‘We are,’ Cywen agreed. A long way from home, all of us different people now. Changed by what’s happened. She felt a moment of frustrated, helpless rage, aimed mostly at Calidus and Nathair.

‘I don’t just mean the distance,’ Brina said.

‘I know,’ Cywen grunted. She looked up and saw Brina staring at her.

‘He’s still your brother. Just . . .’

‘Busy?’ Cywen finished with a sigh.

Brina grinned at that. ‘Yes. Very busy. But he’s a good boy. A big heart, a rare loyalty to his kin and friends. And quite a good brain inside that thick skull of his, when he bothers to use it. Don’t tell him I said that,’ she added.

‘Your secret is safe with me,’ Cywen said.

‘Safe secret,’ Craf commented from above. ‘Trust.’

It was disconcerting to have a crow joining in with the conversation. More so when it made astute observations.

‘I was sad to hear about Heb.’

Brina blinked at that, sudden pain washing her face. With an obvious effort she smoothed it away.

‘Corban told me how he . . . about the battle in the mountains of Domhain, against giants and wolven.’

‘Uthas,’ Brina said.

‘Bad giant,’ Craf muttered.

‘Peck out his eyes,’ Fech added, vehemently.

‘What?’

Something dark contorted Brina’s features, her eyes narrowing. ‘Uthas is the name of the Benothi giant that killed Heb. I’ve been talking to Fech.’

‘Ye s, s h e h a s,’ Fech confirmed.

‘I know Uthas,’ Cywen said. ‘He joined Rhin and Nathair. He is in league with Rhin.’ I hate him, as I hate all of my captors. Other faces swam in her mind – Alcyon, Veradis. Faces that had shown her some measure of kindness amidst the bleak horror of it all. Maybe not all.

‘He is a traitor to his kin,’ Fech muttered.

‘He killed my Heb. I’m going to kill him.’ There was no humour, no kindness in Brina’s voice now.

‘We ,’ Fech corrected.

‘Sorry, we,’ Brina smiled, a cold thing.

‘And then I will eat his eyes,’ Fech added.

‘Good,’ Cywen said fiercely. ‘Heb was very brave, standing against a giant.’

‘He was a fool,’ Brina said, ‘but he was my fool, and I miss him.’ Her expression softened. Craf fluttered down and landed on Brina’s shoulder, began running his beak through her hair. Brina absently scratched Craf’s wing. ‘The only other person I’ve told that to is your brother.’ She smiled at Cywen. It was very out of character.

‘Why are you being so nice to me?’ Cywen asked suspiciously.

‘I can be nice,’ Brina snapped. ‘You’ve been through a lot. And now you’re here, back with kin and friends, and yet you feel . . .’

‘Out of place,’ Cywen finished for her. ‘Useless.’

‘Useless, useless, useless,’ Craf repeated. Cywen shot a glare at him.