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place. Groskin and I stared at each other and I wondered if I looked as wild-eyed as he did.
    We both turned and looked at the tent entrance. Laurel was not exiting. We waited for a moment but Groskin probably decided, as I did, that Laurel Faena could take care of himself. We started walking away, our steps picking up speed.
    "Did you see, sir?" I asked. "How the captain's eyes—”
    Groskin's feet moved faster. "I've never seen him so angry," he said over me.
    "But—”
    Groskin reached his tent and dived in. I stood staring after him; then feeling incredibly exposed, I went to hide among the other troopers, figuring there was safety in numbers.
    I played least in sight for the rest of the day. But when I fell asleep that night I dreamed of being made into taffy.

Chapter Six
    I was awakened the next morning by the sounds of hooves and men's shouts echoing up the mountain trail. Looking around, I could see that the sun was well risen and Jeff gone, so I jumped up and quickly dressed. Before I left the tent, though, I unpinned the feather from my tabard and stowed it in my saddlebag. I figured I had made my point and now it was time to lie low. Very low. I slunk over to the cookfire to see if there was anything left of breakfast.
    "I set aside some eggs for you, Lieutenant," Basel said, beaming. "I'll whip them up right quick. Got some herbs too. From my garden—I picked them fresh just before we left.”
    "It's not your garden, Basel," I said, exasperated. "It's the garrison's and what's grown there is for the officers only—" I broke off and Basel's beam cranked up a notch.
    "Yes, Lieutenant, sir. I'll also have your water when you're ready to shave.” After shaving and eating, I slipped in with the rest of the troop as they watched the newcomers arrive, acting like I had been there all along. As soon as I saw who had returned with the messenger, though, I scowled.
    "I say, Suiden, splendid view you have here," Captain Javes said. He had dismounted and was looking around through his quiz glass. He wore his parade dress uniform and a sword with fine filigree work on the hilt that would snap the first time he tried to use it. Captain Suiden and Lieutenant Groskin stood before him in their field uniforms, and there was no sign of Laurel.
    "Look, Rabbit," a trooper said. "A kindred spirit.”
    "Rather not," Jeff said before I could, talking through his nose. He peered at Captain Javes' highly polished boots. "Habbs in the country? Devilish bad form.” Snorting a laugh, I scanned the complement still arriving and saw Lieutenant Slevoic sneering into the morning sun, and frowned. Slevoic was not Javes' regular lieutenant.
    "Oh, my word," Javes continued. "I'll be forgetting my head next." He handed Captain Suiden a dispatch pouch that had so many seals and ribbons on it that it looked like a Festival ornament. Even Slevoic couldn't have opened it without leaving a trace.
    Captain Suiden took the pouch and made a brief speech of welcome, inviting Captain Javes to join him later for tea. After he was done, he turned and disappeared back into his tent. Lieutenant Groskin caught sight of me and headed my way. The group around me melted away.
    "I guess we're going to escort the magical," the lieutenant said when he reached my side.
    That was a safe assumption, as the packhorses kept coming up the trail. When the last one crested the ridge, I turned away and shot a look at Lieutenant Slevoic. He had dismounted and was standing with a couple of other troopers. As I watched, Ryson walked up to them and joined in their conversation.
    "Damn," I muttered to myself, then glanced over at Groskin. "Uh, sir.”
    Groskin grunted in agreement. "Yeah, damn is right." He then faced me and grinned, his eyeteeth sharp.
    "And don't call me 'sir.' Only the captains are 'sir,' to you." He looked at Slevoic."While there are some who may seem 'untouchable'—” Untouchable?Slevoic probably didn't have to bathe as nothing seemed to stick. "—you