‘There was a woman, Whisper,’ he said, fighting down a cough.

There was a woman, Whisper, they repeated.

‘She was … I only knew her as a hunter, a scout … a presence. In truth, I barely knew her at all.’ He looked around in apology, but nobody chided him, ordered him to stop. Rennic watched with hooded eyes, no expression or focus.

‘She saved my life,’ Chel said. ‘Several times. She was always there when I needed her. And she seemed, I don’t know, fun. Nice. Er … I’m sorry.’

‘Her name was Whisper,’ Foss intoned beside him, ‘and she was there for us when we needed her.’

The others repeated, and Chel passed the brandy to Kosh, relieved and abashed. The Nort took a small sip, made a face, then without prompting recounted a story of Whisper teaching her how to shoot straight, how to read wind and elevation, how to fine-tune the construction of her crossbow, all through signs and gestures. Chel listened in growing surprise and embarrassment at Kosh’s story.

‘Her name was Whisper, and she was a teacher.’

Loveless talked of her humour, her practical jokes. She skipped the brandy, the previous night evidently still weighing on her. Rennic said nothing, and the brandy passed to Lemon, who also deferred. Foss told a story of her roaming walks across entire kingdoms, her boundless stamina, her determination. Lemon summoned enough of herself to speak of Whisper’s protective instincts, her willingness to endure hardship for those she cared for, her gentle, silent chidings. She placed the brandy back before Rennic.

To Chel’s surprise, the big man roused himself, leaning forward, elbows on knees, firelight glimmering in his eyes.

‘There was a woman, Kwayedza of the Kundai. She was a soldier, a leader, a friend. She was loyal and she was stoic, tireless, professional, purposeful.’ He looked up, tears prickling at the corners of his eyes. ‘You know how old she was? Nor do I. Older than me for sure; she lived lifetimes before us. She found me, took me under her wing when I was a drunken stripling. She kept me alive, through one doomed venture after another. Saved me from myself, from staying with bad company. She made me, moulded me, managed me – and the rest of you, don’t pretend different – and I owe her more than I could ever say. She was a sister to me, hells, she was a mother.’ He took a long breath, then another, and a swig of the brandy to go with it.

‘Where did she come from?’ Chel felt their reactions, their surprise, irritation at his speaking out of turn. Rennic didn’t seem to object.