When Edana saw the child she held her arms out, but the child only stared, her face full of fear and suspicion. Baird put her on the ground.

‘We’re not going to hurt you,’ Edana said, crouching down to look her in the eye. ‘We’re friends, not enemies. What’s your name?’

More silence.

‘If we were going to put a blade in you, we’d have done it by now,’ Camlin told her.

The child looked at him. ‘Meg,’ she whispered.

‘How old are you, Meg?’ Edana asked with an encouraging smile.

Just a silent stare.

Camlin’s eyes were raking the buildings around the courtyard, his skin prickling. He wanted to take a look inside the roundhouse, but he also wanted Edana out of the village.

‘You need to get away from here,’ he said.

‘Soon,’ Edana said with a frown, stooping close to the girl. ‘It’s all right,’ she said. ‘We’ll not hurt you.’

Meg just stared at her.

Need to hurry this along.

‘How old are you, Meg?’ Camlin asked.

‘Eight.’

‘How long ago did this happen?’ Camlin gestured at the square.

She frowned, as if unsure. ‘Two nights?’ she said hesitantly. Then her bottom lip trembled and she started sobbing.

‘We know it was Rhin’s men,’ Camlin said, feeling sorry for her – no child should have to go through this horror. ‘They wear the black and gold. Don’t know why they did it, though. And it’d be real helpful if you could remember how many.’

‘That’s enough for now,’ Edana said to him as Meg continued to sob – days of pent-up emotion and fear obviously released.

‘There were lots,’ Meg suddenly blurted. ‘And their chief was called Morcant.’ She spat his name.

‘Morcant,’ Edana whispered. Camlin sucked in a breath as they shared a look. Back when Camlin had been part of Braith’s crew in the Darkwood Morcant had joined them and led the raid that had captured Edana and her mam, Alona, Queen of Ardan. Soon after Camlin had found himself drawing a blade against Morcant and switching sides. Camlin loathed him.

He looked at the square, at the bodies swinging from the gallows. Not a surprise that he’s behind this. But what’s he doing this far west. Hunting rebels?

Something nagged at Camlin and he looked about, feeling suddenly vulnerable.

Then he saw Vonn and the others burst into the far side of the square, Vonn waving desperately. Camlin crouched down, placing a palm flat on the ground. A slight vibration. Steady, rhythmic.

Horses.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

VERADIS

Veradis marched forwards, stepping in time with a dozen warriors spread either side of him, over two score more at his back. They were advancing upon a squat stone tower surrounded by a village of thatch and wood. The sun sat low in a blue sky, the air fresh and sharp as they continued their approach through green meadows carpeted with wildflowers.

A beautiful day.