The bird stared at him, its head cocked to one side.

‘Bune – share your meal.’

One of the Kadoshim that was taking bites out of a Jehar corpse threw Calidus a chunk of rotting flesh. Calidus ripped off pieces and fed them to the bird.

‘Kartala was my link to Ventos. The man who tracked Corban, who told us of his coming north.’

‘I remember,’ Uthas said. ‘You sent Alcyon south to waylay Corban on the information from this Ventos.’

‘Yes. Unfortunately something happened between Ventos’ last message and Corban’s arrival at Murias. Involving a hundred or so Jehar warriors and Ventos’ death, I’m guessing,’ Calidus said sourly. He shrugged. ‘Such is the way of war. Things change, people die, information often travels too slowly. You can help us with that, though,’ he said to the bird. ‘Meical is leading Corban and a band of miscreants about the countryside, and I need to know where he is going. You understand, Kartala? Meical and Corban. That is their trail.’ He pointed to the wide path of trampled grass that led southwards through the hills.

Kartala beat her wings and lifted into the air, the power of her departure making the corpses sway and creak in the trees.

‘That should go a long way to avoiding any more unannounced interruptions,’ Calidus said.

‘Indeed.’

The Kadoshim had now uncovered the giant cairns and Uthas looked in, scowling when he didn’t see Balur amongst the dead.

Calidus held up a hand as one of the Kadoshim reached the cairn he was standing beside. He leaned over, picking up the purple flower of a thistle that was resting upon it and sniffed at it like a hound. Calidus nodded for the Kadoshim to proceed and it tore at the cairn, heaving stones and hurling them with a strength even more prodigious than its companions’.

‘He’s a strong one,’ Salach remarked.

‘When the starstone axe was taken from Alcyon the cauldron’s link with the Otherworld was broken; my kin felt it happening. Many of them sped through the veil in those last moments, swarmed into one body before the gateway was severed. That is the body.’

‘What’s his name?’ Uthas asked.

‘His name is Legion, because . . . well, it’s self-explanatory, really.’

Uthas raised an eyebrow.

In short moments a body had been uncovered – a woman, dark hair, skin waxy in death. ‘Ahh,’ Calidus said, smiling. ‘I recognize her. She put a knife or two in me during the battle.’ He looked at the thistle between his fingers, twirled it, then slipped it inside his cloak. ‘Take her head,’ he ordered Salach. He gestured to the Kadoshim already sniffing at the corpse. ‘And they can have the rest.’

CHAPTER ELEVEN

MAQUIN

Maquin ran through the trees, the sound of Fidele’s footfalls just behind.

Running away, again. This is becoming a very bad habit.

They had been running a long time, Maquin’s lungs burning with each breath. Evening was not far off.