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"Sazandara has been captured," said Haqq.

Hector's eyes widened a little. That was news to him. "Do you know where she is being held?"

Haqq shook his head. And after a moment, he seemed to realize something. "Ah, but I should clarify. She was not captured by Abolish, which is a small mercy, I suppose."

'If not by Abolish, then who?' said Garovel.

"Hahl Mateen." Haqq's weary gaze became briefly sterner as the name left his lips. "She was visiting them when word of the invasion arrived. A perfectly amicable meeting between old friends. Until that news changed everything. The Mateens went into hiding and took her with them, as their prisoner."

A glum silence filled the air until Garovel's soft voice broke it. 'They must not want her feeding you information regarding their whereabouts.'

"That is what she surmised, as well," said Haqq.

Damn. Hector knew the relations between the Hahls were bad, right now, but taking prisoners? That spoke of an extreme degree of paranoia. Or even malicious intent, maybe. If they wanted bargaining chips for future negotiations, then reapers made for pretty strong ones.

"But at least I know they will not harm her." The man sighed. "Unlike my brother..."

Agh. Hector felt for him. He wished there was some way of helping Asad. Knowing that he was in Morgunov's clutches couldn't have been much more comforting than news that he'd been killed. "Rasalased told me that he thinks Asad will make it through this."

Okay, maybe Rasalased hadn't used those exact words, but that had been the general sentiment that Hector had inferred.

Haqq didn't look particularly comforted, however.

Hector decided to drop the subject.

Before they got any closer to Pauline's nest, Hector suddenly thought better of having Haqq present for this. He doubted that she would appreciate being introduced to more strangers.

Well, her father wouldn't appreciate it, at least. She'd probably be delighted, now that he was thinking about it.

Either way, Hector asked Haqq to return to the castle, too. The man protested, though not hard, and then was off.

Pauline's nest was in the center of the decoy castle, at the top of an iron tower. He planned to provide her with a better one, eventually, but thus far, she'd seemed largely satisfied with it.

Thankfully, he could already sense her there via the Scarf of Amordiin.

But she was not alone. Which alarmed him.

Hector sensed the outlines of many other people surrounding her.