‘All right, but we don’t hold out much hope. Thing is, the lad’s gone and taken to ‘em, if you know what I mean.’

The Trell walked to the cart and clambered aboard.

He found the lad hunched down over a mass of red, torn flesh and bone, feebly waving flies from the flesh.

‘Hood’s mercy,’ Mappo whispered, studying what had once been a cattle-dog. ‘Where’s the other one?’

The youth pulled back a piece of cloth, revealing a lapdog of some kind. All four legs had been deliberately broken. Pus crusted the breaks and the creature shook with fever.

‘That little one,’ the youth said. ‘It was left lying on this one.’ His tone was filled with pain and bewilderment.

‘Neither one will make it, lad,’ Mappo said. ‘That big one should have died long ago – it may well be dead now—’

‘No. No, he’s alive. I can feel his heart, but it’s slowing. It’s slowing, and we can’t do nothing. Gesler says we should help it along, that slowing, we should end its pain, but maybe ... maybe ...’

Mappo watched the lad fuss over the hapless creatures, his long-fingered, almost delicate hands daubing the wounds with a blood-soaked piece of cloth. After a moment, the Trell straightened, slowly turning to stare down the long road. He heard a shout behind him, close to the gate, then heard the corporal named Gesler running to join Stormy.

Ah, Icarium. Soon you will awaken, and still I shall grieve, and so lead you to wonder . . . My grief begins with you, friend, for your loss of memories – memories not of horror, but of gifts given so freely . . . Too many dead . . . how to answer this? How would you answer this, Icarium?

He stared for a long time down Aren Way. Behind him the lad crouched over the cattle-dog’s body, while the crunch of boots approached slowly from up the road. The cart pitched as Stormy clambered up to take his seat. Gesler swung himself into the flat-bed, expressionless.

The youth looked up. ‘You find him, Gesler? Did Stormy find him?’

‘No. Thought for a minute ... but no. He ain’t here, lad. Time to head back to Aren.’

‘Queen’s blessing,’ the youth said. ‘Then there’s always a chance.’

‘Aye, who can say, Truth, who can say.’

The lad, Truth, returned his attention to the cattle-dog.

Mappo slowly turned, met the corporal’s eyes and saw the lie writ plain. The Trell nodded.

‘Thanks for taking a look at the dogs, anyway,’ Gesler said. ‘I know, they’re finished. I guess we wanted ... well, we would have liked ...’ His voice fell away, then he shrugged. ‘Want a ride back to Aren?’

Mappo shook his head and climbed down to stand at the roadside. ‘Thank you for the offer, Corporal. My kind aren’t welcome in Aren, so I’ll pass.’

‘As you like.’

He watched them turn the cart around.