His horse was already frothing with sweat from the run to the castle, and while the less-chaffed areas were beginning to dry to look rather like a Greaser’s just-combed hair, the white foam on the neck and between the legs was still clear to see. At yet, the poor beast would be run all that distance yet again. Of course, Spider had always intended that to be the case, though if he could have snuck into the stables to steal a fresh mount, he might have left the poor animal behind to rest. He would have made the trained creature a sort-of Judas horse, who would return in time to the Henge encampment. That was, after all his home.

Spider too wanted nothing more than to return to his sleeping roll and the company of his band. They were family and, loathe as any there was to admit it, they loved one another, each in his or her own way. But now this outsider was demanding he betray them. What sort of a man demanded that anyone betray their family, their compadres, under penalty of death. It wasn’t like this richy-rich had any reason to be so deadest against the poor of Shaman making ends meet however they needed to. No harm had come to the girl, after all. So who did Spider love more? The Duchess and the others, or himself?

Just the same, the slim man made no noise and gave no indication that he would either do as the lord asked, or lead the man astray, as he mounted the fatigued animal. The slim man had no respect for the larger man. No amount of rope or threat would bring respect to anyone in the castle who had never had to live a life without the luxury of silk and gold and great stone walls. As soon as the binds around his wrists were loosed, heels dug deeply into the ribcage of Spider’s mount and away they went. Dust from the trail was left hanging in the air, waiting to settle back into place. Spider glanced back at the baron once, dipping his head below his arm to prevent drag and, hopefully, be more discrete.

The horse collapsed from exhaustion about a mile and a half outside of the encampment, and, so the outcast continued, slinking through the shadows, uncertain of when, precisely, the lord was going to show up again. What would happen if the man decided to pay his little visit while Spider was still on his way to the others. His long legs could carry him quickly, but he was slowed by the number of nervous glances he cast behind him.

Meanwhile, in the encampment, Duchess paced, as Rhino looked on, concerned for the leader. Not the smartest member of the group of bandits, Rhino had long since given up worrying about time and patterns and the rhythm of daily life. She did as she was told by the more cunning outcasts, and right now, that was standing over the kidnappee. It only took a few grunts from Gaiane to alert the entire troupe that she was awake and not pleased about the situation she now found herself in. Pallas was nowhere to be seen, and she certainly didn’t know anyone around her. She didn’t even know anything around her. That was saying something, now that she had left her mother’s over-protective side.

The consciousness of the captive brought Duchess closer in her pacing, and soon her frown of annoyance shifted. No longer was Spider in trouble with her, now she was worried. He was supposed to return post-haste, and yet some part of Duchess was certain he would take his time, at least in returning. If what she was feeling now, deep in the pit of her stomach was true, then perhaps it was best if the entire party leave without him. Or perhaps it was the girl playing tricks with her mind. On Shaman, magic was not difficult to come by, and Gaiane would not have been the first telepath to cross the Duchess’s path. If the captive were planting ideas in the far reaches of the outcast leader’s mind, no money from the castle would protect her from a bit of a rough-up.

Finally, Spider entered the clearing, worry as clear on his face as a boil would have been, and Duchess saw it. Observant as ever, she saw the raw lines around her spy’s wrists, and she knew before he even opened his mouth exactly what he was going to say.

“We have a problem.”