The funeral rites proceeded properly. Phaedra watched as the yew twigs were removed from the necks of the dead women and then lit from a charcoal brazier before being thrust into the kindling beneath the pyres. The corpses were naked save for where their ancient tribal markings had been daubed in mud. The surviving members of their Syndi spoke the ritual words. There were only two Syndi who had lost more than one member, those pairs of women had been first to light their pyres. After the rite was concluded they would form a new group out of the two half Syndi. The others would remain threesomes until new recruits were found or casualties reduced them to pairs which could be properly combined. Idly Phaedra wondered whether the inhabitants of Arbela might furnish any new recruits. Judging from the hard looks they were shooting the Miravet, that seemed unlikely, but one never knew. In any community there were young women who wanted to escape their lots in life, and desert dwellers tended to produce hardy sorts who could take to the training. She would see to it in a while.

"They are Imperial," Zoe said in soft voice as she slid in beside her commander. The scout leader hadn't been in the field herself but she had scattered her own people out among Brasidas own scouts. Naturally they had verified that the approaching force was friendly. It was a hard learned lesson that not all Imperial outfits took scouting as seriously as the Miravet, though from what Zoe had said she hadn't found much to complain about in Brasidas' troops.

"How are we doing for arrows?" Phaedra asked as her eyes tracked eastward to the approaching force.

"Assuming our commander doesn't want us to wait all night to gather them up we should be fine," Zoe replied. Phaedra didn't quite manage to keep a smile from touching her lips at the dig. Already she could here the ringing of hammers from Arbela's few blacksmith shops. Phoebe, the blacksmith for the regiment, was already supervising the local blacksmiths as they hammered fresh arrow heads out of steel looted from the dead. Shafts and fletching would be affixed in due time, and if they had enough time, local arrows would be fitted with Miravet arrowheads.

"Think we will be moving out soon?" Zoe asked as they watched the swelling dust of Tychon's approaching troops.

"By the Huntress is that thing human?" Phaedra cut in. Zoe was also goggling at the enormous bear of a man who rode between Brasidas and Salf.

"That poor horse," Zoe empathized, though in truth the big draft mount didn't seem to be too upset with its situation.

"I think you had probably best have the girls ready to ride, while I think of it, do we have anyone who speaks good Atvari?"

"Thalia does, and Antonina," Zoe replied, "Hespia did but..." Zoe trailed off guesturing to the pyres sadly.

"Ok, Get Thalia and Nina and see if any local girls are looking to get out a life of dirt farming, or whoring," Phaedra instructed.

"Let them know we wont be staying here if they are worried about the Great King appearing to punish them," Phaedra continued. Leaving Zoe to her work she turned and headed for the entrance to town where Brasidas and his companions were approaching. With any luck Tychon had news and they could start making some concrete plans.