Loveless was stretched out by the fire, while Foss cooked breakfast over it in studious silence. ‘I always fancied visiting Clyden,’ she said. ‘They have booze there, right?’

‘Oh, aye,’ Lemon scoffed. ‘Gallons. Seas of it. More than even you could drink.’

‘How’s the music and dancing?’

‘Frequent and frenzied.’

Loveless arched an eyebrow. ‘And where are they on baths?’

‘Once a year, whether you need it or not. Regular bathing is the basis of civilization, after all.’

‘Hmm. Are all the men the same colour as you?’

‘Now what the fuck does that mean?’

Rennic chopped down with a hand. ‘Clyden isn’t an option. The straits will be frozen by now.’

‘They don’t freeze!’ Lemon protested.

‘Lemon, be silent. Our choices are this: stick with princeling on his lunatic expedition to parley with the Horvaun, or stay here.’ He took a long breath, his eyes tight shut. ‘And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but given what we know of Corvel’s intentions, I’m for heading south. Princeling still has some silver, maybe there will be more at our journey’s end. I hear sometimes the Horvaun use outsiders for their dirty work.’

‘Aye, but we could just take the silver off him now, boss, save the boot-leather.’

‘We’re mercenaries, Lemon. We need a client.’

‘This is a bad idea, Gar,’ Loveless sighed.

‘Then it’s fruit of a tall and bounteous family tree.’ Rennic turned back to the fire. ‘Who’s coming?’

‘I will not.’ Kosh was on her feet, her face stern. ‘You will release me immediately.’

‘Release you? We’re not fucking holding you!’

‘Then you must escort me back to my country or my people.’

Rennic’s expression remained level. ‘And why would we do that? You can offer payment? Great rewards?’

‘I am—’

‘Because between here and the northern coast lie several armies, fortresses, and murderous bands of red confessors, all of whom would dream of seeing us meet our end in the most gruesome and painful ways imaginable, and I don’t much fancy my chances of skirting the lot of them for free. How do you fancy yours?’

The Nort said nothing.

‘Well, north is that way. So, you can fuck off on your own, or you can come with us. If you’re coming, you make yourself useful. Understand? Some of that terrific alchemy of yours when the moment dictates, think you can manage that?’ He turned his back on her. ‘Rest of you coming?’

‘Not an alchemist,’ Chel heard the Nort mutter. ‘I am an engineer.’

‘You’re awake, little man.’ Rennic was staring right at him. ‘I take it you’ll be accompanying your precious prince on his southward jaunt?’

Chel shuffled to his knees, wincing at his aches, and rubbed at his eyes. ‘I need to talk to my sister.’

Rennic nodded toward the trees. ‘Over there.’