The Tressian army, honed to the bloody craft of massed battle and border skirmish, was too blunt an instrument for rural insurrection. Wolf’s-heads harried the occupying soldiery; ambushed grain convoys and prison wagons. They took shelter in abandoned villages, and in the Forbidden Places, where the magic of the Council’s simarka and kraikons guttered like candle-flame in a storm.

“How are things out there?” he asked.

“They’ve been worse.”

Which also meant they’d been better. “Are we any closer?”

“The weapon situation’s improving. Between the Thrakkians and our sympathisers back in Tressia, we’ve enough blades for a small army.”

“And armour?”

“That’s harder – to get hold of, and to conceal – but we’ve quite the foundry up and running in the Larwater caves. Gavamor got his hands on a simarka amulet. It’s damaged, but he reckons he can make copies, given time.”

That was good news. The simarka were simple-minded, and took instruction from proctors, or else from the wearer of an amulet. With enough amulets, the resistance could neutralise one of the strongest weapons at Governor Yanda’s command. Maybe even turn it back on their oppressors. “How long?”

“Weeks. Months. Maybe never. You know how these things go.”

“We could bring Gavamor here? Anastacia could help him.”

“Anastacia could not,” said Anastacia. “She’s more sense than to mess with caged sunlight.”

Revekah shot her an unfriendly glance, but nodded. “And how would you explain his presence? To your sister, if no one else. I take it you’ve still not told her?”

Josiri shook his head. “Better she’s kept out of it.”

“It’s her fight as much as it is yours.”

“Not as far as she’s concerned.”

“Only because you’ve cosseted her,” Revekah snapped. The lines on her face smoothed. “I shouldn’t have said that. My apologies.”

Josiri grunted. “For speaking your mind? But Calenne’s chosen her path. I won’t interfere.”

“It may not matter anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Hadari are massing beyond Trelszon Pass. Crovan thinks they’re preparing to invade.” Shrewd eyes read his expression. “You’ve heard nothing?”

“Not a whisper.” No wonder Makrov was on edge. Every blade the Council had in the Southshires was pointed in, not out. If the Hadari Empire made passage west over the Greyridge Mountains . . . “Why did no one tell me?”

“Because they’re worried what you might do,” said Anastacia.

Revekah nodded. “The Council aren’t fools. They’re keeping temptation from you.”

Josiri’s stomach lurched. “They think I’d sell our people out to the Hadari?”

Another shrug. “Crovan thinks you should. When enemies are your only recourse . . .”

“. . . choose the one with least to gain,” Josiri finished. “I know.”

She drew a dagger from her belt and set it point-down in the soil, turning the blade this way and that. “Could be that Crovan’s right.”

“What do you think?”