Chapters (51)
- Dedication
- Contents
- PREVIOUSLY …
- PART I
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- PART II
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- PART III
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- PART IV
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- About the Author
- ALSO BY DAVID WRAGG
- About the Publisher
‘Who’s the …’ Chel began, then found all eyes on him. ‘Oh. Right.’
She patted him on the arm. ‘You’d only whine like a spurned pup if he went in without you.’
‘I resent that!’
‘Resent it from the other side of the bridge. Get moving.’
Rennic muscled his way between them. ‘This remains a shitty turn,’ he said, one finger wagging. ‘We all need to cross the river to reach Merenghi. The next crossing could be days north of here.’
Loveless offered a brilliant smile in reply. ‘They said it was for the duration of the council, yes? We’ll come across the minute it finishes. Or, worst case, we’ll meet you at the next crossing in a couple of days. Worried about fucking it all up without my supervision, Gar?’
Rennic took a long breath, his attention on the rough bank beside the road. Small, dirty green flashes of growth were visible between the snow-strewn mud. ‘We don’t have time to dick about, spring is around the corner.’ He rubbed at one eye. ‘You know the plan, I know the plan. We’ll cover this side of the river; you and the others do what’s necessary on the other. Meet outside the Bridge House in time for the first moon, then we’ll cross the Kharin together before the south goes up like that so-called brandy barrel in Black Rock.’
Loveless pursed her lips. ‘Fine. But you’d better not be late. We won’t wait.’
‘Likewise,’ he growled back, then cuffed Chel around the bad shoulder. ‘Gird yourself, little man, you’re about to experience the apotheosis of the free company experience.’
‘The what?’
‘Enough horseshit to fill an ocean. Foss, Lemon! Stick with Ell, keep an eye on the Nort, and we’ll meet up at the Bridge House. Foss! Hoy!’
Foss ambled over, brows drawn low. Behind him, Lemon was moaning about missing out on showing off her new gear. ‘Sorry, boss. I thought I saw something, up on that ridge.’
‘What?’ Rennic had grabbed one of the mules and was rummaging through its packs.
‘A rider.’
‘Lots of riders around today, Fossy.’
‘I know, boss. Just this one … this one looked a little … red.’
Rennic’s rummaging ceased, and he straightened slowly. ‘Take the others and get back to high ground. Stay off the roads for now. We’ll see you before the first moon.’
‘Evil days, boss.’
Rennic yanked the mule’s rope. ‘Little man, get your prince across that bridge now.’