A young boy, around ten years old, abandoned his game and ran over to Tolly. ‘Do you want to play with us?’

One of the older girls came after him. ‘Can’t you see he’s busy?’ She eyed the strangers cautiously before leading him away.

‘I’ll play later,’ Tolly called after him. ‘Their mother was captured two weeks ago and taken to the camp.’ His voice was quiet now. ‘The women do a great job caring for all the children between them.’

Isabel looked around. ‘How many are there?’

‘Eighty-three at present. We were originally trying to make sure the children remained with their mothers at all times, so that even if they were captured, they would at least be together. But when we found out they were being separated from their parents and caged like farm animals, we decided to keep the children underground as much as possible. This area’s mostly occupied by the remaining families.’ He pointed down a path. ‘The soldiers you saw earlier sleep down there.’

The boy returned to Tolly again. ‘Can you play now?’

Isabel bent down to his height. ‘I could play with you, if you like?’

The boy sized her up, clearly not trusting the kind offer. ‘Do you even know how to play?’

She shook her head. ‘No, but you could teach me.’

He considered that for a long time before finally nodding. ‘The first rule is no throwing rocks at people’s heads.’

‘Excellent first rule,’ Isabel said as she followed him.

Blackmane’s eyes never left her.

‘They're not good with new people,’ Tolly said. ‘Encounters with strangers don’t usually end well for them.’

Blackmane watched as she was handed a rock and listened carefully to the rules of the game. He noticed the other children kept well back from her, some even retreating to the safety of a familiar adult. It was difficult to watch.

‘I took a risk in bringing you down here,’ Tolly said. ‘There’s a reason we don’t let people from outside the group in—even people we think we know.’ He looked at Blackmane. ‘I need to know I can trust you.’

‘You can trust her.’

Tolly’s eyebrows lifted. ‘But not you?’

‘I’m trustworthy until I receive orders to the contrary.’

Tolly exhaled through his nose. ‘You really are a defender.’

Blackmane did not reply. He was silent while Isabel took her first throw. It hit one of the women sewing. Isabel’s hand flew up to her mouth, and then she rushed over to check that the woman was all right, apologising profusely.

‘She’s not great at the rock game,’ Tolly observed.

‘No, she’s really not.’

His brother looked at him. ‘You going to tell me what you’re doing in the middle of the wastelands, alone with Hodge’s soon-to-be wife?’

‘I think it’s safe to say the wedding’s off.’

‘You have anything to do with that?’