It was a ten-night since Fidele had told him about the suggested night raids. He’d volunteered at once. Alben had been chosen to lead them. At first Maquin had been uncertain about that choice; Alben seemed old and frail, but a few moments together in the weapons court had disabused Maquin of that notion. Old he was. Frail he was not. He’d touched a blade to Maquin’s throat more than once, and yesterday put him on his back. Of course, Maquin had returned the favour triple-fold, apart from the throwing. He liked the old warrior and so held back for the most part. He suspected Alben knew, just by the occasional raised eyebrow. But it was training, no more, and he was well past having to prove himself to anyone. Unless Fidele was watching, then he found himself behaving like a warrior just come fresh from his Long Night.

What has happened to me?

He had never felt like this, never felt so many things as a result of just one person. Calm, even serene when he was with her, as if the world stopped when she entered the room, an ache in his chest when they were apart, excited when he knew he was close to seeing her. Anxious when he thought of the future.

Out of control. That is how I feel. Unable to control my feelings, and from when I could first walk my da taught me to take command of my emotions. Taught me that is the way of the warrior. He’d seen forty-two summers come and go, and this was the first time he’d ever experienced this. He grinned in the darkness. I like it, though it scares me.

They waited in silence, another warrior joining them, then one more. The last one.

They huddled close together.

‘We go now, a long road. Silence until we reach the forest. Any questions?’ Alben whispered.

They set off in single file, Alben leading the way, Maquin taking rearguard, eight men slipping through the abandoned town of Ripa, giving wide berth to the bonfires that marked Vin Thalun guard posts. If the fires had not been burning Maquin would still have been able to find and avoid most of them by the drunken singing.

We are under siege, but these Vin Thalun are not made for such things. They are too savage, bred to strike hard and fast, win or retreat. A siege requires patience, planning, organization. Lykos is up to this task, maybe, but the rest?