“Harilek, I hear from Henga, whom you met yesterday, that there is an envoy from the Shamans arrived at his fort. The manner of his letter puts me in some doubt, and I would ride there and speak with the man. If your friends will accompany Aryenis to Aornos, we will take a few men and push on.”
I could see that the others would have liked to come, too, but, since Kyrlos did not suggest it, they said nothing.
“We shall meet you at Aornos in the afternoon when I have heard what the Shamans have to say,” said Kyrlos to them. Then to me: “I think it would be well to bring that man of yours with us. He was with you in the gate, and perhaps he will be useful.”
So I beckoned up Payindah, telling him to ride with us.
Six of Kyrlos’s mounted bowmen accompanied us, and, waving to the rest of the party, we trotted on down the path. For a time Kyrlos said nothing. He seemed to be thinking.
Then, when we pulled our horses to a walk as we crossed the valley and breasted the hill in front, he turned to me and said:
“It seems that perchance the Shamans do not know of Aryenis’s return, nor that I know how the old chief was killed, for Henga writes that this envoy comes from the Shamans to express their sorrow at my daughter’s death at the hands of the Brown Sakae, and to invite me to their country to see justice done on the murderers. Therefore, he has said nothing to them about her escape.
“There is clearly some plot, though as yet I cannot see what is intended. But since they say that Aryenis is dead, we will say naught at first and let them speak.”
“Do you think they wish to throw the blame on others so as to patch up peace?”
“Not merely to patch up peace, for I know they have sought war this long time. But I think they hope to kill me and others of our chiefs, so that our people, being as sheep without a shepherd, may fall the easier into their hands. But we shall know more when we hear what they have to say. Come, we have a long ride to-day.” He kicked his horse to a canter as the slope became less steep.