Glancing over at one of the few Litum who had recovered enough to come with us, I asked, "How far is it to the outpost?" The guard, whose name I thought was Redu, frowned and looked thoughtfully back at the gates. "An hour's ride, perhaps less if we pushed it." That was better than I'd hoped for, but still wasn't great. Still, any small advantage I could get, I'd take. "Okay. How fast could we get there if you turn into smoke?" I asked Adar. He appeared mutinous for a moment before his expression turned considering. "I could reach the outpost in perhaps thirty minutes carrying you. Perhaps fifteen without." I still hadn't figured out how to read his eyes for clues, but I had a feeling he was exaggerating a bit. Clearly he didn't want me going on ahead of what small force we had mustered, which simply made me more determined to do so. "If you go by yourself can you get Tam out of there?" I asked, knowing I had to consider every option. If that meant sending Adar in alone for a snatch and grab, that worked for me.
