Chel struggled to keep up. ‘So, we alert the companies that Corvel is coming for them, they join our side and fight against the confessors when they arrive?’

‘Tipping the companies is about more than just manpower, cub,’ Loveless said, shortening her stride to fall back in step with him. ‘Their primary purpose, these days at least, is policing the more unruly parts of the kingdom, those places where the crown or the local Names struggle to keep their grip.’ Her eyes crinkled with a wicked smile. ‘Remove the companies, and there’s a lot of bottled chaos just bursting to get out into the world: free cities, rebel lords, hill tribes. Our next ports of call after today.’

‘Might other companies not step in? New ones?’

Lemon waved a dismissive hand. ‘Upstarting a new company is no idle stroll, wee bear, take it from me. Recruitment, training, overheads, equipment investment, then of course there’s securing the gigs, which are at risk themselves. Now, I can see the merit of operating a smaller scale, perhaps temporarily, perhaps over the longer term, agency level you might say. Specialized, boutique. It’s all about how you position yourself in the market. Of course, I pitched it to the big man,’ she waved a hand toward the head of their column, ‘but he’s more of a, uh, solid concepts kind of fella.’ She shook her head, sending her hair waving. ‘I’m saying there’s merit in serving a niche, that’s all.’

‘Lemon,’ came Foss’s rumble from behind them, ‘what in His name are you talking about?’

‘Aye, right, never mind.’

Whisper and Rennic had reached the grand pillars that marked the start of the bridge’s span, Tarfel a pace behind, his new boots already splashed with slush-mud. The river churned some way below them, its flow still fast and white despite the snow streaking the steep banks, its rush blanketing the surroundings with a subtle hiss. It looked very, very cold.

A handful of heavily armoured guards stood at the bridge pillars, the crossed keys motif embossed on their breastplates gleaming in the pale winter sun. Before them, a liveried flunky raised a hand. ‘Affiliation?’

Rennic didn’t hesitate. ‘Black Hawk Company.’

From over Chel’s shoulder came Lemon’s muttering to Foss. ‘All I’m saying, big man, is that there’s something to be said for reputation management.’

The flunky gave his list a cursory glance. ‘Never heard of you.’

‘We’re new.’

‘Affiliated?’

Rennic rubbed at his bearded chin with a clenched fist. ‘Affiliation status, uh, pending. We’re awaiting confirmation.’

The flunky raised an eyebrow. ‘Then you can await out here.’

Whisper sighed, put a hand on Rennic’s arm then signalled something in a flash of her hands. With visible reluctance, Rennic rolled up the sleeve of his new mail, revealing the prodigious tattoos that coated his upper arm. ‘Previous affiliations withstanding?’ he growled.