"Suggesting that the Living knew who took him? So they were able to recover him for their own purposes?" "Yes."
Cado completed his office business, started moving again. "I smell something dirty, Bruda. Look into it. We can't allow a trade in stolen children. And I won't tolerate human sacrifice."
"I've started already, sir."
"Good. Are the guards down front?"
"Yes sir. They'll walk us over."
"Good. So. What's really bothering you this morning?"
"A messenger from Marcellino in Agadar. Just came in by boat. Says a force of Turok tribesmen, maybe two thousand strong, is pillaging east of Agadar, moving our way. They caught our troops in the open, by surprise, during anexercise, and slaughtered them. Marcellino barely has men enough left to guardAgadar's walls."
Cado stopped. "Turoks? Not Dartars or Dartars in disguise?"
"Turoks. Marcellino questioned a prisoner. They circled the Takes to the west, around Dartar territory. They think we're too slow and too weak to stop them."
Cado resumed walking. "Turoks, you say."
"Yes."
"I wonder. Did our comrade the Eagle have anything to do with them showing up?"
"I don't follow you. Dartars hate Turoks. And vice versa."
"Not always. Turoks sometimes visit Qushmarrah. They cross Dartar territory to do it, so there is some kind of understanding at some level. And they workedtogether in our grandfathers' time, during the first war. Qushmarrah employedauxiliaries from both tribes against Lepido's armies. Their fleet landed amixed force in Tiguria that came within sight of Herod's walls twice. Fa
"tad's father commanded that expedition."
"You sure you aren't seeing conspiracy where greed would explain things?"
"Probably. Still, the options the raiders leave us aren't attractive."
"So?"
"The obvious move is for us to loose our Dartars. But suppose they are workingtogether? Fa'tad strips the country of livestock and valuables and retires tohis mountains. We couldn't do anything, because to field enough men we'd haveto strip Qushmarrah of every Herodian soldier.
"If we send one of our own legions instead, Fa'tad is a match for us here. Hecan attack us with every expectation of initiating an uprising. He can thenback off and let Qushmarrahans do his dying while he saves his people toplunder whatever is left.
"If we don't do anything but wait for the Turoks to go home we get unresteverywhere this side of the sea because we haven't kept our promise to protectthe people. Over on the other side we're in hot water because we haven'tprotected their property."
They were outside now, moving through the dawn-splashed acropolis. Ahead, acolumn of Dartars came out of the Hahr and crossed the heights to the Shu.
Cado wondered what they were up to but did not ask. Bruda would tell him assoon as he found out.
Bruda said, "It all depends on what's going on inside the head of the onecrazy old man, doesn't it?"
"We have to trust him. Whether he's trustworthy or not. And hope he won'tchange his colors again without at least as much provocation as he had lasttime."
They approached the Residence, practically passing through the shadow of thecitadel. Cado shuddered. The place still gave him the creeps.
Bruda said, "Fa'tad started his herd moving south yesterday."
Cado watched Sullo's army of servants load a train of carts and wagons. "Itwas time, wasn't it?" A flashy donkey cart, carrying a large brown trunk, rolled up and worked its way into a gap in the line. The boy drivingdismounted and walked up the line to talk to another driver.
"Yes," Bruda admitted.
"Then we can't account that an omen. Even if it is one."
"Not really."
"And here comes Sullo, timing his appearance perfectly."
Sullo did appear at the top of the Residence steps just as Cado reached theirbase. The civil governor came down slowly, in all his portly glory, beaming ateveryone as though bestowing the benediction of God. He greeted Cadoeffusively. Servants scurried, trying to impress with their diligence.
Sullo's eye fell on the donkey cart. "What's that?" he asked one of his companions. The man shrugged.
"General Cado. I assume those pigeon tracks on the banner on that cart pass for writing here. What does it say?" Cado shrugged. "Colonel Bruda?" Cado did not read Qush-marrahan. Bruda squinted, translated slowly. "'From the people of Qushmarrah, for the Governor Sullo, in appreciation, a gift.'"
Cado and Bruda frowned uncertainly. Sullo pranced over to the cart, shoved his bulk against its side, unlatched the trunk.
Colonel Bruda said, "Governor, you'd better let someone else ..."
Too late. Sullo tossed the trunk lid back.
The fat man rose on his toes. He stiffened. A gargling, strangled sound ripped out of his throat. He turned, his face white with horror. He vomited, then ran for the Residency, pausing to vomit twice more before he disappeared.
Cado looked into the trunk. "The heads of the Moretians he sent to evict the old woman." "Welcome to Qushmarrah, indeed."
Try to find the boy who delivered the cart."
"Waste of time."
"I know. Make a showing. I'll go try to keep him from doing anything else stupid." But Sullo was not on Cado's mind as he mounted the steps of the Residency. He thought he saw a way to ease the perils of responding to the Turok incursion.
Azel dozed in the shadows by the empty fireplace, not as unalert as he appeared. He cracked an eyelid when the limping man came in. The man talked to Muma instead of passing a message. Muma looked surprised. After an exchange the gimp nodded and hobbled outside. Muma fished a son out of the kitchen, yakked at him, sent him out the back way. He poured himself a draft of hot tea, added a dollop of honey, came to join Azel. "Another message?"
"A little off the usual."
"I saw you jump. What is it?"
"The palm sparrow has flown."
Azel sat up. "The old boy croaked?"
"That's what it means. That one wants to talk to you as soon as he can."