Aedric's voice brought him back to the moment. Already, the young captain was inking a response and twisting knots of reply into the blue thread of inquiry. "They've breached our borders again, General."

Rudolfo sighed. "Where now?"

"Glimmerglam."

He felt his stomach sink. Jin Li Tam had slowed her horse to a trot and joined them. "We were just there three weeks ago."

Aedric nodded. "Two evangelists this time. Preaching their so-called gospel in the streets openly. The house steward has them locked away for now. I'll deal with them once we're home and I've seen to the men."

Rudolfo stroked his beard. This had started not long after the council there on the plains of Windwir. Initially, they had found Marshers wandering the Prairie Sea or the more isolated parts of the Ninefold Forest. These they turned back-even chased back-to the low hills that served as a border between his lands and the woman who called herself Winteria the Elder and claimed the Wicker Throne. Later, the ragged preachers had shown up in the towns surrounding his forest manors. These, his militia beat and delivered back to their border. It was less violent than what his father would have done, and still it made Rudolfo wince. Lord Jakob would have placed them on Tormentor's Row, and after a day or two under the knives of his Physicians of Penitent Torture, they'd have seen the value of keeping their beliefs within their territory. If they'd returned, he'd have had them killed and would have buried them at the border.

The beatings had seemed a reasonable compromise when reason failed.

But still they persist. Rudolfo sighed. "I think a new tack is in order," he finally said, glancing down at his son. "Have them brought to me."