‘Don’t kill him.’ Tarfel was on his feet, a long strip of blood running from nose to chin. ‘He doesn’t know any better.’ Tarfel turned back to the stairs.

Chel pushed himself to his knees, fighting fresh waves of pain. ‘Tarfel! Wait. I’m still your sworn. I can’t let you go alone.’

The prince stopped. ‘You’re right, Vedren,’ he said, turning his head. ‘Hereby in the sight of God and these witnesses, I release you from your oath. Your service is ended.’

‘What? Just … like that? After everything?’

‘You’ve done more than enough, Vedren. Now as your prince, I command you: don’t follow me.’

Then he was gone, footsteps echoing from the stairway.

Chel struggled up, as Rennic threw off the retreating guards. As Chel moved toward the stairs, Rennic growled. ‘The fuck do you think you’re going?’

‘I can’t let him just—’

‘Lost your ears? You’re released. No obligations. A free bird. You don’t have to keep him alive any more. Time to choose, boy. A real choice, the choice of who you are, who you want to be. One of us, or one of them? Free man or lickspittle? Life on the road or at the foot of a prince’s bed?’

‘Why can’t—’

Rennic shook his head. ‘Know this, little man. You go off after him, the next time we meet it won’t be as friends. Understand?’

A messenger pelted onto the rampart, then pulled up in confusion. ‘Message for his highness. Where is Prince Tarfel?’

Chel kept his gaze on Rennic. ‘Stepped away. I’m his first sworn. What’s the message?’

‘Two messages. Bridge to plains is repaired.’

‘And the second?’

‘Her Radiance, Exalted Matil is awake.’

Chel stared into Rennic’s eyes, seeing only blackness. Whatever fury lurked within was cold and dark, and his voice was a caustic snarl. ‘Don’t you—’

Chel held the gaze. ‘I’ll make my own choices, Gar Rennic,’ he said, in echo of Loveless’s words. He turned to the messenger. ‘I’ll see that the prince gets the news.’

Butterflies in his gut, he made for the stairs.

***

Chel pelted over the broken stone of the ancient bridge, swathed in drifting banks of mist that boiled up from the churning gorge. The world seemed close and muffled, the deepening twilight doing little to penetrate the rolling shroud that lay over the plateau. The only sounds were the slap of his feet on the slabs and the rasp of his breathing. It was easy to believe he was the only soul left alive in the world.

He saw the prince at the bridge’s end, a vague silhouette beneath the lingering standard of the black flag. His muscles burning with acid, he sprinted after him, gasping to catch him before he reached the army’s lines. A moment later the prince was gone, lost in grey. Chel gritted his teeth and pushed on.