Kyle peered over at the blond-haired lad where he walked, his shirt dark with sweat, swishing a stick through the tall grasses as he went. ‘He is of noble blood?’

‘Yes.’

‘From north Genabackis?’

Again the woman paused, reluctant to continue. Kyle just shrugged. ‘I am from the south of these lands. Bael, it is sometimes called. I haven’t even been to Genabackis.’

Lyan sighed again, accepting this. ‘Well – you have heard that the fighting in the north-east of the continent was far more savage than the west?’ Kyle nodded; he had heard. ‘There were … powers there,’ she continued, ‘that the Malazans only overcame with great difficulty.’

‘Caladan Brood commanded the Free City armies of the north.’

‘That was later,’ she said. ‘There was no alliance of “Free Cities” before the Malazans arrived. Only competing city-states and personalities. One of the most powerful cities was Anklos. Its ruling family – the Batarius family – was the one that originally hired Caladan. They were the ancestral rulers of Anklos until the Malazans forced them out and they fled into exile.’

Kyle felt his brows rising higher and higher. ‘Are you saying that Dorrin …’

Lyan jerked her head in assent. ‘With the death of his father he is now king in exile, rightful ruler of Anklos.’

‘Then … may I ask – why here? Why in the name of the Sky-King are you here?’

Lyan gave a long troubled breath. ‘I advised against it. But his father insisted. You see, word had come of gold in Assail. Rivers of gold.’ She eyed him sidelong. ‘Do you have any idea how much gold it takes to mount a rebellion? To build an army? A very great amount indeed.’

Now Kyle was even more troubled. He walked in silence for a time, frowning. ‘And why are you telling me all this?’

‘Because,’ and her gaze was constant upon him now, ‘I have also heard songs of the Malazan campaign in Fist. Of its leader, Greymane, Stonewielder … and of his companion, now known as Whiteblade. Who, I have also heard, abandoned the Malazans with the death of Greymane, his friend. Such a champion would have no use for the empire that used his friend so cruelly, I imagine.’

He lowered his gaze. ‘I walked away from all that. I have no intention of returning.’

‘You will do what you must. In the meantime one can at least keep watch while the other sleeps.’

He gave a stiff nod of acceptance. ‘At the very least.’

Towards the end of the afternoon, as the light darkened to a deep amber, he raised a hand in a halt. Lyan, who had been walking with Dorrin, jogged to him.

‘What is it?’

‘I smell smoke – and worse.’

Her gaze went to Dorrin, who crouched now in cover, as he’d been instructed. ‘I see.’

‘Should I scout ahead?’

She shook a negative. ‘Let us keep together.’

‘Very well.’