Trying to ignore the sickening pain from his wrist, Valens heaved the corpse of Clemens to one side. A wave of nausea forced him to lie still, left hand clamped to right wrist. He attempted to gather himself.

He rolled on one side, drew himself to his knees. Hunched over, he forced himself to release his wrist and look at the injury. There was a deep cut, a lot of blood, but it was not severed. Tentatively, he flexed his fingers. A surge of pain, more blood, but they moved. If the wound was cleaned, it might not fester. He might yet not die.

Valens might live, but the traitor had won. So many hard miles travelled, so much hardship, so many deaths, all to end in failure.

A small sob dragged Valens out of his maze of despair.

Like a crab, he scuttled on all fours to the back of the tent.

The boy was covered in blood, but he was alive. Valens found a pitcher of water and a cloth. He bathed the child’s face. There was a terrible gash across his forehead, a flap of skin hung down and would have to be stitched. But he was alive.

‘Don’t cry, you will be alright.’

Holding the cloth to his wound, the boy sat up. ‘I thought you were dead. It was you I was mourning. My father did not lament his fate, and nor will I. You saved my life. A Prince of the House of Sasan does not forget.’

Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

Aquileia

TOMORROW WOULD DECIDE THEIR FATE. They were in a bar down by the docks on the river. It was pleasant with the sunshine on the water. May was a kind month in northern Italy.

‘I should have suspected the bastard,’ Narses said. ‘Clemens was always trying to stir up dissension in the mission, attempting to cast doubt on the loyalty of those from the east.’

‘When he accused you,’ Valens said, ‘I should have realised.’

‘None of us are to blame.’ Iudex was eating melon, while the others ate steak. ‘His treachery was well hidden, even in the spirit-world.’

Hairan laughed. ‘I am far too trusting for our line of work. I never suspected anything – in this world or another – just thought we were unlucky. And I still do not understand why he broke his oath.’

‘Do any of us?’ Valens shrugged. ‘At the end he spoke of following orders and saving his family. Although I was a little distracted, as he was trying to kill me.’

They had talked about it for months without reaching a conclusion.