He was sitting upon a raised knoll amidst a thick bank of reeds, a space flattened at its centre for him. From here he could peer out through the reeds and have a commanding view of the surrounding area, watching over a dozen streams and rivers that fed from the lake, flowing in the direction that he reckoned Evnis and his warband would come. Looking the other way he saw the lake, the village that had grown up along its banks deserted now, still and silent apart from the odd chicken. A moorhen pecked about in what had once been a fire-pit, claiming it for her own. At the heart of the lake Dun Crin reared from its still, black waters. If Camlin stared hard enough he could make out warriors along its ancient walls, standing in the shadows of its crumbling towers.

The sky above was a pale blue¸ a fresh wind welcome in this stagnant place, and bringing with it the scent of spring.

Least the bad weather’s broken. Waiting’s always better without the rain and snow.

He heard footsteps close by, peered through the reeds to see Edana’s fair hair, Roisin, Lorcan and Pendathran with her, their shieldmen as well – Halion and Vonn, Cian and Brogan. He pushed through the reeds to join them.

‘All’s ready, then?’

‘Ready as we’ll ever be,’ Pendathran said. ‘You up to this?’ the big general asked Camlin.

‘Course,’ Camlin grunted.

‘Of course he is,’ Edana snapped.

‘Aye, you’ve proved yourself, that’s for sure,’ Pendathran growled. ‘Don’t mind me, I just get nervous before a fight, that’s all.’

‘Surely not you,’ Roisin said, a purr in her voice that Camlin didn’t like.

‘So do I,’ Edana said, eyes scanning the marshes with its countless streams and rivers and hidden approaches.

Don’t we all? Camlin thought. I’ve been in a hundred scrapes, more, probably, and my mouth still goes dry and my palms sweaty ’fore a fight.

‘It’s the prospect of death,’ he said matter-of-factly. ‘No matter how many battles you live through, doesn’t mean you’ll see the end of the next one.’

They were all silent at that.

‘Indeed, well, on that cheerful note,’ Roisin said.

There was a flapping from above and a black speck dropped out of the sky.

‘Men, boats, spears,’ the crow squawked, alighting in the branches of a willow. They all stared at him.

I’m glad Edana talked him into sticking around, now.

‘CLOSE,’ Craf squawked, giving his wings an extra flap to emphasize his point, making them all jump, even Pendathran, who swore.

‘This is it, then,’ Edana said, looking at them all. ‘You all know what to do.’

‘Aye,’ Pendathran said. He looked in their eyes, then grinned.

‘For Ardan and Domhain, for kin and friends, for our Queens.’

They parted, Camlin walking back to his bank of reeds.