At the gates the grizzled old timer Nerun, along with a squad of men, questions everyone who passes through. Their job is to see to it that no spies of the Empire enter the fortress.

“Illan’s giving us a send-off tonight in the main hall,” he tells her.

“I heard that,” she replies. “Seems he even dug up several musicians.”

“Probably just soldiers with some talent,” he guesses.

“We should get ready, it’s going to start soon,” she says. “That’s what I came up here to tell you.”

“Very well,” he says and then follows her down from the battlements.

Wounded are lying in rows across the courtyard. Fortunately for them, it hasn’t begun to rain yet and it doesn’t look as if it will for some time. James and Tersa are forced to make their way around pockets of wounded as they head for the main hall. Off to one side they see Miko with the Star healing a man with a bloody rag tied around his face. Brother Willim and the other two remaining members of the Hand are elsewhere in the courtyard helping others, green glows surround each of them.

“I’ll meet you inside,” he tells her.

“Okay,” she replies and then continues on toward the main hall.

Angling over toward Miko, he sees him still kneeling next to the man with the head injury. Just as he draws close, the glow from the Star winks out and Miko sighs. A healer who has been assisting him removes the bandage from his face to reveal a pink line where a jagged cut had been moments before.

Miko looks up at him with weary eyes.

Offering a hand, James helps him to his feet. “How much longer are you going to be?” he asks.