Before Kyky could make his choice, Hui heard footsteps crunching towards them. He whipped out his short-bladed knife from the folds of his kilt. He had no idea how to use it to defend himself, had never been in a fight in his life. He prayed the glint of moonlight on the copper would be enough of a deterrent.

Kyky let out a quavering moan.

A figure loomed out of the night, and with a shudder of relief, Hui saw that it was Qen. ‘Brother,’ he hailed. ‘Are you trying to frighten the ghost out of us both?’

‘Keep your voice down,’ Qen snapped.

When the new arrival skidded to a halt in front of them, Hui saw his elder brother’s eyes were darting around, wide with fear. He’d been scouting the path ahead now that they were closing on the bandit camp.

‘What is it?’ Hui asked.

Qen gripped his arm. ‘We must turn back.’

‘Are the Shrikes coming? Do they know of our plan? Are they going to gut us and leave us out for the vultures?’ Kyky’s panic edged his words.

‘Come with me.’ Qen spun on his heel and raced back across the stones, this time keeping low.

Hui felt that knot of apprehension inside him grow tighter. Qen was taller than he was, and thin as a needle, with hollow cheeks that made him look as if he hadn’t eaten a good meal in days. But when he grinned, his face lit up and everyone around him felt bathed in joy. They had the same father, but different mothers. Khawy had taken Qen’s mother Isetnofret first, an arrangement for political reasons, and she had also provided him with a daughter, Ipwet. Hui loved her dearly. But Khawy had fallen in love with Kiya, Hui’s mother, who had died giving birth to him. That explained why the two brothers looked so unalike. But they were different in character too. Qen was as hard as the jutting rocks on that hillside, unyielding when he desired something. And his slim frame hid a powerful strength. When they were younger, Hui had witnessed him beat two bullies, smashing one of the youths’ heads repeatedly into the wall of their father’s house until the nose was broken, the lips turned to pulp and half the teeth were knocked out. Qen had courage too. Whatever troubled him, it would be wise to take heed.