At the Queen_s command

"Men is arrogant. Now their Good Book tells them that God made them out of mud just like everything else, but they reckon-on account of they disobeyed Him and got theirselves kicked out of that Paradise Garden-they is somehow better than the animals, plants, and dirt." The scout shook his head. "They go to making rules and laws what is for the benefit of themselves. Lets them get more. Lets them keep more. Don't matter they lie and cheat to get things."

Owen frowned. "You're not just talking about the land, are you?"

"Well, I don't reckon I am." Nathaniel hesitated, then smiled. "And I don't reckon I want to speak more on that particular point. Fact is, however, men and their society do more harm than good often as not. That's why I prefer keeping far from most folks."

"Is this a common theme among Mystrians?"

"I don't rightly know. Could be your little book will tell you. Don't care. I ain't a Mystrian." Nathaniel held a hand up. "Yep, I was born here. Probably die here, too, iffen there's a God who has a lick of sense. But I ain't a part of their society. Don't want nothing to do with it."

Owen frowned. "Then why not just live with the Altashee?"

"There's times, Captain Strake, when a man cain't do what he'd like to do. Cain't escape your history."

Kamiskwa snorted. "Not without trying."

"I reckon, Prince Kamiskwa, you've done forgot your original counsel in this matter."

Owen hadn't a clue as to what they were talking about, and was equally certain that he'd not get an explanation out of either of them. Nathaniel had seldom spoken about himself. Owen guessed that part of the poking and testing he did was to see how much he could trust Owen. Clearly he'd not made a decision one way or the other and, until then, whatever secrets he harbored would remain hidden.

The soldier couldn't help but smile. He'd been in the man's company for over ten days and could have written down all he knew about him on a single page. Catherine would have scolded him for not having learned more. He'd have explained that men don't talk about things the way women do, and she'd have countered that he was just afraid to ask.

Fear, however, had nothing to do with it. It was respect. He respected Nathaniel's right to privacy. Who he was, what he did, had no effect on the expedition. If it did, if Nathaniel was a drunkard, then they would have had words.

More importantly, the act of not asking built trust. Owen trusted Nathaniel to tell him anything that was important. So far Nathaniel had upheld his part of that bargain. Not asking personal questions became a silent vote of confidence in Nathaniel, engendering more trust.

Owen figured part of Nathaniel's attitude came from society's reaction to something he'd done. Just having children by two women-and Shedashee women at that-to whom he was not married would be enough to raise eyebrows and bring down condemnation. He would have been a right devil to men like Bishop Bumble. Many of those who spoke out against him would be hypocrites. Owen had heard countless superior officers lecture common soldiers on the sins of drink and debauchery, all the while themselves being drunk and just having departed a bordello.

Owen went to sleep thinking on that point and managed, unexpectedly, to sleep through to the last watch. Once the sun rose to splash gold over the lake, the men ate, scattered all signs of their camp, and launched their canoe. Owen sat in the middle as the others propelled the small boat across crystal water.

"I can paddle my share."

"Don't you be worrying about that. You just keep your eyes on the shoreline."

"We're beyond range for a shot."

"I reckon, but I want to know if there's folks watching us."

Owen retrieved his telescope from his pouch. He swept the shoreline but saw nothing aside from a moose grazing in shallow water. The placid surface reflected the blue sky, save near the shore where the trees' reflection rimmed the lake darkly.

"It looks clear."

Kamiskwa, from the front of the canoe, grunted a single word. " Tekskog."

"Do you think, Kamiskwa? Hain't never been one in this lake afore." Nathaniel laughed. "Wouldn't do much good if he saw one."

Owen sighed. "Should I be looking for something specific?"

"Well, he's a-wanting you to be looking for a lake monster. Like a big snake, horse's head, lots of coils. The Prince probably put it on your list. He thinks it's a big otter. Very big. Get enough coats out of it for your army, I'm thinking."

"You're serious?"

"Can't honestly say I've seen one, but I've heard tell of plenty who have."

Owen would have dismissed the idea save for two things. First, he had seen creatures in Mystria he'd never seen before. Second, what they de-scribed-granted without the fur-was a wurm in its early life stage. If there are wurms here and we can find them, we could raise and train them. The balance of Auropean power would forever be shifted.