Crows lurched into the air at Riv’s arrival in the town square, squawking a raucous protest as they abandoned their grisly feast. A choked cry escaped from Riv’s lips as she stared at the mound of heads. It stood twice as tall as her, wide at the base, steam curling up in clouds from the rotting skulls. Most had red holes for eyes, flesh ripped and torn into tatters, the dull gleam of bone beneath. A stench of decay and putrefaction rolled out from the mound clawing into Riv’s nose and mouth like rotting fingers. She retched, turned away and vomited onto the dirt.

There was the sound of marching footsteps, growing louder, and somewhere above and behind her the rush of air, the beating of wings. The scrape of a sword drawn from its scabbard.

‘Turn around, slowly,’ a voice said behind her, calm and cold. ‘Reach for your blade and you’ll die.’

A jolt of fear like bright sunlight burned through the red haze that had been driving her feet and fogging her head. Suddenly cold to her toes, Riv turned slowly, making sure her hands stayed well away from her belt and the hilt of her dagger.

Kol was staring at her, white wings flexed, ready for flight, a bright sword levelled at her chest.

‘Riv!’ he said, a frown marring his scarred face. ‘You shouldn’t be here.’

What have I done? Think I’m going to save Aphra all on my own. Think I’m the hero of every story, she berated herself. I’m just an idiot girl who’s ruled by her childish temper. Israfil is never going to allow me to pass my warrior trial.

‘What are you doing here?’ the Ben-Elim asked suspiciously.

‘Being an idiot,’ Riv muttered. ‘I was worried about Aphra,’ she added, fully aware of how stupid she sounded.

‘You were given orders,’ Kol said.

‘Aye,’ Riv said. ‘I broke them.’

A silence, Kol’s gaze intense, boring into her.

‘Rules are not iron, and breaking them not always a sin,’ he said.

Riv blinked at that. It was not the answer she’d been expecting from a Ben-Elim.

The noise of the approaching White-Wings filled the town square, almost upon them now. Kol’s eyes twitched from Riv to the street the White-Wings were advancing from, then back to Riv.

‘Get out of here,’ Kol said, jerking his head towards the street she’d run through to get here. ‘Quickly; if you’re seen, I can’t help you.’