‘They are a cruel and ruthless people. Unlike the Volken, there is little honour in battle for them, and no love of the land, or the creatures and plants that live on it. The Hasz’een see the mountains and rivers not as precious living things, but as inconvenient barriers preventing them from getting where they want. No, war is all they truly care about, and they use it as a means of taking what they most prize: slaves. Those poor unfortunates left alive after their conquests are taken from their lands to work on Hasz’een cities in the West – huge, ugly places that are made of stone and rock. Those too weak to make the journey are put to the sword.

‘So when the Hasz’een arrived at the lands of the Six Kingdoms, the Volken King Mjor was forced to come up with new strategies to ensure his people survived. He withdrew his forces ahead of their army, running as if afraid of them. He eventually stopped his people here.’

She pointed down into the vale, and when Lann looked again he was surprised to see a mist had filled the place. Things moved about in that miasma, figures of men and women moving around, readying themselves for battle. He fancied he could make out the clank of the blacksmiths’ hammers as blades and arrowheads were prepared for the battle.

‘The Hasz’een invaders, having conquered all before them, thought the fight was won and that the Volken had been broken. But Mjor was a wise ruler, and his actions had been carefully planned.’ She gestured towards the land behind them, but Lann was too busy studying the fascinating scene in the mists below. ‘Primed for what they believed would be an easy victory, the army from Hasz made camp in the lands to our rear, on the other side of this ridge. The Has’zeen army, outnumbering the Volken by almost two to one, were overconfident, and their preparation was not as meticulous as it should have been. They drank and sang for two days and nights, shouting and beating drums that could be heard by the Volken below. When they attacked on the third day, coming over this rise and pouring down into the valley, the ground shook so badly beneath them it was like an avalanche. Great beasts led the way – huge creatures with long horns growing from the front of their faces were ridden by men who forced them crashing into the front lines of the Volken.’

Mouth open, Lann watched as the defending army in the mist below began to defend themselves against this invisible enemy.