Edana. Fugitive Queen of Ardan. Initially Camlin had become part of this group through circumstance. After the fall of Dun Carreg it had been his friendship and loyalty to a few – Marrock and Halion, the lads Dath and Corban – that had kept him with them. Now, though, they were all gone. He stayed now for Edana. At first she had seemed to be a spoilt princess, ill equipped to lead and not worth following. Over the course of their flight from Dun Carreg, through the wilds of Cambren and the mountains that bordered Domhain, Camlin had seen a change in her. A moment stuck in his mind, in the mountains when Marrock had chosen to stay on a suicide mission and delay their pursuit. Edana had stepped in. We’ll all stay, or all go. I’ll not lose you so that I can run a little longer. That’s what she had said.

Took some stones, that did. And from that moment a kernel of respect for the young woman had taken root in Camlin. Over the following moons it had grown, seeing how she had dealt with old Eremon and the cunning politicking of his Queen, Roisin.

Think she might be worth following, after all.

As if the thought of her had been a summons Edana appeared on the deck and came towards them, Baird at her shoulder. Her fair hair was bound tight in what looked like a warrior braid; her face was pale and drawn. A grey cloak, the colour of Ardan, was wrapped about her shoulders, her hand resting on a protruding sword hilt.

‘I’m going to see Roisin,’ she said. ‘Thought my shieldmen should be at my side.’

Shieldmen. Been called plenty of things in my time, but not one of those before.

‘Of course,’ Vonn said.

‘What’s this about?’ Camlin asked, then felt Vonn frowning at him. Keep forgetting she’s a queen.

Edana looked about. The ship was a single-masted trader, the steering rudder on a raised platform at the stern. Roisin and her son slept – and for the last two nights had all but lived – in a cabin beneath the steering platform. Two warriors stood by the door.

‘It’s time we all know where we stand. I would know if Roisin will honour Eremon’s last words to us.’

She straightened her shoulders and set off, Baird, Vonn and Camlin falling in behind her. Edana stopped before the two warriors guarding the stern’s cabin.

‘I would speak with your lady,’ she said, her voice firm.

The two men regarded her a moment.

‘Get on with it, then, Cian,’ Baird said good-naturedly, but Camlin could feel the threat of violence emanating from the man. He was like a pulled bowstring, always on the edge of release. One of the warriors frowned at him, but after another moment he knocked and then entered the cabin.

‘And tell Roisin to pour some wine,’ Baird called after him.

Edana looked at him and he shrugged.

‘She will see you, my lady,’ Cian said, holding the door open. Edana entered. Cian stepped between her and her shieldmen. ‘Not you,’ he told them.