ago.
The sun was directly overhead when Damson Rhee finally
returned. She was flushed with the heat and covered with dust,
but there was excitement in her eyes.
“They have Padishar within the same watchtower where
they held me,” she announced, dropping down on one of the
benches and peeling off her cloak. She took a long drink from
the cup of water Matty Roh offered her. “It seems to be com-
mon knowledge. They plan to take him to the main gates at
noon tomorrow and hang him in view of the city.”
“How is he? ” Morgan asked quickly. “Did anyone say? ”
She shook her head, swallowing. “No one has seen him. But
talk among the soldiers is that he’ll walk to his end.”
She glanced at Matty Roh. The other woman frowned.
“Common knowledge, is it? ” She gave Damson a thoughtful
look. “I don’t much trust common knowledge. Common
knowledge often ends up meaning ‘false rumor’ in my experi-
ence.”
The Talismans of Shannara 243
Damson hesitated. “Everyone seemed so sure.” She cut her-
self short. “But I guess we have to make certain, don’t we? ”
Matty Roh leaned forward, elbows on knees, chin in hands,
her boyish face intense. “You’ve told me how they used you
to trap Padishar.” Morgan stared. This was the first he’d heard
of that. How much more had Damson told her that he didn’t
know? “It worked once, so chances are pretty good they’ll try
it again. But they’ll change the rules. They’ll make sure no one
gets away this time. Instead of using live bait, maybe they’ll
use … common knowledge.”
Morgan nodded. He should have thought of that. “A decoy.
They expect a rescue attempt, so they misdirect it They keep
Padishar somewhere else.”
Matty nodded solemnly. “I would guess.”
Damson came back to her feet, “I’ve left signs for the Mole
that he can’t miss. If he’s coming, he’ll come tonight. I’ve got
until then to go back out and try to find where Padishar really
is.”
“I’m coming as well.” Morgan rose and reached for his
cloak.
“No.” Matty Roh’s voice was sudden and firm. She stood up
and came between them. “Neither of you is going.” She
reached for her cloak. “I am.” She looked at Morgan. “You
might be recognized, now that you’ve shed your disguise, and
you can’t go where you might learn anything in any case. You
are better off staying here.” She turned to Damson. “And you
can’t afford to risk yourself further. After all, they know who
you are, too. It was chancy enough going out this morning.
Whatever happens, you have to stay safe until you can meet
the Mole and bring the others in. You can’t do that if you’re
discovered and find yourself in Padishar Creel’s company. Be-
sides, I’m better at this sort of thing than you are. I know how
to listen, how to find things out. -Discovering secrets is what I
do.”
They stared at her without speaking for a moment. When
Morgan started to object. Damson silenced him with a look.
“She’s right. Padishar would agree.”
Again Morgan tried to speak, but Damson overrode him,
saying, “We’ll wait here for you, Matty. Be careful.”
Matty nodded and slung her cloak over her shoulder. Her
244 The Talismans of Shannara
slim face was tight and smooth across the set of her jaw.
“Don’t wait if I’m not back by dark.” She gave Morgan a
quick, ironic smile. “Keep me safe in your thoughts, High-
lander.”
Then she was across the courtyard and through the door of
the room beyond and gone.
They waited for Matty Roh all day, hunched down in the
shelter of the shed, trying to take what small comfort they
could from the shade it provided. The sun passed slowly west,
the heat building in its wake, the air still and dusty within the
airless court.
To help pass the time, Morgan began telling Damson how
Padishar and he had fought together against the Federation at
the Jut. But talking of it did not ease his boredom as he had
hoped. Instead it brought back a memory he had hoped
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