Santos heeled his nag, urging it into a shuffling trot far enough clear of the Navarrese fighter. Ariz caught up with his companion. ‘You always were impatient. You should let it go. Everything will be sorted out sooner or later. It can’t be far now because he promised Blackstone we would be back by dawn.’

‘Then we should wait here when he reports to him and save ourselves the arse ache of riding back this way again.’

Santos disappeared from view around a rocky outcrop. The two men followed moments later and reined in abruptly when they saw another horseman in the shadows talking to him.

Saustin’s sword was half drawn when Ariz laid a hand on his arm. ‘No need. Can’t you see who it is?’

A cloud shifted from the face of the moon exposing the rider’s features.

‘Tibalt!’ Saustin said. ‘My God. What are you doing here?’

Saustin dismounted as the one-armed Tibalt stepped down from the saddle. The two friends embraced. ‘What are you doing out here?’ said Saustin and cast a quick glance around. ‘Are you alone?’

‘There’s no one else.’

Saustin stepped back. ‘I don’t understand. Why here? And how did you know we would travel this road?’

‘I paid the wine soak before he left the city. And he played his cards right.’

Saustin shook his head. ‘What? You’re talking in riddles.’

Tibalt laid his good arm onto his friend’s shoulder. ‘He told Blackstone that you and Ariz despised him. That made you both the perfect escort.’

Tibalt unslung his wineskin and handed it to Saustin. ‘Let’s drink before he gets his filthy mouth on it and I’ll explain.’ He took a mouthful and handed it to Saustin, who hesitated.

‘Something’s not right.’

Tibalt laughed. ‘Drink! When have you ever refused good wine?’

Saustin handed back the wineskin. ‘Not until you tell me what’s going on.’

Tibalt sighed and tossed the wineskin to Santos. ‘The boy. We seek the boy.’

‘We?’

‘I sought out Ranulph de Hayle. He’s paid good money to tell him where Blackstone rides with the boy.’

Uncertainty clouded Saustin’s mind. ‘This makes no sense. The bastard held us captive. He tortured and killed our comrades.’

‘And I lost my arm to the Jew butcher. Saustin, I sold him the boy, or his whereabouts at least. De Hayle is ten miles away. He’ll ambush Blackstone and seize the lad once Santos here guides him.’

Saustin staggered back. ‘You’d betray the man who saved us!’

‘For money. Yes. A lot of money. We won’t have to fight for pay any more.’ He turned to the saddle. ‘I have yours here.’

Saustin drew his sword. ‘I’ll have no part of this and you and your whoreson friend will—’

The horses shied as a mace-wielding Ariz clubbed him down from behind.