they

of its passengers. She tried to keep from moving in response, fearing to tip the whole thing over.
With a rower at each end, and one in the middle, they moved quietly across the current. Paks did not know how the rowers could tell where they were going. When they landed on the far side, just where they had been told to wait, she was glad to crawl from the boat to solid ground again. She crouched silently in the dark, waiting for someone to arrive. It seemed a long time.
They heard the hoofbeats coming from upstream for some time before the riders were close enough to challenge. Amisi, in a southern accent, asked, "Where lies Havensford?"
"Across the mountains," came the soft reply. The horses had stopped, and Paks could just see two cloaked and hooded shapes swing off their mounts and move to help a third.
"You've got him alive?" asked Amisi.
"Aye." Paks and the others moved toward the voice, and helped to steady the man they were supporting.

Chapter Twenty-eight
"How careless of you, Captain, to be riding alone so far from your troops." The voice was soft and gentle. The bonds on his arms and legs were not. Cal Halveric said nothing. "You might have met with some fatal accident, you know. It is fortunate for you that my servants are not quick to kill. We do not entertain guests of your distinguished rank often, Captain." Cal could see nothing through the hood that covered his head but the glint of light between dark threads. Captain they could have guessed from his clothes and his horse; he hoped very much that they did not know which captain. "I hope," the voice went on, sharpening a little, "that you are attending to me—"
Something, it could have been a boot or pike-butt, prodded his ribs. When he said nothing, eud