"Because I need to move fast before this becomes something bad," Tavi said. "And because that's where Varg is."
"And if he did send them to kill you, what's going to stop him from finishing the job when you get there?"
"You are," Tavi said.
Max scowled. "Oh. I am."
"Don't be a hog about it," Tavi said. "Crassus and Schultz deserve to contribute, too."
Max let out a growling sound. "Bloody Legions," he muttered, under his breath. "Bloody Canim. Bloody crazy First Lords."
"If you want to stay here..." Tavi began.
Max glowered at him. "Of course not." He glanced over his shoulder. "Schultz is competent. But it would all go to the crows if my little brother was in charge, and he outranks Schultz."
"Technically speaking," Crassus said, "I also outrank you."
"Do not," Max said. "We're both Tribunes."
"I got there first."
"We got there at the same time. Besides, I got assigned to the First Aleran six months before it formed," Max replied.
Crassus snorted. "As a centurion. A fake centurion."
"Doesn't matter. Seniority's mine."
"Children," Tavi chided. "You don't see Schultz bickering about such things, do you?"
"If it please the captain, sir," the plain-faced Schultz said, "I am not a part of this."
Kitai grinned, showing her canine teeth. "Schultz has the best sense among them. He merits command for that alone."
Schultz ignored the comment with noncommissioned stoicism.
They strode out from the camp on the hill and went down toward the larger Canim encampment. The gate guards saw Tavi and the others coming. One of the guards, a Cane with whom Tavi was not familiar, held up a hand, signaling for Tavi to halt and be identified, standard procedure for the Canim camp.
Tavi took a deep breath and reminded himself that he was not making a standard visit.
Instead of halting, he called strength from the earth, leaned back, and kicked the wooden palisade gates open with a resounding crash. The two Canim on guard, caught behind the gates as they opened, were flung to the ground on either side - and every set of black and scarlet Canim eyes in view turned to focus on what had happened.
"I seek my gadara, Varg," Tavi stated in the snarling tongue of the wolf-warriors, loudly enough to be heard by the watching Canim. "Let any who wish to stand in my way step forth now."
The way toward the center of the Canim camp was abruptly vacated.
Tavi stalked forward, trying to appear as though he longed for nothing so much as an excuse to vent his rage upon any Cane luckless enough to draw his attention. He had enough experience with them to know how important body language and confidence was to communicating effectively with them. His main worry was that some young warrior might believe his stance and attitude were bravado, a bluff, and decide to call him on it.
He had already killed two Canim. Given how implacable Varg and the warrior caste had become about protecting what remained of their people, it might already be too late to salvage anything out of the situation. Once blood was spilled, the Canim could become less than rational.
Come to think of it, Alerans weren't much different.
Kitai fell into place beside Tavi, her green eyes narrowed, her expression hard. "You do not believe Varg is behind this," she said beneath her breath.
"No. If he wanted me dead, he'd bring a sword and do it himself."
Kitai nodded. "Therefore, someone else sent the killers."
"Yes," Tavi said.
Kitai frowned thoughtfully for a moment. Then she said, "I see. You fear that whoever sent the killers knew that they would die."
Tavi nodded. "Likely, they are already working to spread word among the Canim."
Kitai narrowed her eyes. "They will accuse you of murder."
"I've got to get to Varg first," Tavi said. "Before word has time to spread."
Kitai glared at a pair of warriors in blue-and-black steel armor, golden-furred Shuarans who had never faced Aleran Legions on the battlefield and who might therefore be more willing to challenge the Aleran party. One of the pair looked like he might - but his companion, a larger Cane, flicked his ears in amusement and watched the Alerans pass with unconcealed interest.
Kitai grunted in satisfaction. "And before word has time to spread among the Alerans, too."
Tavi nodded. "That's why we're doing this the noisy way."
She cast him a single worried glance. "Not all enemies are like Varg. Be cautious."
Tavi snorted out a breath through his nose and fell silent again as they finished their march through the camp uncontested.