Liam swore. “Women and children? No men?”

“No sir,” the lieutenant replied.

Liam turned to Lysander. “Lysander, we will take these people prisoner.”

“Prisoner?” Lysander’s mouth hung open. “We’ll destroy them!”

“No, we won’t. They’re only women and children.”

“Only?!” His voice rose in pitch. “Need I remind you what one of those women did to me?” He traced a finger down his scar. “No, Liam. Now is the time to reap our vengeance upon these people.”

Liam sighed, covering his face with one hand. “No, we will not.” His voice was firm. “I’m still the ranking officer in this joint command. And I say these people will be taken prisoner.”

Lysander’s face contorted in rage, his hands flexing angrily. If Liam didn’t know better, he’d suspect that Lysander was prepared to attack him. He tried to hide a nervous swallow as he realized that, after all these weeks, he really didn’t know better.

“Argh!” Lysander screamed incoherently, then turned and stormed out of the tent, bellowing orders to the men.

Liam took a deep breath, then remembered that he wasn’t alone. He turned to the major. “Major, please follow your commander and make sure he issues MY orders.” The major snapped a sharp salute then turned and followed Lysander into the rapidly warming morning air.

Liam turned back to the lieutenant. “What could these people possibly be thinking? They clearly know where we are. Why would they have a group of women and children so close to us?”

“I’m not sure, Commander.” Liam hid a half smile. He wasn’t actually asking for the young man’s opinion, merely thinking out loud. But the young man answered, so he deserved a response. “Me either. And that’s what worries me. At this point, they have to know that the army is jumpy and desperate for action—“

He broke off. His mind reeled through the possibilities. There was only one reason to risk the lives of women and children.

He turned to look at his man. “Get out to the griffins and get them airborne now. I want you and the men to circle the area around the encampment you spotted earlier.”

The young man saluted automatically. “What are we looking for, sir?”

“A trap.”