Chapter Text
Nikoles himself followed the troopers escorting the inGara warleader to make sure everything went to plan, although he didn’t anticipate any more problems. His own three men behaved well enough: it seemed they had accepted what Aras said. Laraut brought a horse for Garoyo and held its head while the Ugaro mounted cautiously. He nodded to Garoyo. “Good luck. Thank you for the fight.”
Only when they reached the river did Geras turn to Nikoles. “How do you say ‘get right away from here for your own good?’”
“Yeah,” said Esau. “Because these people have no idea, do they.”
“I think actually they do, Esau. Some idea, anyway. Tonight’s little excitement has shown us that. I’ll tell him.”
He called to Garoyo. “Geras suggests you go far, as fast as you can, and get your people away from us. I wish you good luck.”
“May the gods favour you with the sorcerer. I will return the horse when I can. I hope when we next meet we will no longer be enemies.” Still careful, Garoyo persuaded the horse to enter the ford. Almost immediately he disappeared into the darkness, and there was no more sound of his crossing.
Nikoles shivered as he turned back to the summer country.
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