The god seemed amused by the king’s reaction. ‘The people of Vorneland have always been my most ardent worshippers. Even now, when belief in the old gods wanes, many here still pray my name. Please – stand, Rinkor. We have much to discuss, and I would prefer to do so with the king on his feet.’ He nodded at the man. ‘It may have reached your ears from some local farmers that livestock has gone missing recently?’

Rinkor nodded. ‘My people think it is the work of wolves.’ He shrugged. ‘Those are the creatures usually responsible for taking livestock.’

‘No wolf is to blame for these attacks’ The god paused and took in the faces of those around him. ‘No, something far more sinister is responsible.’

‘What?’

‘A local farmer came to the palace this morning with the carcass of a calf in his cart. At first he refused to leave unless you agreed to see it with your own eyes. He is a desperate man.’ The god paused and gave a small shake of his head. ‘He has good reason to be.’

The king frowned. ‘Where is this farmer?’

‘Your men persuaded him to leave the animal in the ice house and sent him away. You need to see this creature, what has happened to it, and understand what it means.’

‘And that is?’ said Rinkor, his eyebrows raised.

The god gave him a grave look. ‘All in good time.’ He gestured towards the large doors at the front of the longhouse. ‘Shall we?’

The ice house was in a small building next to the kitchens. Throwing back the bolt that held the door in place, Rinkor stepped into the place and beckoned for the others to follow.

The calf lay on the floor in the centre of the building, its dead eyes staring up at the ceiling above it. Having grown up on a cattle farm, Lann was not unused to encountering dead livestock and he took a step forward to get a better look at the animal. The beast seemed unhurt at first glance; there were no slashes or puncture marks on its hindquarters or flanks, as Lann would have expected if it had been pursued by wolves. It was only as he moved to the front of the animal that he saw the cause of its death.

Below the neck, where the animal’s chest broadened out, was a great cavernous hole. As though a giant arm had reached in and …

He turned to look at the god Storren.

‘Something took its heart,’ Lann whispered.

‘Indeed.’ The god shook his head. ‘The farmer, the man your guards sent away … His daughter went missing at about the same time he discovered this unfortunate creature. You can imagine what he fears.’