Amber knew who Rogan Jarvish was; every Alturan knew his name. And he was near, in Ralanast, barely half a day's walk from this prison camp!

The Halrana women arrived.

Without preamble, Amber spoke. "I've asked the five of you to come here because between you, you know many of the Halrana here, while I know most of the Alturans."

"What's this about?" Lina asked.

"The fact that I've called this gathering, and no one can see us, should tell you something. I'm in a unique position here, and we should take advantage of that fact."

"To do what?" Samora demanded.

"To organise ourselves. I've learned that there is a resistance in Ralanast, and the man leading them is one of my people, an Alturan, one of the best men we have. If we can get word to him I think he'll help us."

"You're talking about escape? We'll get ourselves killed!" one of the other women said in a shrill voice.

"No, we won't," Amber stated. "Not if we meet here, where no one can see us, and we continue to be nice to the guards. We can all do that, can't we? There's something you need to know. The people who are vanishing… I don't know where they're going, but the surgeon said they're being taken 'to the vats'. I believe the rumours are true. If we don't escape from here ourselves, we'll all be dead before the year is over."

The women blanched, exchanging glances.

"This escape," Lina said. "It won't have a chance though unless we have support from outside. We could take over this camp tomorrow and the Black Army will just send reinforcements. There are just too many of them."

"You're right," Amber said. "For now we just need to open up communication. Leopold knows about a guard here, a sympathiser. He can get a message to Rogan."

"Leopold?" Samora raised an eyebrow. "He's mad."

"He was once a prince of Altura," Amber said. "I believe him."

"So what do we do then?" Lina said.

"We think, and we plan. That's enough for now. The main thing is to keep quiet. I'll get a message to Rogan Jarvish, and we'll see what he says. You'd better leave now."

The five women stood.

"We can do this," Amber said. "We must do this. There's no other choice."

The Halrana nodded, and filed out, leaving Amber alone.

Amber wondered where she would find writing materials.

27

27

SERANTHIA'S huge harbour was home to countless ships, and the port of call for a great many more. People came to Seranthia from far and wide to trade and to treat, to make deals and to build alliances. The harbour was a lively, vibrant place, famed for its workshops and taverns, nearly a city in its own right.

Yet the harbour gave way to a sight more renowned still, a mighty monument, second only to Stonewater in its fame.

It was called the Sentinel.