The Mhybe watched the four soldiers re-enter the Shroud, then turned to Paran. ‘What was all that about, Captain?’

‘I have no idea,’ he replied levelly.

‘That table needs more than four pairs of hands.’

‘I imagine it does.’

‘Yet you won’t provide them.’

He glanced at her. ‘Hood no. They stole the damned thing in the first place.’

A bell remained before the sun’s rise. Leaving Picker and her hapless crew to their task, and departing as well from the Mhybe’s presence, Paran made his way to the Bridgeburner encampment situated at the southwest edge of Brood’s main camp. A handful of soldiers stood at sentry duty at the pickets, offering ragged salutes as the captain passed them.

He was surprised to find Whiskeyjack near the centre hearth, the commander busy saddling a tall chestnut gelding.

Paran approached. ‘Has the meeting concluded, sir?’ he asked.

The commander’s glance was wry. ‘I am beginning to suspect it will never end, if Kruppe has his way.’

‘This trade guild of his has not gone down well, then.’

‘To the contrary, it has been fully endorsed, though they’ll cost the Council a king’s ransom in truth. We have guarantees, now, ensuring the overland supply lines. Precisely what we required.’

‘Why then does the meeting continue, sir?’

‘Well, it seems that we’ll have some envoys attached to our army.’

‘Not Kruppe—’

‘Indeed, the worthy Kruppe. And Coll – I suspect he’s eager to get out of those fancy robes and back into armour.’

‘Aye, he would be.’

Whiskeyjack cinched the girth strap one last time, then faced Paran. He seemed about to say one thing, then he hesitated, and chose another. ‘The Black Moranth will take you and the Bridgeburners to the foot of the Barghast Range.’

The captain’s eyes widened. ‘That’s quite a journey. And once there?’

‘Once there, Trotts detaches from your command. He’s to initiate contact with the White Face Barghast, by whatever means he deems proper. You and your company are to provide his escort, but you will not become otherwise entangled in the negotiations. We need the White Face clan – the entire clan.’

‘And Trotts will do the negotiating? Beru fend.’

‘He’s capable of surprising you, Captain.’

‘I see. Assuming he manages to succeed, we are then to proceed south?’

Whiskeyjack nodded. ‘To the relief of Capustan, aye.’ The commander set a boot within the stirrup and, with a wince, pulled himself up into the saddle. He gathered the reins, looking down on the captain. ‘Any questions?’

Paran glanced around, studying the sleeping camp, then shook his head.

‘I’d offer you Oponn’s luck—’

‘No, thank you, sir.’

Whiskeyjack nodded.

The gelding shied under the commander suddenly, pitching to one side with a squeal of terror. Wind buffeted the camp, ripping the small tents from their shallow moorings. Voices shouted in alarm. Paran stared upward as a vast black shape swept towards the Tiste Andii encampment. A faint aura outlined the enormous draconian form to the captain’s eyes, silvery-white and flickering. Paran’s stomach flared with pain, intense but mercifully brief, leaving him trembling.