'You would be a great asset, your Highness, but I am afraid it is quite out of the question. You are the heir to the throne. We cannot afford to put you in harm's way.'

Ladisla did his best to look disappointed, but West could almost taste his relief. 'Very well, if you're sure.'

'Absolutely.' West looked at Cathil. 'The two of you should stay here. We'll be back soon. With luck.' He almost winced at the last part. Luck had been decidedly thin on the ground lately. 'Keep out of sight, and keep quiet.'

She grinned back at him. 'Don't worry. I'll make sure he doesn't hurt himself.'

Ladisla glowered sideways, fists clenched with impotent anger. It seemed he was getting no better at dealing with her constant jibes. No doubt being flattered and obeyed your entire life was poor preparation for being made a fool of in awful conditions. West wondered for a moment if he was making a mistake leaving them alone, but it was hardly as though he had any choice. They were well out of the way up here. They should be safe. A lot safer than him, anyway.

They squatted down on their haunches. A ring of scarred and dirty faces, hard expressions, ragged hair. Threetrees, his craggy features creased with deep lines. Black Dow with his missing ear and his savage grin. Tul Duru, his heavy brows drawn in. Grim, looking as careless as a stone. The Dogman, bright eyes narrowed, breath steaming from his sharp nose. Pike, with a deep frown across those few parts of his burned face that were capable of movement. Six of the hardest-looking men in the world, and West.

He swallowed. Every man has to do his part.

Threetrees was scratching a crude map in the hard soil with a stick. 'Alright, lads, they're tucked in down here near the river, a dozen, maybe more. Here's how we'll get it done. Grim, up on the left, Dogman on the right, usual drill.'

'Done, chief,' said the Dogman. Grim nodded.

'Me, Tul, and Pike'll come at 'em from this side, hand to hand. Hope to surprise 'em. Don't shoot any of us, eh, lads?'

The Dogman grinned. 'If you keep well clear of the arrows, you'll be fine.'

'I'll keep that in mind. Dow and West, you'll get across the river and wait by the falls there. Come up behind them.' The stick scratched a hard groove into the earth, and West felt the lump of worry swelling in his throat. 'Noise of the water should keep you out of notice. Go when you see me chuck a stone over into the pool, you hear me? The stone coming over. That's the signal.'

'Course it is, chief,' grunted Dow.

West suddenly realised that Threetrees was glaring right at him. 'You hearing this, boy?'