‘Uh-huh. Well, Akoshtiranarayan, you are a thousand or more miles from home, a wanted fugitive from the clutches of both crown and church, lost in hostile countryside without provisions or allies. If I were you, I’d be bending over backward to make some more friends, even with imbeciles.’

The Nort glared at him, her jaw working, before she sniffed again.

‘I have been called Kosh, in the past.’

Rennic nodded, a smile pulling at his mouth. ‘Honoured to meet you, Kosh. I’m Rennic. This is Whisper, that’s Lemon, these are Chels One and Two, and this is Tarfel, younger brother of our nemesis and prince of the realm.’

Kosh’s jaw dropped. She stared at the prince, who coughed and shifted in embarrassment.

Rennic’s smile widened. ‘It’s a long story, little alchemist. We’ll fill you in as we go, and you can tell us what you were doing in the citadel’s dungeon, and just what your part was in that whopping bang back in the courtyard.’

‘I will tell you nothing.’

The Nort was trembling, staring at Rennic with huge black eyes, and Chel found himself shaking in sympathy. Not just in sympathy – he was freezing. His jaw had begun to judder, clattering his teeth against each other.

‘That’s enough,’ he said. ‘We need warmth, shelter, and food. Especially food. If we’re not camping here, let’s get where we’re going.’

Rennic grunted. ‘As you say, little man. Long journeys. Let’s get moving, by now the boys in red will have worked out we’re sprung and be on the hunt. If this alchemist is a curled hair as important to Corvel as she seems, they’ll be taking her loss with great offence.’

‘I was to be executed after you! I gave them nothing!’

‘Either way, we need to get gone and sharpish.’

‘About that—’ Lemon began, but Rennic kept talking.

‘We should head south and west, back toward the Sepulchre. The remains of the Rau Rel may still be in residence, and let’s not forget that that prick Torht owed us a shit-pile of silver. Someone’s going to pay. Lemon, how far off are the others? Are they meeting us here or do we need to signal?’

‘About that, boss—’

‘Which of you was watching the drop? Are you sure you were the only ones? How did you even know about the drop? We weren’t part of Torht’s little set-up …’

Around them, the woods rustled with more than just the passing breeze. Figures loomed from the darkness, separating from trees but never becoming distinct. Rennic whipped around, the glaive held in open challenge, but Lemon jumped in front of him.

‘Calm, calm, boss, we’re under control.’

‘Who the fuck is this?’

Whisper was at his shoulder now, a steady hand on his arm.