Behind him Vonn stood, staring back at him. Evnis scanned the riverbank, chose a route and stepped out from the willow tree, began to zigzag across the marshy ground. He reached a firmer patch and began to run, heard footsteps behind him, but his eyes were fixed upon Vonn. His son returned the gaze.

Evnis reached the riverbank, leaped over fallen bodies, swerved past two men locked in a knife-fight and then the way was clear, but the bank was blocked by a snarl of osier and sedge. His face twisted in frustration, staring at the last boat in the convoy rapidly disappearing around a bend in the river.

Camlin, Halion and Vonn were in it, as well as a couple of other warriors, one of them the biggest man Evnis had seen since Tull. But he only had eyes for Vonn. He stood and watched him, eyes pleading. Vonn gazed flatly back. Dully he saw Camlin nock another arrow and draw its feathers to his ear, aiming straight at Evnis. He just stood there, exhausted, heartbroken, for a moment not caring if he lived or died.

‘Do it,’ he whispered.

Then Vonn reached down and put a restraining hand on Camlin’s arm.

They shared another few heartbeats, then Vonn disappeared around the bend in the river. Evnis just stood there, staring, the world numb around him. Distantly he heard Morcant screaming in something close to apoplexy.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

MAQUIN

Maquin slipped over the wall and climbed down the rope. Muscles in his stomach clenched and he felt a dull ache begin to pulse from the wound in his belly, knotted and scarred now. A reminder of the Otherworld. He wasn’t concerned as he felt well now, had sparred in the weapons court and resumed something of his old training as a pit-fighter, and although he knew that he wasn’t back to pit health, he was close. He knew his body, knew his limitations. His feet touched the ground and he crouched, adjusted the kit bag strapped across his back, gave the rope a shake to tell the warrior behind him that it was safe to follow, then padded across the road to an abandoned building. Alben and three other warriors were already there, waiting.

It was a dark night, no moon, clouds a thick veil before the stars.

A perfect night for sneaking about.

Another warrior crept across the deserted road towards them.