against the Galts or else with them. lie might have been anyone, to look

at him. A farmer or a merchant seaman or a seafront customs agent.

"Bad weather for traveling," the general said, amiably, as if they were

simply two men who'd met at a wayhouse. He spoke the Khaiate tongue

clearly, his accent flavoring the words rather than obscuring them.

"It's always wet in the South this time of year," Sinja agreed in

Galtic. "Not always so cold, but that's why the gods made wool. "['hat

or as a joke against sheep."

The general smiled, either at the words or the language they were in,

Sinja wasn't certain. Sinja kept his expression pleasant and empty. They

both knew he was here to sell the use of his men, but only the general

knew why the meeting was here and not with some low captain. Sinja opted

to wait and see what came of it. Balasar Gice seemed to read his

intention; he nodded and walked to a side table, where he poured them

both clear wine from a cut-glass carafe. No, not wine. Water.

"I hear the Khai Machi turned you out," the general said in Galtic as he

passed a cup to Sinja. That wasn't true. Sinja had told the captain that

they were out from Nlachi, but perhaps there had been some

misunderstanding. Sinja shrugged. It was too early in the game to

correct anyone's misconceptions.

"It's his right," he said. "Some of the men were causing trouble. Too

long in a quiet place. I'm sure you understand."

Balasar chuckled. It was a warm sound, and Sinja found himself liking

the man. Balasar nodded to a couch beside the brazier. Sinja made a

small how and sat, the general leaning casually against the table.

"You left on good terms?"

"We didn't turn back and burn the city," Sinja said, "if that's what you

mean.

"Do you owe the Khai Machi loyalty? Or are you a free company?"

The truth was that any silver he took would find its way back to Otah

Machi's coffers. The company was no more free than the Galtic armies

outside the city. And yet there was something in the general's voice

when he asked the question, something in his eyes.

"We're mercenaries. We follow whoever pays us," Sinja said.

"And if someone should offer to pay you more? No offense, but the one

thing you can say of loyalty for hire is that it's for hire."

"We'll finish out a contract," Sinja said. "I've been through enough to

know what happens to a company with a reputation for switching sides

mid-battle. But I won't lie, the boys I have are green, most of them.

They haven't seen many campaigns."

It was a softening of these poor bastards hardly know which end's

thesharp one but the meaning was much the same. The general waved the

concern aside, which was fascinating. Balasar Gice wasn't interested in

their field prowess. Which meant he either wanted them to lead the

charges and soak up a few enemy spears and arrows-hardly a role that

asked the general's presence at the negotiation-or there was something

more, something that Sinja was still missing.

"How many of them speak Galt?"

"A third," Sinja said, inventing the number on the spot.

"I may have use for them. How loyal are they to you?"

"How loyal do they need to be?"

The general smiled. "There was a touch of sorrow in his eyes and a long,

thoughtful pause. Sinja felt a decision being made, though he couldn't

say what the issue was.

"Enough to go against their own kind. Not in the field, but I'll want

them as translators and agents. And whatever you can tell me of the

winter cities. I'll want that as well."

Sinja smiled knowingly to cover his racing mind. Gice wasn't taking his

army North. He was going east, into the cities of the Khaiem, with

something close to every able-bodied man in (;air behind him. Sinja

chuckled to hide a rush of fear.

""They'll follow you any place you care to go, so long as they're on the

winning side," Sinja said. "Are you sure that's going to be you?"

"Yes," the general said, and the bare confidence in his voice was more

persuasive than any reasoned argument he might have given. If the man

had been trying to convince himself, he would have had a speech

ready-why this insanity would work, how the army could overpower the

andat, something. But Balasar was certain. The general sipped his water,

waiting the space of five long breaths together. 'T'hen he spoke again.

"You're thinking something?"

"You're not stupid," Sinja said. "So you're either barking mad, or you

know something I don't. No one can take on the Khaiem."

"You mean no one can face the andat."

"Yes," Sinja agreed. "'That's what I mean."

"I can."

"Forgive me if I keep my doubts about me," Sinja said.

The general nodded, considered Sinja for a long moment, then gestured

toward the table. Sinja put down his howl and stepped over as the

general unrolled a long cloth scroll with a map of the cities of the

Khaiem on it. Sinja stepped back from it as if there were an asp on it.

"General," he said, "if you're about to tell me your plans for this

campaign, I think we might be ahead of where we should be."

Balasar put a hand on Sinja's arm. The Gait's gaze was firm and steady,

his voice low and strangely intimate. Sinja saw how a personality like

his own could command an army or a nation. Possibly, he thought, a world.

"Captain Ajutani, I don't share these plans with every mercenary captain

who walks through my door. I don't trust them. I don't show them to my

own captains, barring the ones in my small Council. The others I expect

to trust me. But we're men of the world, you and I. You have something I

think I could use."

"And you have nothing to lose by telling me," Sinja said, slowly.

"Because I'm not leaving this building, am I?"

"Not even to go speak to your men," the general said. "You're here as my

ally or my prisoner."

Sinja shook his head.

"'That's a brave thing to say, General. It's only the two of us in here."

"If you attacked me, I'd kill you where you stood," Balasar said in the

same tone of voice he'd used before, and Sinja believed him. Balasar

smiled gently and nudged him forward, toward the table.

"Let me show you why ally would he the better choice."

Still, Sinja held hack.