Page 70 of The Spirit of the Wolf

He cut her off. “You will be acting as a scout. Unless directly attacked, a scout harms no one.”

So firm was his tone, she knew she dare not dispute him.

“Now,” he went on to say, “we will practice what your signal to me will be. Let us start with the cry of the coyote, as you suggested, for it is almost the time of evening when they begin to howl. Here is what they sound like.”

He gave several yips, ending in a wail. “Now you try it.”

She did, imitating him almost exactly.

He nodded at her, his look pleased. “You are very good.”

She beamed. “I have been told I sing well. Perhaps this is why.”

“Hau, hau. Now do it again, only this time bark four times before the longer howl.” He demonstrated.

Again, she duplicated it, causing him to smile at her. “It is good,” he said. “It is very good. I am impressed. Now, listen well. Once we are in the enemy camp, if you see someone coming toward me and you fear I am unaware of him, you are to give me this signal. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Once I have freed your friend and have her within my grasp, we will leave, but we must not flee their camp in a rush. To do so would be as to put ourselves at a disadvantage. It is another dictate of the scout: He should be even more careful in departing than he is in coming.”

“Very well,” she said. “I understand.”

“Good. There is one more matter I must caution you about.”

“Yes?”

“Even if I leave you for a moment, you are not to stir until I come for you. I have told you before that you are not to move, but there is more. I must obtain your complete word of honor about this. You are not to budge or try to find me, for I may have to hide your friend and then come back for you. There may be other plans I might make instantly. And I cannot worry about you taking an action I have not envisioned.”

“I understand.”

His eyes narrowed at her. “Ensure that you do. If there is anything that gives you uncertainty, you should ask me now. For once we are in the enemy camp, there is no leeway for error. Even if their warriors begin to spill out of the camp and they are seeking me, you are not to move. Your inaction in this will be your salvation, for they will not see you unless they step on you, which is unlikely.”

“All right.”

“Even if I am attacked. Do you agree?”

She hesitated. “Actually, I think that’s expecting a lot. I mean, even if you’re attacked? What kind of friend am I if I don’t do something?”

“A very good friend, for I am compelled to ask you, how could you alone fight off twenty warriors?”

“That’s not the point. If you’re in danger, I might want to⁠—”

“It is the point. I am a scout. I know how to hide, I have been trained to slip in and out of hostile territory, and get away. Rest assured about my being able to do this. But I cannot worry about you or have my attention on you or what you might try to do. Therefore, I require your promise that you will obey me in all these things.”

She exhaled forcefully. “Very well.”

“And you promise? I must hear you promise.”

“Very well, if I must. I promise.”

He nodded. “Then as soon as I complete the painting of your face, we are ready to go. Almost.”

“Almost?”

He nodded. “There is one more thing I am obliged to do.”

“Oh? And what is that?”