As Marc explained, Taura's face went white. Not with fear; she wasn't afraid of fear. Anger. "He could have hired us," she hissed. "Power and all." Of course, harnessing the Dendarii was like wormhole-jumping with a concussed pilot; usually exceptionally successful, but with the potential for equally spectacular disasters.

Actually, that was a lot like what Landel had ended up with. Only with more of the stick and less of the carrot. "So you didn't say who we're fighting," she added, getting her voice back under control. "Landel? Aguilar's military? Or the people from another world?"

Either way, they were clearly in a siege mentality. That meant it was the best and the worst time for an all-or-nothing throw of the dice. Those plans were a stupid idea if you had backup. Which they didn't.

The only backup they'd ever get was if Landel decided to kidnap and torture more innocents to get them.

So that made it an excellent plan, provided one wasn't keen on surviving it.