might say. He smiled disarmingly. “I think I’ve found the per-
son you’ve been looking for,” he said to the big man.
Padishar’s face went taut momentarily, then quickly relaxed.
“Ah, that’s all, is it?” He spoke as much to his men as to them,
his voice almost joking. “Well, well, come on outside a minute
and tell me about it.” He put his arm about their shoulders as
if all was well, waved to those listening, and steered the High-
lander and the Dwarf outside.
There he backed them into the shadows. “What is it you’ve
found?” he demanded.
Morgan glanced at Steff, then shook his head. He was sweat-
ing now beneath his clothes, and his face was flushed. “Padi-
shar,” he said. “Teel’s missing. Steff doesn’t know what’s
happened to her. I think she might have gone down into the
tunnel.”
He waited, his gaze locked on the big man’s, silently pleading
with him not to demand more, not to make him explain. He still
wasn’t certain, not absolutely, and Steff would never believe him
in any case.
Padishar understood. “Let’s have a look. You and I, High-
lander.”
Steff seized him by the arm. “I’m coming too.” His face was
bathed in sweat, and his eyes were glazed, but there was no
mistaking his determination in the matter.
“You haven’t the strength for it, lad.”
“That’s my concern!”
Padishar’s face turned sharply into the light. It was criss-
crossed with welts and cuts from last night’s battle, tiny lines
that seemed to reflect the deeper scars the Dwarf bore. “And
none of mine,” he said quietly. “So long as you understand.”
They went into the sick bay, where Padishar took one of the
other outlaws aside and spoke softly to him. Morgan could just
make out what was being said.
“Rouse Chandos,” Padishar ordered. “Tell him I want the
camp mobilized. Check the watch, be certain it’s awake and
alive. Make ready to move everyone out. Then he’s to come
after me into the hidden tunnel, the bolt hole. With help. Tell
him I said that we’re all done with secrecy, so it doesn’t matter
now who knows what he’s about. Now get to it!”
The man scurried off, and Padishar beckoned wordlessly to
Morgan and Steff. He led them through the main cavern into the
deep recesses where the stores were kept. He lit three torches,
kept one for himself and gave one each to the Highlander and
the Dwarf. Then he took them into the very back of the farthest
chamber where the cases were stacked against the rock wall,
handed his torch to Morgan, grabbed the cases in both hands
and pulled. The false front opened into the tunnel beyond. They
slipped through the opening, and Padishar pulled the packing
crates back into place.
“Stay close,” he warned.
They hurried into the dark, the torches smoking above them,
casting their weak yellow light against the shadows. The tunnel
was wide, but it twisted and turned. Rock outoroppings made
the passage hazardous; there were stalactites and stalagmites
both, wicked stone icicles. Water dripped from the ceiling and
pooled in the rock, the only sound in the silence other than their
footsteps. It was cold in the caves, and the chill quickly worked
its way through Morgan’s clothes. He shivered as he trailed after
Padishar. Steff trailed them both, walking haltingly on his own,
his breathing ragged and quick.
Morgan wondered suddenly what they were going to do when
they found Teel.
He made a mental check of his weapons. He had the newly
acquired broadsword strapped across his back, a dagger in his
belt, and another in his boot. At his waist, he wore the shortened
scabbard and the remains of the Sword of Leah.
Not much help against a Shadowen, he thought worriedly.
And how much use would Steff be, even after he discovered the
truth? What would he do?
If only I still had the magic. . .
He forced that thought away from him, knowing what it would
lead to, determined that he would not allow his indecision to
bind him again.
The seconds ticked by, and the echo of their passing rever-