"No deaths. Sevenwounded." He nodded at a hastily erected lean-to across the encampment."Margaret and Tamar are tending them."
"And the elephants?"
"One was shot. Dilam iscleansing the wound now\ She believes it is not bad."
"Good," Jane said,relieved. "I was afraid it would be worse. There was so muchshooting."
"The soldiers were sofrightened, they couldn't even hit a target as big as an elephant. They willprobably not stop running until they get back to their ship." Li Sunggrinned. "It was truly an exhilarating experience."
A smile tugged at Jane's lips."Even crossing that river underwater?"
Li Sung made a face. "Youcan be sure I made certain those reeds you and Ruel crafted had no blockages.Water will never be my favorite element."
"But you did well withit," Ruel said. "You couldn't have done better, Li Sung."
"You are correct,"Li Sung agreed. "I was splendid. Even Dilam grants I was adequate."He turned. "I will see you later. I must go help Dilam with the woundedelephant."
Jane stared after him as helimped away through the throng. He was still dressed in the loincloth he hadworn to cross the river, his limbs bare.
"What's wrong?" Ruelasked as he saw her startled expression.
"His bad leg... he'salways kept it covered, even from me."
"It doesn't seem tobother him now. Perhaps he's decided he has nothing to hide," Ruel said."We all seem to have let ourselves come out in the open."
She looked at him with amusedsurprise. He actually thought what he said was true. She doubted if Ruel wouldever be completely open even with her. He would always be the mysteriousmandarin who had dominated her thoughts and emotions these last three years.Yet he would also be the man who had torn his flesh to shreds dragging Calebthrough the jungle and the brittle, tortured man she had held in her arms twonights ago. "Well, what do we do now?"
"Tomorrow we go back tothe palace to assess the damage and start repairs." His face clouded."And there are arrangements to be made."
Ian.
She nodded and took a stepcloser to him. "Hadn't we better go find Margaret and tell her aboutAbdar?"
He took her hand. "Aye,it will be good to give her some good news for a change."
Kartauk did not return to theencampment for another four hours. Margaret was waiting when his canoe finallyapproached the shore.
"Well, did you manage tostir up enough trouble to suit you?" she asked as he stepped out of thecanoe. "Jane and Ruel came back immediately, but you had to stay and rakeamong the ashes like a ghoul in a cemetery."
"Such tendersentiment." He pulled the canoe up the bank. "Did you wait here tocall me a ghoul or only out of curiosity?"
"Curiosity?"
He nodded at the sack in thebottom of the canoe. "They told you about the masks, didn't they?"
"You're making it soundas if you believe I'd stay to see that horror. I should have known you'd lackthe delicacy of feeling to understand."
"Then why wait on thisdamp riverbank for my unworthy self?"
"You know why I'mhere."
"But this time you must putit into words."
She stared at himbelligerently and then reluctantly said, "I regret what I said before youleft. My words were hasty. I did not mean…I have no desire to see you die."
"I'm greatlyrelieved."
"You are no suchthing," she said sharply. "You know me too well not to read my truefeelings, and it is most unkind of you to make me explain myself."
