Eka nodded, and she and her band moved closer. The raw emotion had left her, but she seemed thinner, worn, as though holding herself erect took everything she had. The group sat around the fire in, of all things, a loose circle.

Her voice, when she spoke, was squeezed dry but still strong, clear.

‘There was a man, Amaz.’

There was a man, Amaz, the group echoed.

‘He was a son, a brother, a hunter.’ She paused and wiped at her eye. ‘Once, he saw a goat, a woolly, scraggly hill thing, on the slope above. He said, “I’m going to catch that goat.” He was barely four. He chased that goat, it trotted away, he chased it more, it kept trotting, until they were both out of sight. Our mother raged, ha, how she roared. He was lost to us as hours passed, the sun went down, our mother was going around the farmsteads to raise a search party. Then he came trotting back, over the hill, with the fucking goat at his heel. He said they’d been playing. Playing! He’d been feeding it rice, of course.

‘He and that goat were inseparable for years afterwards. It even followed him on hunts.’

She stopped again, choked by a sob.

‘His name was Amaz, and he was friend to goats.’

Those around the fire repeated the words. Foss made the sign of the crook and murmured a prayer.

‘While we speak their names, they ride with us still.’

While we speak their names, they ride with us still.

‘There was a woman, Palo.’ Rennic paused for the echo. ‘She was a leader, a warrior, a believer. She gave her life for others’ mistakes, so they might live long enough to learn better.’ He sat back, jaw clenched.

‘Her name was Ayla Palo, and she deserved better.’

The stories continued around the fire in similar vein. Chel was surprised and a little humble to hear of Palo’s exploits, her campaigns, her tireless devotion to her beliefs. The thought of her sacrifice, her final weeks imprisoned and her death upon the confessors’ table, made him almost sick with guilt and grief. At least she had robbed Hurkel of his triumph.

Foss intoned the refrain again, then looked around.

‘Will anyone speak for the Watcher?’

‘No,’ Rennic growled. ‘Spider was right about one thing, that fool brought death on us all.’

‘And will anyone speak for Spider?’

‘Fuck Spider.’

‘Very well. Who will speak for Dalim?’

Loveless sat forward. She’d been quiet until then, lost in her own reflections.

‘There was a man, Dalim,’ she said as others turned in surprise. ‘He was a fool, a narcissist, and a sex-pest.’

Whisper had a fierce eyebrow raised and Foss looked shocked, but Loveless waved them off.