‘That was tried and tried and it just never worked. Either countries stockpiled weapons or they developed them in secret, each mistrusting the other’s avowals of disarmament,’ said Doktaruth.

The warm touch of a hand on my cheek brought me to consciousness so swiftly that I gasped. I opened my eyes to find Ceirwan bending over me, holding up a lantern.

‘I am sorry, Guildmistress. I tried to farseek ye but ye were too deeply asleep,’ the guilden said. ‘A host of riders has come through the pass an’ they are like to arrive shortly. It’s rainin’ hard an’ we only have this much warnin’ because Catrin was on her way down to relieve one of th’ watch an’ saw the riders in time to turn tail an’ ride back here. There are not so many, but if it is the gang of renegades that raided th’ store in Guanette a few days back, they might have more of the black powder they used to break open the storage doors.’

I got up and drew on my shawl, pushing my feet into my slippers. ‘If they do have black powder, some of the gang must be Hedra who escaped capture when Dardelan’s forces mopped up in Saithwold after Malik fell.’

‘Might be some of Malik’s men,’ Ceirwan conceded. ‘Remember Vos had barrels of it an’ I bet Malik had his own store as well. After he was taken, one of his men might have figured out where it was. There were five or six of them that dinna surrender to Dardelan’s armsmen.’

I glanced across to the window. It was too dark to see anything but I could hear the rain hammering down hard. I turned back to Ceirwan. ‘Go down and rouse Roland. I assume Catrin will have woken Gevan by now. Leave the futuretellers and empaths asleep if no one has got them up. There is no point in waking everyone until we know what we are dealing with. I’ll join you as soon as I am dressed.’

Chapter 6

6

Those waiting in the entrance hall held lanterns so that their shadows jerked and wavered, making it difficult to see their faces. It was hard to hear, too, with the constant rattle of rain. All the doors to the passage were open into the entrance foyer and cold draughts swept in from several directions, making me glad of the thick green gown I had belted over my nightdress, though I probably ought to have taken the time to change into trews and replait my hair, which had come unravelled in sleep.

‘Where are the coercers?’ I asked, when I reached Ceirwan.

‘Gevan is disposin’ them on the roof an’ in the upper balconies that face the entrance, poor sods,’ Ceirwan said.

‘The coercers are armed?’