Sig told most of it, how they had hunted the Kadoshim to its lair, enlisted the aid of Elgin, Battlechief of Ardain, and then attacked the Kadoshim’s den. Of the numbers of acolytes, the human sacrifice and spells, the escaped messenger. Keld hung his head – in shame or grief, Sig did not know – when she told of his capture and the death of his wolven-hound, Hella. At the mention of her name Fen lifted his head from the fire and whined. Craf cawed softly, the sound somehow full of melancholy.

And Sig told of Rab’s arrival at Uthandun, the white crow’s help in Keld’s rescue. Craf bobbed his head at that, clacking his beak loudly. Sig ignored him and carried on, telling them of the lit beacon in the rain-soaked hills of Ardain, the other beacons lit in response. Of the note that simply said: Now. And finally of the recruits Queen Nara had sent north with them, and of the Ben-Elim, Kushiel’s visit to Uthandun as Sig was preparing to leave.

All of it Sig told in a flat, inexpressive voice, as if she were recounting a morning’s sparring on the weapons court, giving an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of a student of the Order. Apart from when she spoke of Keld and Cullen, of Rab and Fen and Hammer. Those she praised.

Cullen beamed as if it was his name-day. Keld sat there grim and dour, a scowl looking to have been etched through his face with a plough.

When Sig finished, a silence settled upon them all, only the fire crackling in its great hearth, the snoring of Fen as he slept in front of it.

‘There is more news from the Nest,’ Tain said, meaning Crow Tower, ‘that makes more sense, now we have heard Sig’s tale.’

‘Go on, then,’ Byrne prompted.

‘Frick has returned from Jerolin,’ Tain said. ‘The poor lad; it’s a long way to fly, he’s fair shattered, he is—’

‘Tell them, tell them,’ Craf squawked impatiently in Tain’s ear, making him jump.

‘Beacons, springing up all across what once was Tenebral, now the southern reaches of the Land of the Faithful. And attacks. Much the same as you have described in Ardain. Holds burned, merchants and travellers attacked upon the road. Some villages. No organized assault on what you would call a military strength, though. Or at least, that’s what Frick has heard.’

‘Thank you, Tain,’ Byrne said with a dip of her head.

‘There was no way of bringing this Kadoshim back alive, head still attached to its body?’ Byrne said, her dark eyes fixing Sig. Even though Byrne was little more than half Sig’s height she still managed to hold her with that gaze. ‘It would have been helpful if we could have asked a question or two. And, as I remember, that was your task. To find it, and bring it here.’