Suuqai returned to the island with the group.
The two steppe riders looked up when the group came in. Suuqai stepped up onto the dry center and looked over the island in one sweep. The prisoners were seated back to back at the center, wrists bound to the saddle rings beside them.
Suuqai crouched in front of them both.
He kept his voice at the volume of the water running around the island. "The leader's camp. The main one. Which side, facing from outside."
The one who had looked up answered. "Left. He sleeps at the far end."
"His name."
"Faruk."
Suuqai looked at the second prisoner. The man's attention came off the reed wall slowly. "Does that match."
A pause. Then the man said, "Yes."
"How many men inside with Faruk."
"Four," said the first.
"Five," said the second, at the same moment.
They looked at each other. The first prisoner looked away first.
"Five," Suuqai said. Once. He moved to the next question. "The south sentry. His route."
