"I intend to take charge of that search, but not yet, I need to speak to him again. I believe the best hope for Stalwart is as an autonomous vassal under me or someone like me, with the Edict broken. Also, I and my party are unusually capable and can probably accomplish it with much more speed and safety than yours."

"I'll admit it hasn't been looking great. No promises."

He nods. "More urgently, a pincer attack is planned and is unaware of the order to stand down. I think you should let us out the rear gates to deal with that."

"Sure. This way, no spying off the path," she says, calling several other Unbroken over to escort them. Soon they are out the back gates, smaller and less secure than the front but strong nonetheless.

He and Barik stride forward from the northwest gate, in plain view, before he shouts, in a voice trained to carry, "Jacomus! Stand down! You have a new oath to honor! Tunon's Fatebinder demands it!"

They keep walking, and he repeats it a couple times before he gets a response - a Crescent Runner popping out of the rocks.

The woman gives a Disfavored salute.

"Commander Barik, sir. Who is this, and what are the new orders he's claiming?"

"Graven Ashe protects. This is Fatebinder Kohl, the Stormcaller. He's negotiated a ceasefire with the Unbroken, at least the ones outside Sentinel Stand. We have the missive here; do you read?"

"Graven Ashe protects. Nossir, but we trust your word, and his if you say he's a real Fatebinder. This way to Jacomus."

Jacomus is an Iron Walker, with two others and a dozen Crescent Runners waiting behind him.

"Well, you've spoiled our attack anyway. Let's see that letter."

He produces it. "Prisoner exchange as well. Not the General's daughter, she's probably in the hands of the Regent's faction - we're tacitly allied against them, once we find a way in - but probably all the rest, including the one from her party held at Duskwatch."

"And you'll be finding a way in?"

"Yes. I'm offering them limited autonomy, under myself as Fatebinder and Master of the Spires, ultimately through to Kyros. They want to be with me for the assault, and I've promised that one of theirs can get the killing blow on that coward Straydus, but I expect it to be a joint effort."

"Good luck, I suppose. I doubt they'll let us through the fort, so we should get going to go back to Commander Teodor. Hah, if this actually holds, maybe he'll get to try to actually woo Elia after all."

Kohl laughs. "He actually wants to?"

"You didn't hear this from us. But yes, absolutely. I mean, can't blame him too much - she's tough as nails and still has looks. Like your lady mage, but a dozen years younger and showing off her muscle tone better."

He throws a sidelong glance at Eb with a smile.

She snorts. "I'll take that as a compliment. I think."

"You took no prisoners back here?"

"We ran into a patrol, but they fled off northeast, no captives. You might check on them, so they don't think we're breaching the exchange?"

"We will."

"Then I will see you back at the south camp." He gives a quick salute, and then waves for his crew to get up and march west, on their roundabout route.

The search for the hiding scouts proves fairly easy with Verse in the lead, and they notify them that the way is clear, the Disfavored retreating for the next week at least, and they can go back to Elia. Then they pass back through the fort ("Ambush averted.") and head to Duskwatch.

Informed, they look for the Disfavored force nearby before the garrison itself.

"Commander Osmios. I trust you've received word from the General?"

"I have, Fatebinder. The General says you'll secure the release of Stone Shield Callias?"

"I will, assuming their chain of command holds. If you don't mind, I'll leave Verse and Barik with you for this. She won't cause trouble." He looks at her pointedly to remind her he's not just talking to Osmios.

"That's acceptable. We have enough idle pairs of eyes to keep her from getting away with anything anyway. Good fortune."