Yet Felisin could sense the presence of spirits, once strong, now but echoes, and their faint regard followed them with unseen eyes. Beyond the rise the desert swept out and down into an immense basin, where the dwindling sea of ancient times had finally died. Suspended dust cloaked the vast depression.

‘The oasis lies near the centre,’ Leoman said at her side.

She nodded.

‘Less than seven leagues now.’

‘Who carries Sha’ik’s belongings?’ she asked.

‘I do.’

‘I will take them.’

He was silent as he set down his pack, untied the flap and began removing items. Clothing, a scatter of a poor woman’s rings, bracelets and earrings, a thin-bladed long-knife, its iron stained black except for the honed edge.

‘Her sword awaits us at the encampment,’ Leoman said when he’d done. ‘She wore the bracelets on her left wrist only, the rings on her left hand.’ He gestured down at some leather straps. ‘She wound these around her right wrist and forearm.’ He paused, looked up at her with hard eyes. ‘It were best you matched the attire. Precisely.’

She smiled. ‘To aid in the deceit, Leoman?’

He dropped his gaze. ‘There may well be some . . . resistance. The High Mages—’

‘Would bend the cause to their wills, create factions within the camp, then clash in a struggle to decide who will rule all. They have not yet done so, for they cannot determine if Sha’ik still lives. Yet they have prepared the ground.’

‘Seer—’

‘Ah, you accept that much at least.’

He bowed. ‘None could deny the power that has come to you, yet...’

‘Yet I did not myself open the Holy Book.’

He met her eyes. ‘You did not.’

Felisin looked up. The Toblakai and Heboric stood a short distance away, watching, listening. ‘What I shall open is not between those covers, but is within me. Now is not the time.’ She faced Leoman again. ‘You must trust in me.’

The skin tightened around the desert warrior’s eyes.

‘You never could easily yield that, could you, Leoman?’

‘Who speaks?’

‘We do.’

He was silent.

‘Toblakai.’

‘Yes, Sha’ik Reborn?’

‘To a man who doubts you, you would use what?’

‘My sword,’ he replied.

Heboric snorted.

Felisin swung to him. ‘And you? What would you use?’

‘Nothing. I would be as I am, and if I prove worthy of trust, that man will come to it.’

‘Unless ... ?’

He scowled. ‘Unless that man cannot trust himself, Felisin.’

She turned back to Leoman and waited.

Heboric cleared his throat. ‘You cannot command someone to have faith, lass. Obedience, yes, but not belief itself.’

She said to Leoman, ‘You’ve told me there is a man to the south. A man leading a battered remnant of an army and refugees numbering tens of thousands. They do as he bids, their trust is absolute – how has that man managed that?’

Leoman shook his head.

‘Have you ever followed such a leader, Leoman?’

‘No.’

‘So you truly do not know.’