A dim shape was down there just beneath them, crouching on the dark turf.

‘Come on!’ Galen’s voice was murderous.

The figure stood up, small and indistinct. Then the tiny moon, Pyra, came out. The light from it, ruby and warm, flickered over the girl.

The Watch, Unsleeping

The Watch, Unsleeping

11

Once you believe, you are lost. Anything you see or hear can be twisted against you. The Order are masters of nothing but falsehood.

Rule of the Watch

SHE CAME A little closer, then stopped.

‘Is he all right?’

Galen glared at Raffi. ‘Is there anyone with her?’

Bewildered, Raffi groped for knowledge. ‘Only a horse, somewhere.’

The girl stared at him in surprise. ‘You can hear it?’

He shrugged, uneasy.

She was small, wearing dark blue-and-grey trousers and jerkin, her hair a shiny nut-brown cut against her cheek. She seemed remarkably unconcerned.

As no one said anything she went on, ‘My name is Carys. Carys Arrin. I’m travelling west from here. Are you sure you’re all right?’

Raffi was surprised. It was a long time since anyone had asked him that. ‘Fine,’ he said weakly.

‘Why were you watching us?’ Galen’s voice was cold; Raffi felt the tension behind it. For a moment he felt sick again, and sat down abruptly.

‘He’s ill,’ the girl remarked accusingly.

Irritated, Galen glanced down. Then he hauled Raffi up and turned, his hawk-face dark against the rainy moon. ‘Come under the tree. We can talk.’

Without waiting to see if she followed, he led Raffi in and sat him against the hollow trunk, tossing the blankets to him. Sensing the tree behind him made Raffi feel better, as if the strength of the wood and the spirit of it gave something back to him. His head cleared, and he looked up.

The girl stood hesitating under the thatch of branches. As she crouched he noticed the crossbow for the first time; it was wound back and loaded, he could see the bolt from here. She laid it on the dusty needles, but her hand stayed near it.

‘I wasn’t watching you. At least, not at first.’ She glanced curiously around at the enormous bulk of the yew. ‘I saw the trees and came up to see if I could shelter here. The rain’s getting heavy.’

Galen said nothing. He was still standing, his head bent under the low roof of twigs.

‘Then I heard you talking.’ She shrugged. ‘I crept up. I wanted to see who you were. You have to be careful, travelling alone.’ Her fingers tapped the smooth shaft of the bow.

‘Indeed you do,’ Galen said. He sat down. ‘That goes for us too.’

She looked at him shrewdly. ‘I’m no threat to you. I think I know what you are.’ As neither of them moved or spoke, she shrugged again. ‘All right, I won’t say it. But no one else could have … It was very dark under here but I’m sure I heard him…’ She glanced at Raffi and shook her head, as if she couldn’t get the words out.