"It is not superstitious to fear something whose ways and looks are so different," Antimony said, his voice still low, "and I will be frank, Physician Chaven-I fear these creatures." The cavern seemed filled with roiling shadow, a single moving thing with many parts like something crawling in a tidal pool. "Even if they are sincere in their desire to fight the autarch, who's to say what will happen if we live through it? Even if we somehow beat the southern king and all his thousands and thousands and thousands of men, what if these Qar decide afterward to return to what they were doing-which was killing us?"

Chaven was pleased to see the young man exercising his wits so clearly. He had been right-this one had the makings of a scholar. Pardstone Jasper, the last Funderling who had regularly contributed to the wide conversation of scholars, had died when Chaven was still a young boy. "You ask a good question, Brother Antimony, and Captain Vansen and your Magister Cinnabar are already thinking on it as well. I expect that is all we can do at the moment… think on it. Because even to reach the point of having to deal with that problem will be an astounding and unexpected triumph." He shook his head. "Forgive me-I do not mean to be gloomy."

Despite his earlier admission, Antimony seemed more fascinated than frightened. "Look at that one-he glows like a hot coal! He looks to be nothing but a fire burning inside a suit of armor-or is that suit of armor a part of him, like the shell of a crab?"

"I could not say, but I believe it is one of the Guard of Elementals."

"How do you know?" asked the monk, impressed.