“You have my word, but it isn’t going to be necessary. You’ll get out of here, too. We have to make it,” she said, desperation coloring her words. She pulled the board up and to the side, unblocking a six-inch-wide section of window. Light from the full moon above came in, making their work easier.

“Nothing is certain, but I won’t force this on you. I ask only as a favor. The second you memorize this list, you’ll be in even greater danger. If you say no, I’ll understand.”

Dana thought back to her childhood. She would have been a lot lonelier and gone to bed hungry more often than not if it hadn’t been for Hastiin Sani. “Show me the list.”

He handed it to her, and she turned so the light from the moon illuminated the paper. She studied it for fifteen seconds, learning eighteen first and last names. “Okay, I’ll remember them,” she whispered, handing back the paper.

“The first name on the list is the man you need to find. He’s a medicine man and my second in the Brotherhood of Warriors. His Anglo name is Daniel Runningbear, but he goes by the name of Hastiin Dííl.”

“Got it.”

“The list you’ve seen isn’t complete, but it’ll do. One last thing. Tell no one what I’ve asked of you. That’ll be your best protection.”

“I promise I won’t let you down. But we will get out of this,” she said, renewing her efforts to clear the boards from the window. They now had one board removed, and another was only held in place by one difficult nail at the bottom of the window trim. Two more after that, and they might be able to squeeze through.

He concentrated on his work. “If necessary, I’ll do my best to hold them off, but the information you now carry is more important than either of us. Although there’s another way for a new leader to learn the names of all the brotherhood members, it takes several days. In that time, our members will be in grave danger and our new leader won’t have all the information he needs to defend the brotherhood effectively.”