"I still do not even know who you are."
"Nor will you—ever."
"What do you want if you help me attain this Empire?"
"Assistance. Troops if we demand them. Labor conscripted in your border countries. Certain minerals."
"Not gold?"
"Not gold."
Tedor stood his watch not a dozen feet from them at the entrance to the tent. The stranger might be from the future, although Tedor had seen nothing to prove it. He activated the transmitter embedded in his palate with his tongue, whispered almost inaudibly, "You are not alone."
Charlemagne had not heard him. The stranger could not have heard, either, unless he had a receiver in his ear. The stranger jumped as if stung. "Where are you?" Tedor heard in his ear, then watched as the stranger made a great show of clearing his throat.
"You are sure?" Charlemagne was saying. "No gold?"
Tedor never heard the answer. He fled back the way he had come, found Laniq crouching near one of the cook-fires.