Two were warriors whom Haelan recognized from the hold, both older men with grey in their beards, men high in Gramm’s confidences. The man walking between them was Wulf. He looked none too happy.

They walked the length of the feast-hall, stopping before Gramm.

Gramm stood, resting his big fists on the table.

‘We have brought him back to you, lord,’ one of the men beside Wulf said.

‘Where did you find him?’ Gramm asked.

‘Where you said. Dun Kellen. Looked as if he was just about to have a go at storming the gates on his own.’

‘Ach, Wulf, my boy, that was a foolish thing to attempt,’ Gramm said.

‘They’re in there, my Swain and Sif. I heard shieldmen of Jael’s talking about them,’ Wulf said, staring up at Gramm. His expression drifted between anger and abject misery.

‘Whether they are or not, you wouldn’t be able to bring them out. You’d just end up in a cell alongside them, or your head separated from your shoulders. Why’d you do it, lad?’

‘I had to do something,’ Wulf said. ‘The thought of them in that fortress, scared, cold, alone . . .’

‘We’ll get them back, somehow,’ Gramm said.

‘How? When?’ Wulf asked.

Gramm sighed, his shoulders slumping. ‘I don’t know,’ he said.

Haelan was sitting in his chamber with Tahir. He had shared a room with the Gadrai warrior since the night they had arrived at Gramm’s hold.

There was a quiet tap at their door and then it creaked open. Wulf came in. He nodded to Tahir and pulled a chair up, poured himself a cup of mead.

‘I need your help,’ he said when his cup was empty. His eyes were red-rimmed.

Tahir just looked at him.

‘I’m going to Dun Kellen to get my children back.’

‘You’ve just come back from there. And besides, that’s suicide,’ Tahir said. ‘A fool’s errand. Listen to your da.’

‘You know a way into Dun Kellen. The secret giant tunnel you escaped by.’

Tahir looked hard at him. ‘It’s not a secret any longer. Your brother Orgull stood in front of it and made a mountain of the dead there.’

‘Doesn’t matter. Jael will not be expecting anyone to try and sneak into Dun Kellen. The tunnel is my best hope.’

‘It is no hope.’

‘I’m going. Will you help me?’

Tahir gave him a long look, eventually sighing.

‘I cannot go. I’m sworn to Haelan.’

Wulf poured himself another cup of mead and drank it down. ‘You owe us. You owe my family. You would both be dead now, if not for this hold.’

‘Aye, that’s most likely true,’ Tahir said. Haelan could tell he was uncomfortable, did not want to be having this conversation. ‘And I am grateful. More grateful than I can ever express—’

‘Deeds, not words, show the truth and depth of a man’s gratitude,’ Wulf interrupted.