Almost dawn, and the cattle are only starting to cross? He felt himself becoming alert, glanced down again at the drink and took another sip. ‘This one of Sormo’s brews? It’s got my nerves jumping.’

‘Some old woman handed it to me, sir. Are you ready?’

‘You’ve been assigned to me, List?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Your first task then, Corporal, is to direct me to the latrine.’

They stepped outside to mayhem. Cattle covered the oxbow island, a mass of humped backs slowly edging forward to the shouts of drovers. The other side of the Sekala was obscured in clouds of dust that had begun drifting over the river.

‘This way, sir.’ List gestured towards a trench behind the farmhouse.

‘Dispense with the “sirs”,’ Duiker said as they headed towards the latrine. ‘And find me a rider. Those soldiers on the other side have some serious trouble heading their way.’

‘Sir?’

Duiker stood at the edge of the trench. He hitched back his telaba, then paused. ‘There’s blood in this trench.’

‘Yes, sir. What was that about the other side of the river, sir?’

‘Heard from some Tithansi outriders,’ the historian said as he relieved his bladder. ‘The Semk have come south. They’ll be on the Guran side, I’d guess. That tribe has sorcerers, and their warriors put the fear in the Tithansi, so you can expect they’re a nasty bunch. I’d planned on mentioning it last night but forgot.’

A troop of horsewarriors was passing in front of the house at that moment. Corporal List raced back to intercept them.

Duiker finished and rejoined his aide. He slowed. The troop’s standard was instantly recognizable. List was breathlessly conveying the message to the commander. The historian shook off his hesitation and approached.

‘Baria Setral.’

The Red Blade commander’s eyes flicked to Duiker, went cold. Beside him his brother Mesker growled wordlessly.

‘Seems your luck’s held,’ the historian said.

‘And yours,’ Baria rumbled. ‘But not that white-haired mage. Too bad. I was looking forward to hanging his hide from our banner. This word of the Semk – from you?’

‘From the Tithansi.’

Mesker barked a laugh and grinned. ‘Shared their tents on the way, did you?’ He faced his brother. ‘It’s a lie.’

Duiker sighed. ‘What would be the point of that?’

‘We ride to support the Seventh’s advance picket,’ Baria said. ‘We shall pass on your warning.’

‘It’s a trap—’

‘Shut up, brother,’ Baria said, his eyes still on Duiker. ‘A warning is just that. Not a lie, not a trap. If Semk show, we will be ready. If not, then the tale was false. Nothing surrendered.’

‘Thank you, Commander,’ Duiker said. ‘We’re on the same side, after all.’