The afternoon sun was high in the sun; Abraham's men offered to keep guard while Raynott worked with the few medicine men in camp on tending to any wounded. Mandrake Squad, all eleven of them, either lounged about, had brief showers, or tended to their weapons and armor.

  In the middle of the camp, halfway up the slope in a sufficiently ft pce, a cauldron slowly boiled the heads of the four traitor be'ti along with their removed skulls. Kettle drums beat with glee, pipes hit high notes, and conches whistled in harmony. The be'ti, disarmed and in gay spirit, danced around the boiling cauldron; hands holding on their belts, feet pounding the ground with every step, fast twists, war whoops and murderous cries.

  The mara-mara watching the spectacle cpped along and interjected with their own cheers.

  Two be'ti on opposite ends had wrapped head and hands of their fallen comrade held close as they danced. Making a fast turn, they threw it across with both arms towards the opposite side, the dancers reacting fast and anticipating to catch it without breaking the parade. One by one, the body parts flew to a new dancer, exchanging new partner before flinging across, and all the while, the mara-mara cheered each successful catch.

  Thus the be'ti performed a Death Dance, while in the topmost yurt close to the edge of the monadnock, with the banners flying high in the wind at the entrance, the officers discussed each other's situation while sitting around in sack chairs, Darkapa going in second pce.

  Darkapa: We encountered no resistance. At first. A forward party made it for Na-Bano, and from afar we saw no signs of violence, none of the ship's guns unleashing their wrath or anything. So the rest of us continued on to the south.

  Speaking casually, Darkapa's deep lion-esque voice did not waiver.

  Darkapa: It took us some time to march withing the sights of the citadel...and that damn gun opened fire! In one spit of fire, all of Na-Bano was gone. If HE wanted to join the TRAITOR so much!...

  The others waited for him to continue.

  Darkapa: At least the cannon cannot fire beyond that point. I'm sure you saw for yourselves how our attempt to break into the walls went, but I'm gd you took out the hexer's ckeys.

  Becker: All in a day of honest work.

  Kaehe'kakoe: And the sele'kwai?

  Darkapa: They were stalking us from the beginning, waiting for a moment of weakness like the cowards they are. They should have stayed in their rocky ir.

  He hit the ground with the heel of his foot twice.

  Darkapa: I cannot say for sure how many hexers is the rogue in congress with, but the presence of at least one means that the Mechanism is intact.

  Captain Oxley: 'mong othe' thin's...

  Kaehe'kakoe: So are these all that are left of your host?

  Darkapa: No. Another portion is camped south of here, and the others are guarding the ships at anchor, except for the two fastest on my fleet.

  Kaehe'kakoe: You sent them to the Desert, didn't you?

  Darkapa: We need a contingency pn, boy. We can't take everyone with us.

  Kaehe'kakoe: But you are aware of what the struggle is for...

  Kaehe'kakoe: WHEN we take Na-Geski we will be per-occupied with everything else we will need a pce to dump all the stragglers...

  Kaehe'kakoe: My father has made clear what a silly proposition that is...

  Becker: *Mphh* May I ADVISE we continue discussing about Na-Geski? The host will arrive in a few days and I'm SURE the Wilo Jawi will much appreciate our initiative.

  Captain Abraham: Sir, if I may - did you all noticed that the enemy came by the east? I do not recall any mention of an entrance from that direction.

  Darkapa: There should not be one. There's only one gate around Na-Geski, and they would have to have passed through it coming from the citadel.

  Taking out a rough sketch of the city map and tracing paper, Captain Oxley brought a small table nearby.

  All the others got close to the table to look at the drawings.

  Captain Oxley: Base' off of wha' the Colonel foun' out, 'tis pce may be ol' beyond livin' memory. There we'e reverences o' some drainage sys'em o' so'ts. Now looksie 'ere whe'e it leads t'.

  On the tracing paper were a few bck lines with one red one running from where the northern part of the river bended west and isoting the citadel, nestled within the high cliff wall, all the way down to the southwest of the round perimeter. At the intersection of three bck lines and the red line, there was a small box structure marked on the map.

  Captain Oxley: Recognize 'tis location, Kumio Darkapa?

  Darkapa: Yes, that is the where the city barracks would be, but I've never heard of it having underground tunnels or anything.

  Captain Oxley: There a'e at least two structures 'ey coul' use, but I'm sure 'ey're small compared t' 'tis...

  Darkapa: Yes, one maw on the ground in a guarded pza, and one in an archer's outpost close to the river.

  Captain Abraham: You're suggesting we take them on from underneath.

  Captain Oxley: All of 'em. At night. 'e trap the cunts in the citadel, see 'o is in a spot of bothe' now. Sir.

  Becker: What are the chances this rogue won't just go suicidal and let the hexer rain merry hell on the city?

  Darkapa: He better hope he can hex the ground to create necessities, because otherwise, they'll be alone with the sele'kwai, if not eventually killed by the Traitor. It's bad enough destroying Na-Bano, but the rest?

  Captain Abraham: And what if he is INDEED a hexer?

  Darkapa: At this point, it's possible. He may JUST be an apprentice, but still...

  Magic-Man: *Mandrake Squad, Colonel Becker. Come in. This is Magic-Man.*

  Becker excused himself outside.

  Becker: *Come in, Magic-Man.*

  Magic-Man: *A spot of bother, as you say - Beachhead party pushed forward and encountered resistance. It will still take a while to secure the road. Message received - the Sergeant Major and a ptoon is ready for transport to your location. Over.*

  Becker: *Advise Colonel Wilrd that we may have to take Na-Geski in one go. We're examining his pn right now. Ask if it is possible to bring forth our employers ahead of the host. Over.*

  Magic-Man: *Copy that, Colonel.*

  Becker: *Further information as follows...*

  After a while, Becker informed the others in the yurt to get the wounded ready for transport, as they would have to climb back down the monadnock.

  The reveling of the be'ti was just about finished, as the skulls bleached smoothly and the heads withered and shrink.