They set out the next morning with the rising sun, though thick cloud made dawn a grey, shadow-filled place. There was an air of anticipation about them all.

We will reach the Darkwood today, if no one bars our way. And then Ardan.

They knew Uthandun was the test, the fortress built by Uthan, Owain’s son, overlooking the stone bridge that crossed the river Afren, serving as the gateway to the Darkwood and Ardan beyond.

If word has travelled ahead of us, then Uthandun is where the resistance will be gathered. I pray that we have moved fast enough to outpace all news of us.

Highsun came and went, with only a short break to rest and water horses. The road was becoming busier, traders with loaded wains, trappers with piles of skins, sometimes a family travelling to the market at Uthandun. All moved off of the road and sought to hide as the warband thundered past.

The sun sank lower.

They passed into a region of low-lying hills, to the south-east they occasionally glimpsed the Darkwood, bringing back a multitude of memories to Corban. Walking into a glade full of the dead, feeling a gut-wrenching fear for Cywen, discovering that she’d been captured along with Queen Alona and Edana, and finally the exhausting hunt through the night, deep into the heart of the Darkwood as Storm led them unerringly on the trail of the kidnappers.

Tukul’s voice drew Corban’s attention back to the world about him. A rider was galloping towards them. It was the Jehar Enkara.

‘Warriors of Rhin ahead,’ she said as she reached them. ‘About a score – we let them through. They’ll run when they see you, and Coralen will pick them off.’

Corban nodded, felt a spike of worry for Coralen and the others.

Nothing to be done about it.

Figures appeared on the road ahead. Warriors, by the glint of metal and the way they rode. No sooner had they become visible than they were turning and galloping back down the giants’ road.

Corban saw them stop, saw figures topple from horses – Dath and his bow – Jehar appearing from woodland on either side of the road as Storm surged into view, leaping upon a rider and dragging him and his mount crashing to the ground.

Corban kicked Shield on, breaking from a canter to a gallop, the warband increasing their speed with him. Even so it was all over when they reached them. Storm greeted him, running up and circling about Shield. Her jaws were sticky with blood. Dead men and horses littered the road.

‘Two got away,’ Coralen said when she saw him. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘How far are we from Uthandun?’ Corban asked.

‘A few leagues,’ Coralen said.

‘Then we’re too close now for it to matter.’

They rode on.