‘I’ll go up first, make a distraction for you,’ Veradis said. ‘When you hear it walk fast, turn right at the top of the stairs and—’

‘I know the way,’ Maquin said.

‘Veradis,’ Fidele said. ‘You’re not coming with us?’

‘No,’ Veradis said. His eyes flickered between them all.

‘What?’ blustered Krelis. ‘But you must come with us.’

‘No. I have something to do.’

Maquin recognized that look. Had seen it many times in his own reflection.

Honour. Or death. And sometimes one follows the other.

‘Come with us, friend,’ Maquin said, stepping close to Veradis.

Veradis just shook his head.

‘We’ll see you again, then,’ Maquin said, squeezing Veradis’ shoulder.

‘Aye,’ Veradis nodded grimly. ‘This side or the other.’

‘What are you staying here for?’ Krelis called after him.

Veradis paused and looked back.

‘Brother, please. Come with us,’ Krelis pleaded.

Veradis shook his head. ‘I cannot. But I will join you if I can.’

‘Why? Why will you not come with us now?’

‘Because I am going to kill Calidus.’

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE

ULFILAS

Ulfilas reined his horse in, Dag beside him. He had ridden back from the front line to find Jael, passing over two thousand men filling the road they had carved through the heart of Forn Forest. He felt a thrill of pride at seeing the road receding as far as his eye could see, branches arching over it as if they bowed to some royal procession.

Quite a feat.

He felt another thrill of excitement at what he had just discovered, or more accurately been told by Dag. He wanted to give the news to King Jael himself.

We started out with closer to three thousand men, Ulfilas thought as he rode through the throng. Hundreds had been lost to the cold and the predators of Forn.

And some of them have walked away on their own two feet, I am sure.

Many of the losses Ulfilas and Dag had attributed to enemy raids. They had kept their thoughts to themselves, not wanting to fuel the rumours that the Black Sun and his demons were hunting them at night. Nevertheless the fear had spread. The only thing that had stopped men deserting in large numbers was the fact that those who did desert were usually found dead within a day of leaving, victims of Forn’s denizens.