"We should stand by, at least, in case of trouble,” Quelgrum declared.

"There are witch guards all around, and they know you're coming,” Drex said. “Believe me, my way is better. A small group can cling to the shadows more easily than a large one. You and the other warriors should get some rest, so you can be ready in the morning."

She locked those lovely, blue eyes on the soldier's, and Grimm suffered a momentary pang of jealousy, which he soon quashed.

"Perhaps you're right, lass,” the General said at last. “It's a reasonable battle plan."

Grimm felt a warm rush of admiration at Drex's calm, intelligent assessment of the situation.

After all she's been through, he thought, I wouldn't have blamed her if she'd been a catatonic wreck, but her mind's still clear.

"Well, if that's settled,” he said, “I'm going with Drex."

"Me, too,” Guy declared. “If you remember, Dragonblaster, I have a score to settle with the old bitch, too. I can take care of myself."

"I can take care of myself, too, Great Flame,” Grimm snapped, determined not to lose any ground to the pompous thaumaturge. He would rather not have Guy around at all, but, in view of his earlier effort at conciliation, he felt he could not easily deny the older mage. “Don't you worry about me; let's go."

"Be careful,” Drex muttered, as she and the two mages hugged the lengthening shadows. “Lizaveta's look-outs are all around. They're called the Anointed Score, and they're the most vicious sluts around. It's best to avoid them."

The walls of the Priory loomed overhead, seeming almost to disappear into the inky evening sky. Grimm suppressed a shiver as the distant, eerie bark of a fox slashed through the air.

"Not much further now,” Drex whispered, as the trio rounded the north corner of the towering edifice. “Just keep quiet, and we should be all right."

This Anointed Score can't be that good, Grimm thought. I haven't seen a single one yet. They'd have been better off forming a line in front of the Priory, if they suspected any incursion. This is just too damned"Here we are."