Hodge crouched down to her level, watching her like she was the most fascinating thing in the world. ‘Do you wish to be rescued?’

Her gaze went to his sweat-soaked face. ‘What?’

‘Do you want me to pick you up off the floor and carry you out of here, like he did?’

She was completely lost for words. And he was completely insane.

Moments slipped by as they stared at one another. The noise in her ears quietened long enough for her to hear her own thoughts. And her heart slowed down, too, likely due to the heat. She shook her head. ‘No.’

‘No?’

‘If my options are to leave in your arms, only to be trapped by you again, or to burn to death in this very spot, then my answer is no. You can leave without me.’

Hodge rose and marched over to the fire, pulling a burning log from it with his bare hands. ‘I am not leaving Llanelieu without you. We leave together, or we burn together.’

The tears on her face were evaporating as quickly as they appeared. She lay down on the floor and drew up her knees. ‘Then I hope you are ready to burn for all eternity.’

Chapter 41

CHAPTER 41

King Becket wanted to see the people of Carmarthenshire back on their feet as much as Blackmane did, but there were concerns that sending a unit of men to help train a rebel army would look a lot like they were preparing for war.

‘Now is not the right time,’ the warden had told Blackmane, sounding almost disappointed. ‘King Edward has given them space and time, ensuring all the boundaries the wastelanders have put in place are respected. Unless something changes, it is best we stay out of military matters.’

It had been a hard thing to hear. It had been even harder to hand over his uniform and say goodbye to the people who had been his family for the past five years. He had tried to carry on with his old life and purpose, to find contentment, anything to fill the emptiness, but nothing had worked.

‘We can’t let you go alone,’ Tatum had said. ‘We’ll come with you.’

But he could not let them do it, could not bear to see them hand their uniforms over too. So now he was on his way to Llanelieu, alone, where his other family waited for him.

He was a mile south of the village when Margery appeared overhead, circling low as she awaited an invitation to land. He obliged, extending an arm to her. She landed, talons digging into his flesh. Then the yelping started, the same unsettling noise she had made the day she came to find Ita in the forest.

‘I really hope this fuss isn’t about me coming to live with you.’

The bird took flight, shooting off in the direction of the village.