‘Why?’ Corban said.

‘Why what?’ replied Meical.

‘Why me? Why am I this Bright Star? Why not Edana, or some prince or king? Me, the son of a blacksmith, a boy whose only ambition was to be a warrior and serve his king.’

‘I can’t answer that,’ Meical said. ‘I just know that it is you. The reason why does not even matter. It won’t change anything. Sometimes it is just best to accept what is, and get on with doing.’

Corban nodded thoughtfully. ‘When was this prophecy written?’ he asked.

‘Two thousand years ago,’ Meical said.

Corban blew out a long breath. ‘Two thousand years. Our fate was decided two thousand years ago. My fate . . .’ He looked at Meical, his expression hovering between doubt and hope. ‘So, if it’s prophesied that I am the Bright Star, then we are going to win?’

‘The prophecy does not say who will win, only who will fight.’

‘That’s a shame,’ Dath muttered.

‘But it does say that you must go to Drassil,’ Meical added.

‘Drassil is the Great Tree?’ Corban asked.

‘Aye.’

‘It’s a bit vague as to why I should go there.’

‘The Ben-Elim will gather to you there. If that is not good enough reason, then there are others.’

‘Such as?’

‘The spear of Skald.’

‘It is there still, then?’ A deep voice rumbled behind Cywen, making her jump. It was Balur. He stepped into the light.

‘It is,’ Tukul said. ‘I left ten of my sword-kin there to guard it.’

‘Ten is not a great number,’ Balur observed.

‘No, it is not. All the more reason to return there as quickly as we can,’ Meical said.

‘What is the spear of Skald?’ Corban asked.

‘It is one of the Seven Treasures,’ Meical answered. ‘Skald was the high king of the giants, when there was only one clan.’

‘Aye, before we were Sundered,’ Balur said. ‘The spear was not his. It was used to slay him, and it was left in his body; thus ever since it has been named Skald’s spear.’

‘It is in his body still,’ Tukul said. ‘Or what is left of his body. We did not move it.’

‘You have spoken of the Seven Treasures before,’ Corban said. ‘Forged from the starstone?’

‘Aye, that is right,’ Balur said.

‘The cauldron is the most powerful. Together the Treasures can form a gateway between the Otherworld and this world of flesh,’ Meical said, locking his gaze with Corban’s. ‘That is why Calidus seeks them. The cauldron is one. The axe is another. To thwart Asroth they must be destroyed.’

‘But we have the axe. Let us destroy it now – if Asroth needs all Seven Treasures then he will be defeated.’ Corban sounded excited. ‘We can end this now.’

‘It’s not as simple as that,’ Meical said. ‘To be destroyed, the Treasures must all be gathered together.’

‘There’s always a catch with these things,’ Dath muttered. Coralen punched his shoulder.

‘So Calidus has the cauldron, and we have the axe.’