‘We were concerned that the enemy would flee, once they saw how outnumbered they were,’ Veradis said, reciting the strategy emotionlessly. ‘So we marched at night and crept up on their camp in the dark. I thought, if we were close enough come sunrise that we would be able to bring them to battle, give them no time to flee.’

‘And you agreed with this?’ Calidus asked Rhin. She lifted her chin and met Calidus’ gaze.

‘It was my idea,’ Rhin said.

‘It seemed like a good plan, at the time,’ Veradis added weakly.

‘They usually do,’ Calidus said flatly, leaning back and folding his arms. ‘So what happened?’

Veradis explained about the march and the deception that they had fallen for.

‘So they crept around you, stole my ships and burned the rest.’ Calidus leaned forwards in his chair.

‘Not all of them,’ Rhin said.

‘Ah, that’s something.’

‘How many left?’

Fifteen.’

‘A transporter? We need a transporter to carry the cauldron.’

Veradis shook his head. ‘No, only the galleys.’

Calidus frowned.

‘We could take the fifteen ships and sail after them,’ Veradis offered.

Calidus tugged at his short beard. ‘They number three to four hundred, mostly Jehar, also Benothi giants, Corban and his followers – who almost single-handedly decimated the garrison at Dun Vaner . . .’ Calidus shot a withering glance at Rhin. ‘The maximum you could sail with would be a thousand men – your warband. You would lose.’

‘My shield wall has faced giants before, draigs, wyrms,’ Veradis said.

‘Aye, but not a warband commanded by one of the Kadoshim and his Black Sun. Or the Jehar.’

‘Or Balur One-Eye,’ Uthas muttered. ‘He is a formidable foe.’

I have heard his name in the tales my nan used to tell me.

‘The answer is no,’ Calidus continued, frowning at Uthas’ interruption. ‘You will not pursue them. When it was our combined forces against them then the answer was beyond doubt. I will not take risks, you and the eagle-guard are too valuable. And I cannot spare men who are guarding the cauldron to swell your numbers. Besides, I know their destination – they are going to Drassil. We shall follow them there in our own time, when all is ready and the cauldron is safe.’

Veradis bowed his head, defiant but resigned. ‘Where is the cauldron?’ he asked. ‘The story of its taking is something I’d dearly love to hear.’

‘It was a hard battle,’ Nathair said. He looked out of the window, eyes distant. ‘A tale I’ll tell you another time, over a jug of wine. And now a great weapon is in our hands.’ He looked back to Veradis. ‘Our plan was to transport it by ship to Tenebral, and for all of us to sail with it.’

Veradis hung his head.