Maybe we didn’t listen because none of us believed we would ever reach the coast. Maybe Heboric decided the same after that first meal. Only I wasn’t thinking that far ahead, was I? No wise acceptance of the futility of all this. I mocked and ignored the advice out of spite, nothing more. As for Baudin, well, rare was the criminal with brains, and he wasn’t at all rare.

She joined the breakfast, ignoring their looks as she took an extra mouthful of lukewarm water from the bladder when washing down the smoked meat.

When she was done, Baudin repacked the food.

Heboric sighed. ‘What a threesome we are!’ he said.

‘You mean our dislike of each other?’ Felisin asked, raising a brow. ‘You shouldn’t be surprised, old man,’ she continued. ‘In case you haven’t noticed, we’re all broken in some way. Aren’t we? The gods know you’ve pointed out my fall from grace often enough. And Baudin’s nothing more than a murderer – he’s dispensed with all notions of brotherhood, and is a bully besides, meaning he’s a coward at heart...’ She glanced over to see him crouched at the packs, flatly eyeing her. Felisin gave him a sweet smile. ‘Right, Baudin?’

The man said nothing, the hint of a frown in his expression as he studied her.

Felisin returned her attention to Heboric. ‘Your flaws are obvious enough – hardly worth mentioning—’

‘Save your breath, lass,’ the ex-priest muttered. ‘I don’t need no fifteen-year-old girl telling me my failings.’

‘Why did you leave the priesthood, Heboric? Skimmed the coffers, I suppose. So they cut your hands off, then tossed you onto the rubbish heap behind the temple. That’s certainly enough to make anyone take up writing history as a profession.’

‘Time to go,’ Baudin said.

‘But he hasn’t answered my question—’

‘I’d say he has, girl. Now shut up. Today you carry the other pack, not the old man.’

‘A reasonable suggestion, but no thanks.’

Face darkening, Baudin rose.

‘Leave it be,’ Heboric said, moving to sling the straps through his arms. In the gloom Felisin saw the stump that had touched the jade finger for the first time. It was swollen and red, the puckered skin stretched. Tattoos crowded the end of the wrist, turning it nearly solid dark. She realized then that the etchings had deepened everywhere on him, grown riotous like vines.

‘What’s happened to you?’

He glanced over. ‘I wish I knew.’

‘You burned your wrist on that statue.’

‘Not burned,’ the old man said. ‘Hurts like Hood’s own kiss, though. Can magic thrive buried in Otataral sand? Can Otataral give birth to magic? I’ve no answers, lass, for any of this.’

‘Well,’ she muttered, ‘it was a stupid thing to do – touching the damned thing. Serves you right.’