The Mountains of the Moon

[The Smith]

Before Aranya can leave some Stone Crows find her, "The Burnt Men say they killed Goldface. And the Sons of Mist talked to Goldface too. He has the Magick."

[Deleted]

"What do you mean?" Aranya asked coldly, trying to keep her head clear. She hated milk of the poppy. Damn that Sands. "It seems I'll have to stay on at the Gate after all. Tell the Burnt Men to send me the Goldface they killed. All of him. And the Sons of the Mist - what do they say, exactly?"

[The Smith]

"More about Earthmen and Moutains eating the Metalshirts." the Stone Crow picks his teeth, "His Magick is strong."

[Deleted]

"Chella killed the true Sands, I know that," Aranya said. She winced at the sting in her shoulder and then swore. "If only I could go and kill these people myself. Those are Sands' men, builders of the Wall. Has he been building things for you? I - fuck, I wish I could kill all of them." She rolled her wounded shoulder irritably, then winced at the stab of pain.

"All right, man, listen to me, and spread this order to the Black Ears, Moon Brothers, Milk Snakes, Painted Dogs, Sons of the Mist - all of the clans! These Earthmen are turncloaks who were following the true Goldface, Lance Sands. These other 'Goldfaces' are Sands' men pretending to be him. They're evil, demonic people, traitorous and selfish to the last. They must all be killed. You'll want to kill them, I promise you. You can have their mail, armor, arms, gold, horses, breeches, boots and smallclothes. All of the loot is yours - well, it belongs to whoever kills them. And I will reward the men who kill these Earthmen. Do you understand? Apart from looting them and taking their horses, whoever kills them will get gold, and horses for his clan.

"All I want in return is all thirty heads. I want all the new Goldfaces. I want the Earthmen."

[The Smith]

Some of the clansmen whoop with greed, and some looks concerned at a daunting task.

[Deleted]

Aranya smiled roguishly. "Think how valuable those gold masks must be. They're worth even more than me." She winked.

"How many Goldfaces have been seen so far?"

[The Smith]

There is a long talk between many of the clansmen before one steps forward and says, "Three?"

[Deleted]

"Three," Aranya repeated. "One seen by the Burnt Men, one by the Sons, and one by...who else? The Burnt Men need no aid." They were the fiercest and most savage of the clans. Aranya almost pitied the poor builder who was parading around in that mask. The Sons, on the other hand..."Dras Redstone, help the Sons of the Mist in rounding up their Goldface and whatever black brothers are with him. You needn't fear - they are mere builders, not rangers, and they can't stand against the likes of you." Her voice was warm. "I'll give you a personal prize if you help the sons. I've always thought a magnificent bearskin would look so fine on those broad shoulders."

"As for the third Goldface..where is he? Who saw him?"

[The Smith]

Dras walks off, whistling a merry tune.

The other clansmen badn together and talk amongst themselves for a long while, finally one steps forward and says, "You."

[Deleted]

"What?" Aranya cocked her head.

[The Smith]

The clansmen looked about at each other again for support and then answered, "The one you fought. He was a Goldface too."

[Deleted]

"He was the Goldface." Aranya looked at them frankly, and they could see the sincerity in her eyes. "He was the first traitor, the man who killed his chieftain. I cut off his mask myself, and I know this. Those Earthmen don't have any magic. Trust me, I know magic. These men are builders. They maintain the Wall with hard labor, not spells. These builders are turncloaks like Sands, the first Goldface. Now apparently three of them are wearing the same masks." Aranya snorted; she thought it was stupid, fanciful nonsense.

"Who is the third one?" she asked, now frowning slightly at the looks on their faces.

[The Smith]

The clansman looked about confused then shrug, "We were counting the one you fought as well as the One the Burnt Men kilt, and the one up in the Mists."

[Deleted]

"Oh," Aranya smiled ruefully at her stupidity. "Never mind then. So there's only one Goldface left? Dras Redstone will take care of him. The rest of you - find the remaining black brothers, these so-called Earthmen. There should be twenty-nine. Kill them for me." She looked at them fiercely.

[The Smith]

Again Aranya is greeted with a mixed bag of replies, some are excited some are catious. But that all begin to set out.