It had been a ten-night since the trail of their enemy had disappeared, the road-building slowing to a snail’s pace as more and more men were taken from work crews to scout the surrounding areas. Three nights ago men had started disappearing. These were the first that had been found. Yesterday, upon hearing of men going missing, Jael had half-throttled the messenger bringing him the tidings.

He doesn’t seem best equipped for dealing with the pressures of ruling.

A sound in the undergrowth had Ulfilas and the six men with him drawing their blades, Dag reaching for his bow and quiver. Figures appeared from amongst the gloom between the trees, Dag’s scouts.

‘Something for you to see,’ the first one said, breathing hard, then turned and disappeared.

‘More dead men?’ Ulfilas muttered.

They followed the man through thick undergrowth, finally climbing a slope and stopping beside the scout.

Dag looked around and then smiled.

‘What?’ Ulfilas asked.

‘Look,’ Dag said, pointing.

They were standing on a level area, an embankment either side. Dag nudged something with his toe, a rock. Ulfilas looked closer, saw that it had been shaped, an edge rounded.

‘It is dressed stone,’ Dag said.

Ulfilas looked further, saw more pieces of stone glinting with frost, sparkling a ragged line into the distance.

‘A road,’ he whispered.

CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

CAMLIN

Camlin stood on the banks of the lake, watching Meg walk away from him. He’d just said goodbye to her. With a sigh he turned and stared out at the disjointed walls and towers of Dun Crin, islands of stone amidst the dark waters. Beyond them he could see the small fleet of boats that was carrying away so many of those who had started to make a new life for themselves around this lake.

Better to run and live than to stay and die. And better for the warriors that stay. They’ll fight better knowing their bairns and kin are safe.

He heard footsteps and turned to see Edana walking towards him, Halion, Baird and Vonn around her.

Vonn. Edana’s shieldman. Do I trust him so close to her?

‘Walk with me,’ she said to Camlin, and they strolled in silence away from the lakeshore, following a path that wound through tall grass and thick clumps of reeds, shadowing one of the many streams that fed into the lake.

‘You are sure of this?’ Edana said when the lake had passed from view.

‘It is the only way. Even if I’m successful, it’s still no guarantee, but it’ll give us a chance. It’ll slow them down, and bring them here from one direction. Much better knowing where they’ll be arriving.’

Edana stopped and turned to face him, took hold of his hands and stared into his eyes.