‘So you’ve sent a warband after him?’ Veradis asked. ‘I’m surprised you have the men available, spread throughout four nations as you are.’

‘I’ve spent many years raising my warbands in preparation for these days. Even so, you are right, things are a little stretched. I’ve had to send men who were stationed in Narvon. They should be at the border with Benoth soon.’

Booted feet echoed from the corridor; a guard entered.

‘Lord Conall has returned, my lady.’

‘Excellent,’ Rhin said. ‘Where is he?’

‘His company approaches the gates as we speak, my lady.’

‘Come, then,’ Rhin said, rising. ‘I could do with stretching these old legs.’

They found over three score warriors dismounting from horses in the courtyard beyond Dun Vaner’s keep. Veradis knew in a heartbeat, from the averted faces and the stoop of shoulders, that Conall and his men had failed to capture Edana and Lorcan, Eremon’s heir. Veradis saw Rafe dismount, the blond lad from Ardan, two hounds circling him. One jumped up at him, sniffing a pouch on his belt. He cuffed it good-naturedly and went to another horse and helped a grey-faced warrior dismount. The man looked close to collapse, a wide bandage strapped around his neck and shoulder. Spots of blood had leaked through.

‘Braith?’ Rhin cried out as she strode down the wide stone steps into the courtyard. She stroked the huntsman’s face and for a moment it was as if the two of them were the only people in the courtyard.

‘Get him to a healer,’ Rhin snapped at Rafe. ‘I’ll be along as soon as I can,’ she called over her shoulder.

Then Conall was there, his face set in proud lines.

‘They got away,’ he said.

‘That much is obvious,’ Rhin scowled. ‘The how I will hear when we are somewhere more private. And I hope you can tell me something of the where.’

‘I have a prisoner who may be able to help with that,’ Conall said, stepping aside and pulling a man forward. He looked remarkably like Conall. Older, lacking the fire and mirth that seemed to war constantly for control of Conall’s features, but definitely related. Serious grey eyes regarded Rhin.

‘This is Halion. My brother, and Edana’s first-sword.’

‘Ahh,’ Rhin smiled viciously. ‘Your jaunt across half of Domhain may not have been entirely wasted, then.’ She stood and stared at Halion a long moment, the warrior returning her gaze.

‘Eremon’s seed,’ she laughed, ‘all so proud.’ Then she turned and marched back up the stairs towards the keep. ‘Come on, then,’ she snapped, ‘bring him along and we’ll see what we can salvage.’

Veradis leaned against a pillar of stone, watching as Rhin stirred a pot bubbling over a fire. Conall’s brother Halion sat in a chair, his wrists tied to the arm-rests, a leather belt tightened about his chest, holding him secure.