The sound of a bawling child carried over the field. A light glowed in one of the tents where the Oki were camped, and shadowy figures flickered against it.
“Sounds like Yuna,” Makokan said.
Hohsalle frowned. It did sound like Yuna. But rather than a tantrum, it was more like a wail of inconsolable grief. A sense of foreboding gripped his chest, and he spurred his horse to a gallop.
Several people were gathered around the entrance to the tent where Van should have been resting. Kiya held Yuna in her arms, trying to console her. Several young men crowded around her, holding their pyuika by the reins. They raised their heads when Hohsalle hurried over.
“What’s happened?” he called out.
“Van’s gone,” Tohma answered with an anxious frown.
Hohsalle stared at him. “Gone? When?”
“We don’t know. He was here when Lady Milalle and Sae left, but Yuna ran into our tent a little while ago crying and saying that he’d vanished. We’ve searched all over, but there’s no sign of him. Olaha’s missing as well.”
Hohsalle’s expression darkened. The premonition that had sprouted in his mind took solid shape. Van had ridden off on his pyuika in the dark without a word after speaking with Milalle and Sae. Most likely, he’d departed in search of the Kinma dogs. He had a connection with them. Perhaps there was something that only he understood. If so…
He’s in deep trouble.
Hohsalle’s pulse quickened. If Van ventured into the net flung by the Molfah to catch and kill Shikan and the Kinma dogs, he would die, too. The Molfah had been ordered to exterminate the dogs and the one who controlled them. Even if Sae had explained to them that Van was an ally, to the rest of the Molfah, he was an obvious threat, a man poised to become the next Dog King. Undoubtedly, they would judge it safer to eliminate this stray spark before it ignited further disaster.
What should I do?
There must be a way to save him. Hohsalle couldn’t rely on Sae because she was a Molfah. Nor could he turn to the Inner Circle or Tohlim. He chewed his lip. “Makokan, can you follow his tracks?” he whispered.
Makokan frowned. “After daybreak, probably.”
By then it would be too late. Van’s injury was not completely healed. That might slow him down, but he was riding a pyuika. They couldn’t possibly make up the distance he’d cover tonight, especially while trying to follow his trail. Hohsalle gnawed on his fingertips.
Had I only come sooner. He had been hoping to ask Van whether there was a way to find and bring back any Kinma dogs that escaped Molfah detection. Now he couldn’t even warn Van about the danger.
Tohma watched Hohsalle closely with obvious unease. “What’s wrong, sir? If you know anything, please tell us.”
Hohsalle regarded him silently. Given the nature of the situation, it wouldn’t do to unburden himself to these people. Seeing the worry written on their faces, he couldn’t help but feel how cruel it was that they’d never learn what became of Van. However, it couldn’t be helped. Telling them the truth would only cause them to worry more.
He shook his head. “I was just concerned about his injury, that’s all.”
Tohma’s face twisted. “Is it still that bad?”
“I think he’ll be all right, but you should never take a head injury lightly.” Hohsalle sighed. “Let’s split up and search for him. If you find him, Milalle’s at the clinic. Let her know.”
Tohma and the others nodded solemnly. In his heart, Hohsalle begged their forgiveness. If Van had gone after the Kinma dogs, they would never find him.
Bidding them farewell, he headed toward Kazan. “We’d better get back to the clinic,” he told Makokan. “We should gather everything we need to respond to any emergencies and secure Yotalu’s permission to travel the highway. I’ll tell him we want to be prepared for any possibility.”
Makokan frowned. “But Van wouldn’t leave the city through the gate. He’d take the forest trails.”
“So? You think we should do the same?” Hohsalle asked, shaking his head. “You want to carry our fragile medicine vials on horseback and pursue a pyuika? Impossible! Taking the highway will be faster. The Emperor’s Eyes will leave tomorrow morning accompanied by his entourage. We won’t be permitted to go with them, but if we follow behind, we’re bound to run into Van along the way. Even if we can’t stop him, we might be of some help.”
Tohma watched Hohsalle leave, barely able to contain himself. “They’re hidin’ something’, aren’t they?” he muttered.
Chida nodded. “Yeah. I got the same feelin’. There’s somethin’ they weren’t tellin’ us.”
Mino groaned. “I bet you’re right, but what he said about Van’s injury is true. Remember what Lady Milalle told us? He shouldn’t be ridin’ yet.”
Tohma clenched his fists. “We’ve got to find him. And as soon as possible.”
Moki frowned. “But how? We can’t follow his tracks in the dark. We don’t even know which way he went.”
A fierce voice came from behind. “I know!”
The young men jumped and looked around. Yuna raised a finger and pointed, her face beet red. “Dat way! Ochan, ovah deah!” Her finger never wavered. As Tohma stared at this little girl who seemed so certain, he was seized by a strange feeling.
“Impossible…,” he muttered.
The others seemed to share his thought. They blinked and looked at Yuna, then at Tohma.
“Yuna always finds Van, doesn’t she?” Tohma said. They nodded. “Like she has second sight.”
Yuna pressed her lips together under their intense scrutiny, but once again she pointed and declared, “Ochan dat way.”
The young men and Kiya looked at each other. For a moment, they stood lost in thought. Finally, Tohma said, “Y’know, I’ve got an idea. Promise me you won’t laugh.”