It wouldn't have been her first choice of destination. And it certainly wasn't Deo's. This magic-abetted excursion would put them deep inside Felk-held territory, far behind the southward advancing lines. But they didn't have the luxury of choosing where they went. Staying here meant risking, at every moment, being discovered as impostors. Or, much worse, as the ones responsible for Weisel's attempted assassination. Better then to go. Go anywhere.

Deo gave her a furtive assuring nod, as they stood side by side, waiting for the magicians to coordinate their efforts with their distant counterparts. Deo was affecting confidence and ease, for her benefit and probably for his own, a means of bolstering himself up for the unknown perils ahead, for whatever they would find when they reached the occupied city of Callah.

The watch was late. Night was heavy over the camp, overcast obstructing the stars. It was cool enough to bring out gooseflesh on Radstac's arms.

"Are you ready?" Deo asked her unnecessarily, his voice a whisper.

"I am." She frowned. Then understood. Deo knew what this jaunt was costing her. She had paid in the only currency possible. Deo was accustomed to wealth, to access to vast resources. But coin wouldn't have bought them this passage. Only an addict's cravings could have persuaded a member of this Felk army to arrange for an illegal transport, all while a search was still in progress for whoever had tried to murder this same army's general.

Still, it was quite a fee she was paying. Those four full mansid leaves were her last. All she had now was that last pitiful little piece... and the effects from what she'd chewed earlier. The fantastic clarity of that was still with her, but it was lessening incrementally, wearing off.

She would be facing quite a challenge in the days ahead if she didn't manage to find more leaves in Callah, a Felk-controlled city.