"Are you insane?" Forras demanded. "Without those scalps we won't be able to collect our bounty."

"If you don't give him the scalps," Druz said in a measured voice, "he'll kill us, and you won't be able to collect your bounty."

"Why would he kill us?" Ennalt demanded, exasperated. "We don't even know this man." He paused. "Do you know him, Druz?"

"No," Druz answered. "I don't know him… but I know what he is."

She met the forest warrior's gaze boldly. Despite her fear of him, and the respect she had for what she guessed he was capable of, she wasn't going to flinch away from him. She wouldn't give him that; she gave no man that.

"He's one man," Tethys objected. "Even if he slays Arvis, there are eight of us."

"I don't want my brother killed," Kord said. "If you do something stupid to get him slain, I'll kill you, Tethys."

"Eight of us isn't enough " Druz said, "and he's not alone."

Warily, the men carrying lanterns moved them so the bull's-eye beams swept the trees around the glen. A wolf bayed in the distance, yipping at the moon that was high in the sky.

"I don't see anyone," Tethys replied.

"You won't see anyone until it's too late," Druz said.

She recalled the tales her blacksmith father had told her of men like the one standing so coolly in front of her with his scimitar at Arvis's throat.

"Who are you?" Tethys demanded of the forest warrior.

"This night," the man said quietly, "I'm a protector of the wolves you people would slay to line your palms with gold."

"He's a druid," Druz said. "One of the Emerald Enclave."

Her announcement started a quick chorus of conversation between the other mercenaries. Arvis, eyes straining in their sockets, looked at the man holding him captive with new-and perhaps fear-filled-respect.

Everyone in Turmish knew of the Emerald Enclave and the druids who filled the organization's ranks.