They came out of the highlands and Deglan could see the regular square partitions of land separated by stacked stone. He could make out small clumps of sheep dotted amongst the flat green and steered his mount towards the nearest herd. The sheep brayed and scattered as he came leaping over the wall. Deglan called out for the herdsmen. He stood in the saddle and cast about, but could see no one and there was no answer to his call. Not a dog, not a whistle. He moved on to the next flock, cursing when he found it unattended also. Maybe, with luck, someone had already seen and raised the cry. Why else would they leave their animals unguarded?

He cut hard across the fields and found the Trough within moments. Keeping the river to his left, he kicked his toad harder, pushing him south. He could still alert the men of the village and have them prepare to flee. With Faabar crippled and Kederic’ warriors off and gone it would be fruitless to stand and fight. They would run. They must. Or they would stand and protect what was dear to the last. Fools. Human fools. Either way, Deglan would give them time.

The town lay before him and Deglan thanked the Earth and Stone for the speed of the great toad. The villagers had already gathered behind the ale house, but they were making no preparations to leave, nor was there a single weapon amongst the men. Why were they just standing there? Deglan knew he was not too late! There was no chance it could have gotten here before him! He reined Bulge-Eye up on the edge of the gathering and jumped from the saddle. The people were simply standing around talking softly to one another, whispering behind hands and steering children away. This was not the hurried panic of a forewarned attack. This was something else. They were tense, still and awkward, standing around what Deglan supposed was the eel pond, but he was too short to see what was so remarkable about that. He pushed his way through the cluster, mutterings of relief passing through the crowd at his presence. He broke through the press and stopped short. Deglan hung his head at what he saw in the pond. Death was not coming to Hog’s Wallow. It had arrived.

T HREE

THREE

This is taking too long. Rosheen peered up at the darkening sky without removing her chin from her hand. The moon was already visible and it would not be the turn of an hour before they were overtaken by the night.

“Want me to do it?” she asked hopefully.