Rennic’s teeth were bared. ‘We’re missing something. Corvel’s blade-sharp, we’ve learnt that the hard way. He would not be here in person if he didn’t feel he had the force to make his point to his audience.’

‘And what’s that?’

Rennic’s gnarled fingers gripped the stone of the battlement. ‘I’m not sure, but it seems fair hazard he’s here to put the waking fear into every mercenary company that might otherwise have thought to face him. And if that motley bunch of confessors looks modest to us, it’s because he knows something we don’t.’ He pushed back from the wall. ‘We need to get out of here. Immediately.’

Chel swallowed. ‘The back gate that Fest mentioned? Can we get out that way?’

The big man’s gaze flicked to Whisper, who gave a soft nod.

‘Let’s go.’

***

The men were waiting for them at the rear gate, the pair tucked in behind two ornate pillars with their knives drawn. Unfortunately for their attempt, Rennic had been more than expecting them. As the first stepped out, he was carried from his feet by a roaring charge, his helmeted head smashed back against the gleaming flagstones. Two arrows punched through his companion as he lunged to intercede. The first man’s throat was cut before he knew what had hit him.

Rennic was getting to his feet as Chel and Tarfel crept around the corner, Chel still leading the mule. He nodded at the second man, from whom Whisper was removing her arrows. ‘Thanks, Whisp. Don’t know what I’d do without you.’

Chel now rarely voiced his disapproval of the big man’s cavalier attitude to taking lives, but his feelings must nonetheless have been evident from his expression.

‘Yes, little man, that was necessary,’ Rennic growled, wiping his knife clean. ‘So hammer down that gas-hole.’

Chel gave the fresh corpses a sad look. They were not well turned out, one mail shirt between them, rusted and part-rotted. ‘Nadej’s people?’

‘Maybe. Or enterprising freelancers.’ He paused. ‘Or something else.’

A clatter of armour echoed from the hallway’s end. ‘We’d better get out of here before the guards show. I’m pretty sure you just broke the rules of hospitality.’

‘What? They started it.’

‘Let’s go.’

***

They ran, Tarfel bobbing white-knuckled on the mule, until they were many hills away and out of sight of the Gracechurch. Only then did Whisper slow her pace and allow them to catch their breath. Rennic used most of his to let out a howl at the silvery sky.

‘What, what is it?’ Chel slapped at his arm, still bent double in recover. ‘Are you trying to bring the wolves on us? Lemon’s not here to brain them with her hammer.’