There was something appealing about it, almost, if not for the countless years that discipline and control had been drummed into Bleda’s every waking moment.

A freedom to being like that, no secrecy, no hiding who you are. And sometimes the effort to keep that control is so exhausting, the sense of failure at just the slightest slip crushing.

‘You’re pleased, then?’ Riv said, frowning.

‘I am,’ Bleda said, an inner chuckle at the understatement in that.

‘Well, you could at least be a little grateful,’ Riv said.

‘I am,’ Bleda said. ‘Very grateful.’

‘Really? You sure?’ Riv said, eyes narrowing.

‘Yes. I have never felt more grateful in all my life. Words cannot express my thanks.’

‘Well, you don’t look it,’ Riv said, ‘but I’ll take your word for it, then.’

‘I would do something for you, to repay this debt I now owe you,’ Bleda said. He felt immediately and profoundly indebted to Riv, and compelled to try and do something about it. Although by his reckoning nothing could ever repay Riv’s act in full.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Riv said with a shrug. ‘Just wish I’d done it sooner, now.’

‘There must be something I can do for you,’ Bleda said, though in truth he could think of nothing at that moment.

‘Is your aim as good as Jin’s?’ she asked, a gleam coming to her eye.

‘Better,’ Bleda said, no hint of boast or bluster in his voice, only an utter conviction.

‘Teach me, then. To use a bow. I’m not very good.’

‘You’re not,’ Bleda agreed, remembering her efforts that day with Jin. ‘I will try, though I cannot promise miracles.’

‘Ha.’ Riv barked a laugh. ‘I’m not expecting any.’

‘And I do not know how well I will be able to teach the use of your bows. They are like a giant’s club.’

‘Well, I’d appreciate any help I can get. Don’t want to miss the straw man during my warrior trials. If Israfil ever lets me take another one,’ she muttered.

They stood there in silence, then. Bleda unsure what to say. Riv shuffled her feet. The sun was gone now, only different degrees of darkness about them.

‘Why did they do that to you,’ Riv asked him, touching her lip, ‘in the weapons-field?’

‘You would have to ask them,’ Bleda said. ‘I was not very good at your shield wall, slow to manoeuvre. It threw their timing. I kept bumping into Sorch, the one who started . . .’ He touched his own lip.

‘I know Sorch,’ Riv said. ‘A high opinion of himself.’

‘Pride, that’s the first step on the road to defeat,’ Bleda quoted from the Sirak code. For a moment he was astride a horse, the wind in his hair, his mother and father either side of him, Altan and Hexa, his brother and sister, riding the wind. He could hear their laughter.