‘And we have the spear,’ Tukul said. ‘In Drassil.’

‘Do you understand now?’ Meical asked Corban. ‘There are good reasons to go to Drassil. The spear must be made safe.’

Corban gazed into the fire. ‘What you say, it does make sense. I just . . . my oath.’

‘There are other options,’ Meical said. ‘Send word to Edana. Perhaps she will join us. The danger is wasting time, Corban. The world will not stand still and wait for you. Asroth is moving. Calidus also seeks Drassil. He has not been able to find it, yet, but it is only a matter of time.’

‘I would not break my oath.’

As Cywen watched, emotions swept Corban’s face: doubt, anger, pain, settling into one she recognized well.

Pig-headedness.

‘Calidus has been laying plans for many years.’

‘Calidus,’ Corban said, the hatred he felt for him apparent to all. ‘Tell me of him.’

‘He is high captain of the Kadoshim, second only to Asroth,’ Meical said, ‘as I am high captain of the Ben-Elim. He is cunning, deadly, utterly devoted to his cause.’

‘I will see him dead,’ Corban said, his voice flat, emotionless.

‘We could go back, slay him now,’ a new voice said. Akar the Jehar, who had been sitting quietly, listening the whole time. ‘Calidus is the puppet-master in all of this: Asroth’s will made flesh. Kill him and the war is won.’

‘And how would we kill him?’ Gar asked. There was something in his tone – not quite scorn.

‘With a sword in our hands, courage in our hearts,’ Akar spat back.

Tukul rested a hand on Akar’s wrist. ‘We would fail. He is surrounded by a thousand Kadoshim clothed in Jehar bodies, all that strength and skill at their disposal. Corban would most likely be slain, and the war would be lost.’

‘It can be done,’ Akar insisted.

‘Your shame blinds you. You were deceived and there is no dishonour in that. Sumur is responsible. As for you; master your emotions, see clearly. Meical and Corban are right. We will fight other battles first, wait for a better time.’

‘And if there is no better time?’

‘Then we will die then, instead of now.’

Corban stood. ‘Meical, all of you, thank you for your wisdom, your guidance. You’ve given me much to think on. There is so much to consider . . .’ He fell silent, eyes distant. ‘I have not decided, but my heart whispers to me that I should find Edana. I don’t say this out of stubbornness . . .’

Really?

‘I gave my word, and it seems to me that our hearts, our oaths, our choices make the difference between us and them.’ He glanced over his shoulder, northwards, into the night. His eyes came back to them, settling upon Cywen. ‘And I know, if my mam and da could see me from across the bridge of swords, they would want me to keep my oath. Truth and courage, they taught me. I’d not let them down.’ With that he turned and walked away. Storm appeared out of the darkness and padded alongside him.