They were standing to the north of the mine, behind a cluster of boulders and hawthorn, Drem having led them in a wide circle around the encampment, all of them of the opinion that any watch would be focused more to the west and the road to Kergard. It was sunset, the sky above a dull orange, shifting towards pinks and purples.

‘Looks quiet,’ Cullen observed.

‘Aye, it does,’ Keld agreed. ‘Could be an ambush.’

‘I hope it’s an ambush,’ Cullen said, his fingertips brushing his sword hilt.

Sig sighed.

‘Is he always like this?’ Drem asked.

‘Like what?’ Cullen frowned.

‘So keen for bloodshed.’

‘Yes,’ Sig and Keld said together.

Rab flapped down and landed on a hawthorn branch.

‘Only a few on walls. Something happening inside. A meeting. Bad smell.’

‘What’s the plan, chief?’ Keld asked her.

Are we to storm a fortified position with unknown numbers of our enemy inside, with just the four of us, and a bear, a hound and a crow?

Keld is right, we need solid information to take back to Byrne.

But townsfolk from Kergard are in there, Drem’s friend amongst them. More innocents likely to be slaughtered by the Kadoshim scum.

She thought of the Order’s oath, to protect the weak, to fight for them. Looked at her palm, the scar a silver line where she had sealed it with her own blood.

She knew they should already be on their way back to Dun Seren.

But if I leave now, innocents will die. And what of this Starstone Sword? Can I just walk away and leave it in the hands of the Kadoshim, to do Elyon knows what kind of evil. If we can get that, I’m guessing we’ll stop a world of hurt from happening.

Sig looked at the sky.

‘We’ll wait for twilight,’ she said, feeling her blood stir, a snarl twitching her lips at the thought of Kadoshim so close. ‘And I’m thinking Hammer should be dressed for the occasion.’ Then she drew a knife from her belt and tested its edge with her thumb.

Just enough time for a shave. She smiled at Cullen.

‘What?’ Cullen said suspiciously.

‘Give me your hand,’ Sig hissed, leaning over the wall and reaching down to Drem. He jumped and caught her wrist, and then Sig was hauling him up and over the palisaded wall of the mine, both of them ducking low.