We stood within the flickering of oil lamps inside a large tent. From outside, I couild hear the wind and the sounds of stirring branches. Julian stood facing us. He let Luke's hand fall and regarded him without expression.

“So you are Caine's killer,” he said.

“I am,” Luke replied.

And I was remembering that Caine and Julian had always been particularly close. If Julian were to kill Luke and cry vendetta, I was certain that Random would merely nod and agree. Perhaps he'd even smile. Hard to say. If I were Random, I would greet Luke's removal with a sight of relief. In fact, that was one of the reasons I'd come along. Supposing this whole deal were a setup? I couild'n picture Vialle as a part of it, but she could easily have been deceived by Julian and Benedict. Supposing Dalt wasn't even out there?

Or suppose he were – and that what he'd really asked for was Luke's head? After all, he had tried to kill Luke fairly recently. I had to admit the possibility now, and I also had to admit that Julian was the most likely candidate to be a willing party to such a design. For the good of Amber.

Julian's gaze met mine, and I wore as affectless a mask as his own.

“Good evening, Merlin,” he said. “Do you have a special part in this plan?”

“I'm an observer,” I answered. “Anything else I may do will be dictated by circumstance.”

From somewhere outside I heard the growling of a hellhound.

“So long as you keep out of the,way,” Julian said.

I smiled.

“Sorcerers have special ways of avoiding notice, “ I replied.

He studied me again, wondering, I am certain, whether that involved some sort of threat-to defend Luke or avenge him.

Then he shrugged and turned away to where a small table held an unrolled map, weighted in place with a rock and a dagger. He indicated that Luke should join him there, and I followed when he did.

It was a map of the western fringe of Arden, and he' pointed out our position on it. Garnath lay to our sout-southwest, Amber to the southeast.

“Our troops are situated here;” he said, with a movement of his finger. “And Dalt's are here.” He described another line, roughly paralleling our own.

“What about Benedict's force?” I inquired.

He glanced at me, showing the slightest of frowns.

“It is good for Luke to know that there is such a force,” he stated, “but not its size, location, or objective. That way, if Dalt were to capture and question him, i” he'd have a lot to worry about and nothing to act upon.”

Luke nodded. “Good idea,” he said.

Julian pointed again, to a spot midway between the lines. “This is the place where I met with him when we spoke earlier,” he explained. “It is a clear, level area, in view of both sides during daylight. I'd suggest we use it again, for your meeting.”

“All right,” Luke said, and I noticed that as he spoke, Julian's fingertips caressed the handle of the dagger that lay before him. Then I saw that Luke's right hand, in casual movement, had come to rest upon his belt, slightly to the left and near to his own dagger.

Simultaneously, then, Luke and Julian smiled at each other, and held it several seconds too long. Luke was bigger than Julian, and I knew he was fast and strong. But Julian had centuries of experience with weapons behind him. I wondered how I would intervene if either made a move toward the other, because I knew that I would try to stop them. But they let their hands fall to their sides then, as if by sudden agreement, and Julian said, “Let me offer you a glass of wine.”

“Don't mind if I do,” Luke replied, and I wondered whether my presence had kept them from fighting. Probably not. I'd the feeling that Julian had just wanted to make his feelings clear, and Luke had wanted to let him know he didn't give a damn. I really don't know which one I'd have bet on.

Julian placed three cups upon the table, filled them with Bayle's Best, gestured for us to help ourselves as he corked the bottle, then picked up the remaining cup and took a swallow before either of us could do more than sniff ours. A quick assurance that we weren't being poisoned and that he wanted to talk business.

“When I met with him we each brought two retainers along,” he said.

“Armed?” I asked.

He nodded.

“More for show, really.”

“Were you mounted or on foot?” Luke asked.

“On foot,” he replied. “We each left our lines at the same time and proceeded at the same pace till we met there in the middle, several hundred paces from either side.”

“I see,” Luke said. “No hitches?”

“None. We talked and returned.”

“When was this?”

“Around sundown.”

“Did he seem to be a man in a normal state of mind?”

“I'd say. I count a certain arrogant posturing and a few insults toward Amber as normal for Dalt.”

“Understandable,” Luke said. “And he wanted me or my mother, or both? And failing to get us, he threatened to attack?”

“Yes.”

“Did he give any indication as to why he wants us?”

“None,” Julian replied.

Luke took a sip of his wine.

“Did he specify whether he wanted us dead or alive?” he asked.

“Yes. He wants you alive,” Julian answered.

“What are your impressions?”

“If I give you to him, I'm rid of you,” Julian said. “If I spit in his eye and take him on in battle, I'm rid

of him. Either way, I come out ahead.”

Then his gaze moved to the wine cup, which Luke had picked up with his left hand, and for an instant his eyes widened. I realized he had just then noticed that Luke was wearing Vialle's ring.

“It looks as if I get to kill Dalt, anyway,” he concluded.

“By impressions,” Luke went on, unperturbed. “I meant, do you believe he will really attack? Do you have any idea where he came from? Any indication where he might be headed when he leaves here-if he leaves?”

Julian swirled his wine in his cup.

“I have to go under the assumption that he means what he says and plans to attack. When we first became aware of his troop movements, he was advancing from the general direction of Begma and Kashfa-probably Eregnor, since he hangs out there a lot. Your guess is as good as anyone's as to where he wants to go if he leaves here.”

Luke took a quick swallow of wine a fraction of a second too late for it to conceal what appeared to be a sudden smile. No, I realized right then, Luke's guess was not as good as anyone else's. It was probably a hell of a lot better. I took a quick drink myself, though I'm not sure what expression I might have been concealing.

“You can sleep here,” Julian said. “If you're hungry, I'll have some food brought in. We'll set up this meeting for you at daybreak.”

Luke shook his head.

“Now,” Luke said, with another subtle but obvious display of the ring. “We want it set up right away.”

Julian studied him for several pulsebeats. Then, “You'll not be in the clearest sight of either side in the dark, especially with snow coming down,” he said. “Some little misunderstanding could result in an attack, from either side.”

“If both of my companions bore large torches-and if both of his did the same—” he suggested, “we ought to be visible to both sides at a few hundred yards.”

“Possibly,” Julian said. “All right. I'll have the message sent to his camp, and I'll choose two retainers to accompany you.”

“I already know who I want to have with me,” Luke said. “Yourself and Merlin here.”

“You are a curious individual,” Julian observed. “But yes, I agree. I would like to be there when whatever happens, happens.”

Julian moved to the front of his tent, opened the flap, and summoned an officer with whom he spoke for several minutes. In this space, I asked, “You know what you're doing, Luke?”

“Certainly,” he replied.

“I've a feeling this is a little more than playing it by ear,” I said. “Any reason why you can't tell me your plan?”