“What do the new banners mean?” asked Longbow.
“Ill news, Huntmaster. Those are the house banners of families that were loyal to the Blue Wheel Party. At least when I was captured. They have been absent since the siege of Crydee. This can mean only another major shift in the High Council.” He studied the Huntmaster’s face. “It tells us the Alliance for War is again restored. And next spring we can expect a major offensive.”
Martin motioned for them to move back into the woods. The trees were fully covered in fall colors, riots of red, gold, and brown. Moving quietly through fallen leaves, they found a sheltering stand of brush skirting an ancient oak and knelt behind it. Martin took out a small piece of dried beef and chewed it. The climb over the Grey Towers, even with the dwarves’ help, had taken its toll: they all were hungry, tired, and dirty. “Where are the new companies of soldiers?” Martin asked.
“They won’t bring them through this winter. They can stage outside the City of the Plains on Kelewan, at ease in a milder climate. They’ll move through the rift just before the spring thaw. By the time flowers are blooming in Princess Carline’s garden again, they’ll be marching.”
A high-pitched keening sound came from the north. Charles’s expression changed to one of controlled alarm “Cho-ja!” He glanced around, then pointed upward.
Martin nodded and made a stirrup with his hands. He boosted first Charles, then Garret, into the oak tree. Then he jumped, and they caught his hands and pulled him up.
Moving into the higher branches, they were motionless and had weapons ready when the cho-ja patrol came into view, passing beneath the tree. Six of the antlike creatures moved at steady pace; then the leader, marked by a crested helm of Tsurani make, motioned them to halt. He turned one way then another, then made commands in their high-pitched language. The other five spread out, and for nearly ten minutes the three men in the tree could hear them searching the area.
When they returned, they quickly formed up and moved off. When Martin was certain they were out of hearing range, he whispered, “What was that?”
“They smelled us. My scent will have changed from all the Midkemian food I have eaten. They knew we were not Tsurani.”
Climbing down from the tree, Charles said, “Cho-ja cannot look easily upward, so they rarely do.”
Garret asked, “What if some of your former countrymen had been along?”
Charles shrugged. “The cho-ja would have been speaking Tsurani. Their language is almost impossible to learn, so no one tries.”
Martin said, “Will they be able to mark our trail?”
Charles said, “I don’t think so, but—” He stopped as loud barking came from the Tsurani camp. “Dogs!”
Martin said, “They can track us. Come.” He set out at a controlled run, back toward an ancient trail into the mountains, one almost completely overgrown and undiscovered by the Tsurani but used by Martin’s band to enter the valley.
For a few moments the three men loped through the woods, listening to the barking behind. Then the sound of the dogs changed, and barks became howls and baying. “They’ve gotten the scent,” said Garret.
Martin only nodded and picked up the pace. They ran for another minute, the sound of the dogs steadily gaining on them, when Martin halted and grabbed at Garret’s arm to keep him from running past. With a signal, he changed directions away from the trail and led the others to a small stream. Entering the water, he said, “I remembered hearing this when we passed by before.”
The other two entered the water, and Martin said, “We gain only minutes. They’ll search up-and downstream.”
Garret said, “Which way?”
Martin said, “Downstream. They’ll search upstream first, as that’s the way out.”
Charles said, “Huntmaster, there’s another way.” He quickly un-shouldered his backpack and removed a large pouch. He began sprinkling black powder up and down the shore of the stream where they had entered.
Garret felt his eyes tearing and blew hard through his nose to keep from sneezing. “Pepper!”
Charles said, “Mastercook Megar will be angry, but I thought we might need it. The cho-ja and the dogs will smell nothing for hours when they sniff around here.”
Martin nodded. “Upstream!”
The three men splashed through the water, then got into a quieter, steady rhythm. They were out of sight of the place where they entered when the baying of the dogs was interrupted by sneezes. Angry voices shouted commands, and frustrated replies were heard. Charles indulged himself in a faint smile as they continued to move through the water.