Sandon chewed at the inside of his bottom lip. He wasn't sure whether he should approach Tarlain now, or wait. Alise's revelation was still smarting, and he was suddenly unsure of his own ability to make the right choice. He glanced over to the Atavist site, and as if thinking about her had drawn her forth, he saw her heading toward him. She stepped warily around the end of the column still filing into the camp, holding her skirts up from the mud their passage had churned up. Just for a moment, he thought about heading in the opposite direction, but he stayed where he was. She'd already seen him, and there was no point avoiding it any longer. She picked her way across the muddy trail, and giving him a smile of greeting, came to stand beside him to watch the new arrivals.
"There are so many of them," she said, after a few moments silence.
"Yes," he replied. "More than I would have expected."
"More than we could have hoped for," she said.
Sandon nodded, watching her out of the corner of one eye, avoiding meeting her gaze directly. There was nothing to suggest there was anything different about her. Nothing.
"Tchardo?" she said.
"Hmm?" he responded, only half paying attention.
"There's something I wanted to talk to you about."
"I'm sorry, Alise," he said. "It will have to wait until later."
Tarlain was crossing the camp toward the main cluster of Men Darnak retainers. Half because he wanted to avoid the awkwardness he was feeling, half because now was as good a time as any, Sandon headed over to try and intercept the young man. Alise hurried after him. He pursed his lips, but didn't say anything.
When he was a few paces away, he called out. "Tarlain Men Darnak."
Tarlain stopped and lifted one arm to stop the small group of men that were walking with him.
"Yes?" he said, standing and waiting for Sandon to reach them. "Do I know you?" There was even authority in the young man's voice.
Sandon waited until he was right up close before he said anything.
"I need to talk to you," he said quietly, suddenly remembering having said almost exactly the same words to Leannis Men Darnak so many months ago.
Tarlain peered at him, frowned. His eyes narrowed, then quickly widened. "You!"
Sandon nodded, lifting a placating hand. "Please, can we talk?"
Tarlain gestured to his companions. "Wait here," he said.
Sandon quickly drew him out of earshot. "Fran found you," he said when they were far enough away. "He delivered my message."
"Yes," said Tarlain with a sigh. "I could barely believe what he told me. Roge. Is it true?"
"I'm afraid it is." Sandon glanced warily across at the others who were watching curiously.
"My father?" said Tarlain.
"Not good. I don't know where he is right now. He keeps wandering off on half-imagined quests. With the preparations, sometimes it's hard to keep an eye on him all the time. The priest does little enough to help, apart from filling his head with more nonsense."
Tarlain nodded grimly. "We'll send someone to find him. The man you sent -- Fran is it? He gave me some idea of how bad it was. Has anyone done anything?"
Sandon ran a finger through his hair. It was his turn to sigh. "Alise -- that's her over there -- she's one of the Atavist healers. She's not very optimistic."
"Damn," spat Tarlain. "That's not good enough." He glanced across to where Alise was standing, watching.
"Believe me," countered Sandon. "She has no reason to play with the truth."
Tarlain planted his fists on his hips. "Why should I believe you, Yl Aris? In the Prophet's name, why should I?"
"If you think about it," said Sandon slowly, "you'll realize why. In all the years that you've known me, Tarlain, whom have I served? For whom have I worked? Is it my own interest? And before you say anything, you know the real answer. You have to know that's true." Despite wanting to appear as calm and rational as he could, he could feel the emotion pouring out of his own words. His eyes were threatening with moisture, and he quickly looked away.
Tarlain looked at him for a long time. "You know, as much as I dislike you, Yl Aris, as much as I don't like admitting it, I think you're telling the truth."
