The tall mage sat at a fire with Sergeants Stratos and the sergeant from Katayoun’s Unit Five, who was named Laz. Xerxes approached, but stayed about five cubits away, where the light from the fire gave way to shadows.

“Unit Five might be the only unit still left whole,” Jad said, “but that won’t last forever. I’m telling you, my plan’s sound.”

Stratos cleared his throat. “Lieutenant Jad, it’s not that I disagree. But there’s a clear chain of command. We can’t circumvent it.”

“And I’m not asking you to. I just want you to think about what you’d do if you had the choice.”

Stratos nodded. Then he happened to catch sight of Xerxes in the shadows at the edge of the firelight. He stood and gave a salute. “First Lieutenant Xerxes,” he said.

Xerxes took two steps forward. “Sergeant.” He looked at his fellow Swordmaster. “Jad.”

Jad also stood. “Hey, Xerk.” Looking at Stratos, and then down at Laz, he said, “Just think about it, gentlemen. That’s all I ask.”

Then he stepped away from the fire and toward Xerxes.

“Xerk-man,” he said. “Any updates?”

“Not really. I wanted to talk with you about what we’ll do next.”

“Good. I wanted to talk with you also.”

“Did you eat already?”

“Yeah.”

Xerxes glanced around the shadowy camp. There wasn’t really a good place for some sort of sitdown talk. “How about we go back to the cave mouth?”

“Sure.”

They walked back to where Xerxes had helped dig and fortify the entrance.

“Go get some food,” Xerxes said to the Unsighted soldiers there. “We’ll take over the watch for the time being.”

“Yes, sir.”

After the soldiers left, Xerxes leaned up against the hastily-built wooden frame that formed a makeshift doorway. “What was it you asked Stratos and Laz to think about?” he asked.

“Simple,” Jad said. “That they go on to Puabi with the Seers, while we High Seers head back to the Gateway. Think about it. If the High Seers run full speed, we could get back there in a single day.”

“Jad, the trip would take longer than that….”

“Purattu did it in a single night!”

“He’s a High Mystic, Jad, and you know it. Besides, none of us could maintain top speed for hours in a row, especially given our current condition.”

Jad shook his head and huffed. “That’s not the point. Even if it took us three days to get there. Or four.”

Xerxes thought about it for a bit. Then exhaled sharply. “I don’t like the idea of leaving everybody behind. Teucer’s one of us. One of the Swordmasters. And Kishar is Kat’s best friend. They’re not going to want to part ways.”

“I’m not suggesting we just abandon them. Randy Gandy was right about one thing: the city will be safer. But we need to think long term. If all of us hole up in Puabi, Sin-Amuhhu won’t have any idea what’s happening here. In which case, who knows how long it will be before Sin-Amuhhu sends reinforcements? And it doesn’t take a genius strategist to realize that without some help, Jehannemid’s screwed.”

Xerxes had to admit that Jad had some valid points. “What do the Unsighted officers think about it?”

“They’re onboard. After all, by now, they’ve all figured out that the Abhorrent want us and not them. They’ll be happy to have the strongest of us going in the opposite direction as them. And the whole group will be safer that way. But as you know, their conditioning won’t allow them to do something like that unless they have orders.”

Xerxes nodded. “And of the mages, who did you talk to about it already?”

“Teucer and Dasi. They agree with me.”

“Fine.” Xerxes took a deep breath. “I want to talk to the others and see what they think. Without you getting involved. Like I told them earlier, I’m not going to order people around. I want to have a vote. But before we do that, I also want an idea of what they’re thinking.”

“That sounds fine to me.”

“Good. Why don’t you go back and send some Unsighted to take over the watch. Then get some rest. This storm doesn’t look like it’ll pass any time soon, so we have some time to recover and get ready for the road, whichever way it goes.”

“Sure thing, Xerk-man.” Jad stood and stretched his neck. “Look, I just want us all to get out of here alive. Even Gandy. You know that, right?”

“Yeah.”

Jad left, and Xerxes stood there for a while, looking out at the rain.

How did it end up like this? Ever since the disastrous mission on Mannemid, everything had been moving at blinding speed, leaving him feeling like he had almost no control over his own life. Except now he had a chance to be in charge, even if it was only temporary. Was Jad right? Should they just run back to the Gateway, right when they were right on the cusp of reaching their destination?

More importantly… what were the secret orders Gandash had in that box? Unfortunately, the only person who could open the box was Gandash, and he was in a coma.

Regardless of the situation on the ground, they had to consider the Sin-Amuhhu Combined Armed Forces and Mage Parliament. There was a reason they had sent Black Jackal Company down to Jehannemid, and if the company gave up without accomplishing the mission, there would definitely be consequences. Gandash had already mentioned the punishment for treason….

Two Unsighted soldiers came a few minutes later, and Xerxes headed back to the camp. The first person he found was Katayoun; she was waiting in the tent that they had agreed to share. He told her about Jad’s suggestion and asked her opinion.

She took her time giving an answer. When she finally spoke, she said, “I don’t want to leave Kishar. But it does make sense to go for help. Sin-Amuhhu won’t know what’s going on unless we tell them. I just wonder what the whole secret mission is about.”

“Me too.”

“Other than that, I’m willing to think about it. We’d need a better plan than just ‘run back,’ though.”

“Agreed. I’m going to go talk to some of the others. I’ll be back soon.”

He consulted with the other mages that Jad hadn’t mentioned talking to. Kashtiliash, Ningsummunu, and Kishar. Kashtiliash was the only High Seer among the three. He echoed sentiments similar to Katayoun.

As for the other two, they were Seers, and according to Jad’s plan, they were to continue to Puabi. Teucer immediately agreed, saying, “It makes sense. If you get word up to Sin-Amuhhu, they can send down more troops. And stronger mages. Meanwhile, we’ll be safe behind the city walls.”

Kishar didn’t seem as enthusiastic, but didn’t voice outright opposition.

With those conversations out of the way, Xerxes could only reach the conclusion that all the mages were fine with the idea.

The last thing he did before going back to Katayoun was visit Gandy.

His old friend was unconscious. His physical wounds had been healed, yet he still wasn’t awake. With no reason to attend to him constantly, he was laying in the tent alone.

Xerxes knelt next to him, then reached out to put a hand on his forearm.

“Gandy,” he whispered. “Can you hear me? We have an idea. Send the High Seers back to the Gateway to get help. What do you think?”

There was no response.

Xerxes closed his eyes for a long moment. Then he prayed. Oh exalted Monad. Or maybe you’re the Pontifarch. I don’t know. All I know is that we need help. Please, send something or someone. Otherwise, I think we’re all going to die.

He opened his eyes. Gandash still lay there still and unmoving other than the rise and fall of his chest.

“Gandy, you need to wake up. Hurry.”