The man nodded, shifting weight from one bloodied foot to the other.

‘You may go, sir,’ said Finarra Stone.

They watched him hobble his way back to the ragged column. The breath hissed from the captain. ‘They took the children.’

‘Sir,’ said Faror Hend. ‘You carry word to Sheccanto and Skelenal that the Wardens are pledged to them. But if Calat Hustain knew of this – that the Mother and Father of the cult were turning away their flock, and making of children bitter coin …’

‘We will deliver our message,’ Finarra said, gathering up the reins. Then she paused and looked across to Faror. ‘Forgive me, Warden, I have made of this journey a tense one, unpleasant. The waters are muddy between us, and I regret that.’

‘As do I, sir.’

‘But such things diminish before the plight of those we see here on this road.’

‘Yes sir.’

Finarra hesitated, and then said, ‘When you are done with the Hust Legion, Faror Hend, choose a place in which to wait.’

‘Sir?’

‘A place. Tell me of your choice before we part, and I will see to it that word will be sent to … to whomever you wish to know of it.’

Faror Hend held her captain’s gaze. ‘Sir, I will not desert the Wardens.’

‘Name a place, and tell me by whom you will have it known.’

‘Sir, if word must reach someone, it must be my betrothed. But I say again, I will not desert the Wardens.’

Finarra nodded. ‘I understand. Nevertheless, think of a place—’

‘A refuge.’

‘In the season to come, Faror Hend, love will need such refuges.’

Faror studied her captain for a time, and then nodded. ‘I will give it some thought, sir.’

‘Very good. Now, we shall have to ride overland – I expect this road to be impassable at least as far as Yannis Monastery.’

‘Could you have made such a bargain, sir?’

Finarra shot her a look. ‘I have never birthed a child, Warden, so I cannot say.’ Then she shook her head. ‘If they see no hope ahead, and yet are offered salvation for their children … well, what mother and what father would not sacrifice their own lives to save those of their children?’

‘The Shake well understood that, I think,’ Faror said. ‘Still. When I came upon one of their troops, in the wreckage of a bandit camp, it was said in passing that they had made a similar offer, only to have the mothers slit the throats of their own get.’

Finarra blinked. ‘That seems a selfish act.’

‘Perhaps, sir, some hold freedom higher than life itself.’

‘Well enough if that life is your own. I doubt a single child welcomed the blade’s kiss.’