‘Aye. And fortunate for us that we do too.’ Corban was staring into the distance, where the smoke had parted to give a view of the surrounding land. They could see the hill they had camped upon, fires still a pale flicker, their stick men and cloak-wrapped crow-scarers facing down a warband thousands strong.

‘I’d like to see the look on Rhin’s face just about now,’ Dath said.

Tukul laughed. It had been a close thing, that march through the night to reach the ships before dawn. Especially when Storm sniffed out an enemy warband marching along the giantsway towards them.

That wolven has saved our lives more times than I can count.

‘Coralen, you’re a genius – your ruse worked,’ Corban called.

‘It always has done,’ Coralen said proudly. ‘Distraction,’ she continued. ‘Rath taught it to me, and I’m sure you know the rule well enough; the blow that ends the fight is the one your opponent doesn’t see coming. Make them look somewhere else, then make your move.’

I know that rule very well.

Tukul saw Meical nodding approvingly.

‘You rode with Rath?’ a voice grated behind them: Balur, the steps creaking as he climbed onto the deck. Brina followed behind him, small in his shadow. Her hands were red with blood. Craf fluttered down from above, perching on a rail.

‘I did,’ Coralen said. ‘He was my uncle.’

Balur’s white eyebrows bunched. ‘Did he use that trick against the Benothi?’

‘Yes,’ Coralen shrugged.

There was an uncomfortable silence, Balur glowering down, Coralen scowling up.

‘We have put old grievances behind us,’ Meical said quietly.

The silence continued, then Balur sighed.

‘Aye,’ he rumbled and walked away.

The ship turned a bend in the river; Uthandun disappeared from view.

Corban turned and looked ahead, the river winding beneath the trees of the Darkwood.

‘Craf, will you do something for me?’

‘Anything,’ Craf croaked. Brina raised an eyebrow at that.

‘Find Edana at Dun Crin, tell her we tried, but it was impossible to reach her. Tell her we are going to Drassil. Tell her . . .’ He paused, shoulders slumping. ‘Tell her my oath still stands.’

Without a word of complaint Craf launched himself into the sky and winged southwards, disappearing beyond the trees.

‘What have you done to my crow?’ Brina muttered.

Corban stared after him a while, then looked at their course ahead.

‘So. To Drassil,’ he said, though Tukul thought he may have been speaking to himself.

Indeed. To Drassil.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

UTHAS

Uthas stepped into a cavernous room, massive pillars rising high to a domed roof far above. A nimbus of light filtered through, as if the material the ceiling was carved from was thin, translucent.

Asroth’s throne room. He felt a surge of fear coursing through his veins, paralysing him.

Why have I done this? What kind of fool am I?