Caroni stopped in front of him, placing her hand flat on his chest. He spoke before she could say anything. “Is my brother dead?”

“He is.”

“Good. What about others?”

“Others are dead too.”

“I meant our people.”

“I know what you meant. You need us. We can help. There’s worse coming.”

Ganan was silent. More people were arriving out of the gloom, the Lowland women who had been enslaved, Arc behind four Toplander guards – all with their hands raised.

“Who are your leaders?” Ganan said.

“I am,” Arc said, stepping forward. “I’m Arc.”

“I’m Caroni.”

“My name is Ganan – Drax’s brother.”

“We know.”

“There’s an old cemetery here,” Ganan said. “We’ll bury our fallen tomorrow at dawn. Then, we’ll eat and talk. Lieutenant Faldo!”

“Sir!” said one of the Toplander men with his hands up.

“Stand everybody down. Let the women in Barracks C out.” The Tribals climbed up to the parade ground in the dark, some nursing injuries, holding arms and shoulders, limping, staunching wounds with rags. Stretchers had been found for Slate and Sandstorm. Rashelope still cradled Lichen’s body, her face lowered to the dead girl’s and Kes carried Genus’s body in his arms. The Toplanders slung the dead guards over their shoulders and plodded uphill. Colonel Drax was left on the step outside the half-buried building. The wind blew more strongly and stirred the dust around them. Sorrel looked up, searching for the prick of stars, but the dust still covered them all.

“We’ll have to wait for morning to sort things out,” Caroni said to Ganan. “Which is the biggest room?”

“‘A’ barracks,” he said.

“Send someone to bring all the Toplanders to the barracks,” Caroni said. “Everyone must stay together tonight. Go with him, Kes.”

“Selan, is it?” Caroni said. “Go and brief the women in the other cabin. Tell them to stay inside until morning. You wait there with them.”

“I’m going to get my mother,” Sorrel said.

“I’ll come with you,” Emrallie said.

Bibi sat in a corner of the half-buried room, her head held back, eyes closed. Sorrel bent down and held her, feeling her body shake. Bibi’s hair was almost shoulder length and her arms were taut with muscle. Sorrel wiped her mother’s cheek – the cut was ragged.

“What did he do to you?”

“It’s not important. Nothing permanent. This bite on my face might get infected. That’s about the worst of it.”

“Can you walk?”

“I think so.” Bibi looked up. “Emrallie, right?”

“Yes. Take my hand,” Emrallie said.

“I remember you. You saved my daughter’s life when she fell into that pool. Is the fighting over?”

“For now,” Emrallie said.