The leader held his breath, listened intently, but heard nothing except horses and wagons.

“Gone quiet out there, Jerdren,” the youth murmured. “Tooquiet. And there was a hawk took flight from that dead tree yonder, near the bend. I don’t think we’re what startled it.”

Jerdren nodded and glanced around. Nothing and no one visible.

“Ambush, you think?” He kept his voice low.

The horses slowed to a walk and the wagon drivers eased back to stay in place behind them. The four mercenaries Jerdren had hired days earlier were right where they belonged-two flanking the wagons, two at the rear.

“Not much of any place to hide along the road this near theKeep,” Blorys replied.

He glanced at the blackened trunks and fallen trees to his left. The Keep’s men kept trees and brush cleared back from the road. South,there was no cover this side of the distant stream.

“There-” he indicated ahead with his chin-“I’m thinking,just around the bend ahead.”

“True. Big rocks up there, as I remember. I smell a trap,Blor. You back down and pass the word. Casual and quiet like. No sense tipping our hand, is there?”

His brother gave him a sardonic grin. “I know how it’s done,Jers. But I’m staying right with you unless you swear not to charge out on yourown.”

“Hah.” Jerdren grinned. “You think I’m damned fool enough toride into a horde of thieves by myself?” The younger man rolled his eyes.“Anyway, this near the Keep, it’s more like your hawk’s found something to-”

A resonant hum interrupted him. He threw himself sideways, flat against the horse’s neck, as a long, black-fletched arrow whined throughthe air and buried itself in the first wagon. The driver shouted in surprise and dragged back hard on the reins, pulling the horses and the cart off balance briefly. His companion readied one of his thick-hafted spears for throwing and came partway upright.