She irmured to herself in a gruff peasant accent as she approached the gate, peeked out under the cowl only once, to note the strange looks coming back at her from the guards.
"Oh, but me wagon is lost, and all me poor horses," she said, closing to stand right before the two Behrenese. ?You had a wagon?" one asked.
"A wagon, a husband, and a few friends, I had!" Brynn snapped at him, turning a wild eye his way and moving very close. She didn't really recog-nize the man, but feared that he might know her, for she had stood tall and distinct when last she was there, that year ago, when she had killed Yatol Daek and Dee'dahk.
"And you lost them?" the man asked with a smirk.
"Killed on the road!" Brynn screeched. ?By robbers... so many damned robbers! They took me wagon, and killed me friends. Get yer weapons, sol-diers! Protectors! Get yer weapons and go out and kill them to death!"
The man was patting the air to try to calm her, and was obviously trying to hold back a smile. Robbers were no major catastrophe in the unruly steppes, Brynn knew, except of course to those victimized. And she knew as well that these guards wouldn't be quick to send out any patrols, certainly not on the word and plea of a lowly To-gai-ru woman. ?Now tell me where this happened," the soldier bade her. 'Fifteen days o' walking,"
Brynn said, waggling a finger in his face. ?Fifteen days?"
"Fifteen!" Brynn cried. ?Now, ye get yer fellows and run south, and ye'll find them. Kill them to death."
Now the man did chuckle, as did his companion. ?We will speak with Yatol Tornuk about it." ?I'll be seeing him!"
No," the man cried back, and then he calmed, and tried again to calm her. No, good woman. We will speak with him. You just go in and find yourself a place to rest, and get some food."
orynn stared at him hard, wild-eyed even, but then she slipped past, en-tering the village.
ler relief was huge when she entered the common room to find the place bristling with To-gai-ru, several familiar faces - including two in particular among them. Brynn made her way to a corner table and slid into a chair b side Tsolona and Barachuk.
She looked up from under the cowl, smiling widely, then pulled the hooH back enough so that they could see her clearly.
"Ah, Brynn!" Tsolona said quietly, and she cupped the young woman' chin in her hands, then bent in and kissed her on the cheek. ?So much hav we worried for you."
"The Dragon of To-gai, returned for a visit," whispered Barachuk, lean-ing in across the table.
His reference to her in that manner nearly knocked Brynn right over How could he know?
"You have come to tell us of the nomaduc" the surprising Barachuk rea-soned. ?Ah, but it is already in place here in Telliqik. The word outdis-tances you, and many are eager to follow the way of resistance."
Brynn just sat there, shaking her head.
"Were you really astride a dragon?" Tsolona asked, after looking around to make sure that there were no Behrenese soldiers, or To-gai-ru infor-mants, nearby.
"It is a long story," Brynn replied.
"Then stay with us this evening and tell us your tale," said Barachuk. ?And we will tell your tales to our comrades out in the steppes, in whatever manner you wish them related."
Brynn smiled, knowing well that she had fine allies there. She nodded, and stood to leave, and the other two were right behind her as she exited the common room.
The three chatted until late into the night, with Brynn relating the tale of the battle at the Mountains of Fire honestly and openly. She was surprised to learn that the couple had already met one of her elvish companions. She bade the couple not to mention Juraviel or Cazzira, though, fearing that her story might overwhelm any would-be soldiers.
"You can have your old bed back," Tsolona said to her, the hour well past midnight.
Brynn considered the offer, remembering the fine times she had spent with these two, whom she regarded almost as surrogate parents. ?I must be out this very night," she answered. ?I have but three days to make the final preparations for the Autumnal Nomaduc. Everything will move quickly af-ter that."
"You will assemble your army?"
"As many as will join."
"And then strike at the Behrenese within To-gai?" Barachuk pressed. ?Like the new dog, Tornuk, who replaced the dog you killed?"
Brynn understood the man's eagerness, for