“You may believe you're an excellent rider," he called, "but there are a score of Temujai back there who actually are.”

“I nearly forgot, Ragnak had a further message for you. He said if we lose this battle and loses his slaves as well, he's going to kill you for it," he said cheerfully.Halt smiled grimly. "If we lose this battle, he may have to get in line to do it. There'll be a few thousand Temujai cavalrymen in front of him.”

“It was not polite for a Temujai general to allow his emotions to show.”

“Shall I call the others back in?"He nodded. "Why ask me? It's all of you who are making the decisions.”

“You're dropping the bow hand as you release," he called, although Halt certainly wasn't.His mentor looked around, saw him, and replied pithily, "I believe your grandmother needs lessons in sucking eggs.”

“Are there bears in these mountains?" he asked.His companion nodded. "Of course. But it's a bit early in the year for them to be moving around. Why?"Halt let go a long breath. "Just a vague hope, really. There's a chance that when the Temujai here you crashing around in the trees, they might think you're a bear."Erak smiled, with his mouth only. His eyes were as cold as the snow."You're a very amusing fellow," he told Halt. "I'd like to brain you with my ax one of these days.""If you could manage to do it quietly, I'd almost welcome it," Halt said.”

“Always expect something to go wrong," he told him. "Believe me, if you're wrong, you're not dissapointed. If you're right, you're ready for it.”