked her head, her eyes going somewhat wide. Lev glanced at her, then to Yoreno, but said nothing. Neither Dell nor Sorika said anything either.

“Aren’t we going to escape through the caves?” Dorrin asked.

Dantera stalked past them toward the edge. Without turning to address them, she said, “Not yet.” She seemed to glance down at their approaching attackers. Then she whirled. “We cannot run—not yet. These warriors will track us and pursue us without stopping. You were fools to come after me.”

“At least we were loyal fools,” Yoreno said.

“Loyal to what?” Dantera asked as she narrowed her eyes. “I am no longer a lady of Aevalin and I am not the leader of the Roaming Lions. I take it you understand that?”

“How about loyalty to a friend, then?” Yoreno asked.

She glanced at him skeptically, then her eyes touched the smooth black stones at their feet. Finally she glanced up into Yoreno’s face again. “We must punish them before we flee. Make them pay so they think twice before pursuing us further.”

Knocking an arrow, Lev nodded. “We can do that. You know we can.”

“We’re the Emblazoned Party,” Dell added.

“Yes,” Yoreno said. “Adventuring and fighting is what we do.”

“Very well,” Dantera said, her eyes flicking to Ito Farralia on Yoreno’s back. “Then get ready. We fight!”