They made her wait a few minutes in the courtyard. Then the sergeant came through a small arch and beckoned. He led her down a stone passageway and knocked on a door.

‘Come in.’

The sergeant looked at her. Carys took a deep breath, put her hand on the latch, and went in.

It was a small room with a crackling fire in the hearth, and the Castellan was perched on the edge of the table. ‘You brought this?’ He held the insignia up so that it glinted.

‘Yes,’ she said, coming up to him.

‘What house?’

‘Marn Mountain. 547.’

‘When did you leave?’

‘Three months ago.’

‘Your spymaster?’

‘Jeltok. Old Jellie, we used to call him.’

He nodded, wheezing a laugh. ‘Oh, I know.’ Getting up, he strolled to the fire, glancing back at her curiously. His sparse hair was greying; he was older than most of his rank. Shrewder too, she thought, with sudden misgivings.

He coughed and spat into the fire, rubbing his chest. ‘Your mission?’

‘Surveillance. On a man called Galen Harn. A keeper.’

His face glimmered with interest. ‘And?’

She sighed, sitting suddenly in the only chair. ‘Watchman, I’ve come a long way. I’m hungry and cold. And I’m on your side. You don’t need to treat me like a prisoner.’

For a moment he was still. Then he nodded, went to the door and yelled. Carys took off the crossbow and laid it carelessly on the floor. It was no good to her here, anyway.

The man came back. ‘Food’s coming. I’m sorry – force of habit. Welcome home, Carys Arrin.’

She looked up at him, and smiled.

22

We have been used by one of our own.

He has mocked us all this time.

Litany of the Makers

RAFFI CROUCHED DOWN behind the remnants of the wall. ‘No sign of her.’

The Sekoi was silent, biting its nails.

Raffi put his hand in his pocket and touched the globe; it was almost warm and he pulled it out in surprise, but the glass was dull and dim. He held it to his eyes and stared in, trying to see something; then tried with his inner eye, but saw only darkness. It was the first real chance he’d had to examine it; Galen always kept it close. But it told him nothing.

The Sekoi looked up abruptly. ‘Listen, small keeper. I think we should go.’

‘Go?’ Raffi was blank. ‘Go where?’

‘Anywhere. Out of here.’ It knelt up, and he saw the pupils of its eyes were black slits in the dimness. Its hand caught his arm, the seven long fingers clutching tight. ‘All my instincts say this is a trap! She’s gone to them. She’ll bring them here! For us! Don’t you see, Raffi, I don’t think we dare trust her.’

A tiny pang of terror went down Raffi’s spine. He said hoarsely, ‘I can’t believe she’d –’