‘Oh no you don’t,’ Brina said. ‘ Usually I’d be more than happy to tell you what to do – it’s often safer that way. And of course I don’t mind advising you until all our skin wrinkles and turns to dust. But it’s your decision that counts here.’

‘I know,’ Corban said flatly. ‘I’m still struggling with why.’

‘Me too,’ Brina and Cywen said together.

‘I’ve thought a long time over why I have been chosen for this,’ he waved his hand vaguely towards the warband. ‘Why me – a blacksmith’s son, no particular ability or influence in our world.’ He shook his head.

‘I’m still confused about that,’ Brina said. ‘But Meical is convinced, and he is one of the Ben-Elim. You should probably listen to him.’

‘I know. And I do. I’ve asked him why me, but that is the only thing he doesn’t want to tell me. He usually likes telling me what to do – he reminds me of you like that.’

‘I’ve always liked him,’ Brina said.

‘I wish it wasn’t me. Not that I don’t want to fight. Back in Murias I saw evil enter our world, and there’s no running from it. We tried that, eh?’

‘We did,’ Brina sighed.

‘No, I understand that, and I will fight Calidus and Nathair until my last breath. But what I don’t want to do is lead. So many consequences from every decision. So many lives at stake. I wish it wasn’t me.’

Cywen felt a wave of guilt. Poor Ban. And most of the time I’ve been sulking that he isn’t spending every moment with me.

Brina nodded. ‘But it is you. There are times when we cannot understand something, don’t know the reason for a thing and have to leave it at that – I know that that goes against every fibre in your very being . . .’

Cywen and Coralen both snorted laughter at that.

‘But on these occasions we just have to accept that they just are.’

‘That’s the conclusion I’ve reached,’ Corban said glumly. ‘When Gar started saying similar things to me, when we were fleeing Ardan, I just thought him mad. But I can’t really argue against it now. Things have happened.’

‘You mean apart from seeing Kadoshim boil out of a cauldron?’ Brina said.

‘Aye. Other things.’

‘What things?’ Cywen asked.

He took a deep sigh. ‘When I was held captive by Rhin – in Dun Vaner – something happened. She did something. Witchcraft. I woke up with her . . . somewhere else. It was the Otherworld. She brought me before the throne of Asroth.’ He paused here, staring at the stream a long time. Eventually he shivered and carried on. ‘He told me he’d been hunting for me. And that he was going to cut my heart out.’