A/N: I forgot to put a disclaimer on one of my stories, and you know what? Nobody sued me! How do you like that? But I'd still like to say that any idiot who's read the Tamora Pierce books knows that these characters aren't mine, and I know it, so don't sue me!

Exhausted as I was, I still couldn't sleep out in the open with no protection. I wearily sprinkled some magical herbs I carried in a large circle, giving myself enough space to pitch a tent and have a fire. Once I had whispered the appropriate spell words, my camp was invisible and impenetrable.

I continued on like this for weeks. The only difficult part was avoiding the mages—I wasn't sure if any of them were powerful enough to see through my spell. But procurement of the rest of the evidence went smoothly.

By reading and listening, I learned that Sinthya was dealing with Carthak with more than just diamonds. Carthaki soldiers were posted all around the fief, and more were being brought in every week. I overheard a private conversation between Radinel and Lord Sinthya that went something like this:

"Have the latest reinforcements arrived?" That was the lord.

"Yes, sir, and all are ready at their posts. We should be prepared to take the capital within the year."

"And the emperor has left no chance for error, I assume?"

"You assume correctly, your lordship."

"We must keep a very close watch on these soldiers. One may escape unnoticed and inform the king of our plans."

"Very good, sir. There is a list of every soldier Carthak has sent since last August in your study. Would you like me to get it?"

"Shortly. For now, though, I'd like you to help me look over this list of supplies and see if I missed anything."

Before he had finished, I was already striding down the hall to the study. The roll of soldiers was in plain view on the top of the desk. Borrowing a blank piece of paper from the ample stack, I hurriedly scribbled the name of every soldier on the list, as well as making a magical copy of the imperial seal of Carthak and the handwritten note from Emperor Ozorne. I had to resist the urge to spit on it.

Above and beyond the call of duty, I thought with wry good humor as I trotted along the hallway under an invisibility spell. Once outside, I immediately took hawk form, since nobody war in sight. Although it was only early afternoon, I decided to take the rest of the day off. There were only five uncollected items on my assignment sheet, and I still had a week until I was going to be picked up.

It was another beautiful day, I noted as I flew over the land. Even the marshes were alive with color. I spotted the tree that marked my camp, and something else as well. A woman with a large dog was walking down the road, away from the fief. I opened my beak in my closest approximation of a hawk's grin and swooped down.

The woman jumped a mile when I alighted on her shoulder. I gently tugged a bit of her hair with my beak, and she laughed.

"Be human, Numair," she said. "It would hardly do for me to be talking to a bird!"

I shifted back to human form, grinning. She reached up to hug me, and I bent down to make it easier on her.

"Come into my camp and visit, Onua," I offered. "I've been very lonely these past two weeks."

"Come on, Tahoi," she called to the dog. He obediently followed her into my circle of protection, and I closed it.

"How's the mission going?" Onua asked, sitting down on a log in front of my cold fireplace. She lit the fire with her Gift as I rummaged through the food bag, looking for something interesting.

"Not too badly," I replied. "I don't have too much left, and none of it should be too hard." I threw out some rotten beef and took out a packet of slightly fresher chicken. Onua wrinkled her nose.

"You don't want to eat that when I've got fresh venison, do you?" she asked, waving another packet in front of my nose. I grinned and sniffed.

"Oh, please, please, please," I said in a dog-type voice, pawing at her knee like a dog. She laughed and scratched me behind my ears. Acting like a dog always makes her laugh. I tell myself it's worth the humiliation, but I'm not sure if I believe me.

Ok, not long to go! Only a chapter or two left! Then you can review, riiiiiiight?