Of course not, Ryld replied. I'm concerned only because she's been a valuable comrade, and I don't like the idea of proceeding without her skill at healing. But I am not concerned on any other account. I am no fool.
I think perhaps you protest too much, Pharaun signed. It does not matter, I suppose.
He started to say more, but at that moment a soft rustle behind them cut off his words. Wizard and swordsman turned together, Ryld's hand stealing to Splitter's hilt as he aimed his crossbow with the other hand, but from the bright shadows Valas Hune suddenly appeared. Of all the com-pany, the Bregan D'aerthe seemed almost as skilled asthe surface dwellers in the patient cat-and-mouse game offorest hunting.
Did you catch sight of any of our foes? the scout asked.
No, but someone saw enough of Ryld to shoot an arrow,Pharaun replied. Since they seemed to guess where we were, we left an illusion and came to rejoin you.
Any sign of Halisstra? Ryld asked.
No. Nor you, then? Valas replied.
Perhaps half an hour ago we heard sounds of fighting from back down the trail. It went on for a couple of minutes. That might have been her, Pharaun signed.
"There it is,then," Valas muttered under his breath. "Well, come on then. The others are waiting, and if we can't ambush our pursuers, we might as well keep moving. The longer they keep us here, the more likely it is that more of them will show up and join the fight."
The scout led the way as he hurried through the trees and brush, moving swiftly and silently. Pharaun and Ryld could not match the soft-ness of his steps, but the wizard's magic seemed an adequate ruse, since they encountered no more hidden archers or spearmen. In a few hundred yards they came to a small, steep ravine, well screened by thick brush and large boulders. There they found Quenthel,Danifae, and Jeggred lying low, watching vigilantly for any sign of a renewed attack.
"Did you surprise the archers?" Quenthel asked.
"No. They located us quickly, and avoided a fight," Ryld replied. He ran a hand over his stubbled scalp and sighed. "This is not a good battle-field for us. We can't bring the surface elves to grips, not with the advan-tage they have in this terrain, but if we don't do anything, they'll eventually surround us and cut us to pieces with arrows."
Valas nodded in agreement and added, "They're working to find and flank us now. We've got a few minutes here, but we're going to have to move or fight soon. Ten minutes or less, I think."
"Let them come," rumbled Jeggred. "We killed a dozen of them not an hour ago when they stole up on us from behind. Now that we know the day-walkers are out there, we'll slaughter them in heaps."
"The next assault will most likely consist of a rain of arrows from archers we won't even be able to see," Valas said. "I doubt that the surface dwellers will oblige us by lining up for us to kill. Worse yet, what if the rangers sent for help? The next attack might come at daybreak with two or three times the numbers we've seen so far. I don't relish the thought of being showered with arrows and spells after the sun comes up and our op-ponents suddenly begin to see much better than we do."
"Fine," Jeggred snarled. "So what would you do, then?"
"Withdraw," Ryld answered for the scout. "Make the best speed we can and keep moving. With luck we'll outdistance our pursuers before the sun comes up, and maybe we'll find a good place to hide."
"Or maybe we'll reach territory controlled by the Jaelre," Valas added.
"Which may, of course, prove to be even more dangerous than play-ing cat-and-mouse with our friends the surface dwellers," Pharaun said. "If the Jaelre aren't fond of visitors. . . ."
"It doesn't matter if they are or not," Quenthel said. "We came to speak to their priest, and we will do so, even if we have to cut our way through half their House to do it."
"Your suggestion is not very encouraging, Master Hune," Danifae said. She bled freely from a wound in her right arm, where a hard-driven arrow had actually punched through her mail and transfixed her upper arm. As she spoke she worked awkwardly with one hand to bind the wound. "What happens if we fail to outpace our enemies? They seem well able to keep up with