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That narrowed the possibilities down considerably。 But there was more。
When the packtrain had left the local Temple； some hours before dark； it had been acpanied by an escort of some three dozen heavily armed cavalry。 These were mercenary troops； speaking only some bizarre dialect of their own； Ben thought that they must have been recruited from halfway around the world。
Progress had at first been easy； the sky was threatening but the storm had not yet broken。 The armed escort had surrounded the packtrain most of the slow way； the loadbeasts had been docile； and the six drivers had been able to take it easy； riding themselves on six spare mounts。 Their journey； along back roads and then increasingly slender trails leading into the back country； had been entirely on Temple lands … or so Ben thought； he could not be pletely sure。 Such a heavy escort； on Temple lands； seemed to be overdoing it a bit … unless of course the cargo was very； very valuable。
And to think that didn't help the new worry at all。。。
Just before nightfall； the train had halted in a small clearing amid the scrubby growth and boulders of the wasteland。 In a smooth and evidently prearranged fashion； the laden animals with their six drivers had been detached at this point from their escort； and under the mand of Radulescu had continued forward over this rugged thread of trail。
According to the announced plan； their escort was to wait in the clearing for their return。 As the separation was taking place； and almost as an afterthought； the six drivers had been ordered to leave their own weapons behind in the escort's care。 Swords and daggers； Ben and the five others had been told； would not be needed up ahead； and would just get in their way when they went to work on the unloading。
Radulescu had been the officer who told them that； raising his crisp professional voice above the rising wind； while behind him the cavalry sat their own mounts； waiting silently。 And when the weapons of the six drivers had been collected under a waterproof； and the spare cavalry mounts returned； Radulescu had ordered the train forward along this unknown thread of a trail。 Then he had followed it on his own steed。
Ben had never set eyes on the priest…officer before today； and as far as he could tell the man was unknown to the other drivers as well … even as they were to each other。 Certainly Radulescu was not one of the regular cavalry or infantry officers assigned to the local Temple's garrison。 Ben suspected that he came from somewhere very high up in the loftier strata of Blue Temple power … perhaps he even had some connection with the Inner Council that ruled the Temple in all its branches。 All of the regular officers had deferred to him； even though his uniform of plain gold and blue was devoid of any of the usual insignia of rank。 That； thought Ben； had to mean he was a priest。 Still； Radulescu seemed perfectly at home astride his cavalry mount； and also quite at home with giving orders in the field。
And now through the night the men and animals continued to struggle on； to move their heavy cargo forward。 Ben thought it might not be all gold that they were carrying。 He could imagine； inside the heavily padded； shapeless bundles that filled the wicker baskets； a certain proportion of jewelry； for example。 Precious stones； and maybe some things of art。。。
With every minute the worry that had fastened upon him grew and grew。 And the wind continued to blast the little procession； as did the rain； until even the four…footed creatures were slipping and sliding on the wet and rounded rocks that made up so much of this poor excuse for a path。
Again Ben shoved against the beast whose hindquarters were under his right arm。 He shifted the animal bodily a small distance to the right； farther away from that dreadful brink that now again came curving in from the left to run close beside the path。
And now； to Ben's mild surprise； the officer came cantering forward on the right side of the small train。 Radulescu was urging his mount to a greater fraction of its speed； so that it quickly got ahead of the slow loadbeasts。 Lights and shadows shifted with the change in position of the cold torch still held in the officer's hand。 That torch was a thick rod whose rounded； glassy tip glowed steadily and brightly white； impervious to wind and rain。 Ben had seen similar lights in use a time or two before； though certainly they were not mon。 In that steady light； Radulescu's officer's cloak shone； glistened as if it might be waterproof； and this head was neatly dry under a hood instead of wet in a damned dripping helmet。 From under his cloak on the left side a sheathed sword protruded like some kind of stiffened tail。
As soon as Radulescu had gotten ahead of the train； he turned back into its path and reined in his swifter mount。 And now； with a motion of his light； he signaled to the drivers that here they were going to leave the precarious path。 He was waving them inland； across utterly trackless country。
The driver just ahead of Ben cursed again。
With the officer now riding slowly on ahead of the train； his cold light held high for guidance； the first driver got the first animal turned off the trail and headed inland； to the west。 Ben followed； leaning on the first animal's hindquarters as before。 The animal
behind had to agree； with Ben's grip still on its reins。
The others followed。
Now； moving across country on footing even worse than before； they were traveling even more slowly。 From what Ben could see of the surrounding land； it was absolutely trackless and abandoned。 All six of the drivers were cursing now； Ben was sure of it； though he could hear no maledictions other than his own。
The edge of the cliff was now safely distant。 But now men and animals had to pick their way over uneven slopes of sand； push through prickly growth； negotiate more rocks whose surfaces were slicked by rain。 This land； thought Ben； was in fact good for nothing but raising demons； as the old folksaying had it of the deserts。 If indeed a large dragon was nearby and he did not doubt that it was … then it was hard to imagine what it found to eat。
He thought that the dragon was making its presence known。 The farther west and south the loadbeasts were made to struggle； the more restive they became。 And now Ben； who had more experience than most in locating dragons； thought that he could detect the unique tang directly in the wet air； ing and going with variations in the wind。 In that scent there was something swinish； and something metallic too； and something else that Ben could not relate to anything outside itself。
And now； unexpectedly； the packtrain was jouncing and stumbling to a halt。 A few meters ahead； the priest…officer Radulescu had already reined in his animal and was dismounting。 Reins held firmly in one hand； Radulescu lifted his torch high in the other； and began to chant a spell。 Ben could not hear him chanting； but could see in profile a regular movement of the officer's short beard； chewing words boldly out into the wind。
And now something else came into view； above and bey