Xessa hugged Lutek and Tiamoko for long seconds, kissing them both, before she clicked her fingers and Ossa sat up, alert. She pulled Lilla to his feet and then wrapped her arms around him too, standing on tiptoe to reach around his neck. He hugged her hard, a flower of anxiety blooming in his chest. If they go after the Drowned with both Tayan and me gone …

He pushed it away. Tika was leading the planning and practice; she would ensure they were ready before any attempt was made. He lifted Xessa off her feet and squeezed, then put her down and planted a kiss on her head. She was smiling when she looked up at him, but her eyes were shadowed with worry.

‘Be safe,’ she signed simply. Lilla nodded. She hesitated, then she licked her thumb and pressed it to his temple and he stilled, shocked, before a rush of affection and gratitude surged through him. She had gifted him a piece of her courage, her spirit, to aid him in the war. She had named him family.

He pulled her into another embrace, almost overwhelmed. Over her shoulder, he saw Toxte, Ilandeh, and Dakto approaching. Lilla let her go. ‘Look after this one for me when I’ve gone,’ he signed to Toxte.

Xessa’s eyes narrowed and her hands began to move, but Toxte interrupted, cocking an incredulous eyebrow. ‘She’s the one who looks after me and you know it,’ he replied. Xessa’s irritation turned to a blush of delight and Lilla hoped they would hurry up and become lovers before he got back. So much blood in their faces when it should be much further below. He grinned, but didn’t say it.

‘What’s wrong with those two?’ he signed instead, pointing at the Xentib who were arguing in low, intense voices.

Toxte shrugged. ‘They’ve been like it all morning, far as I can tell.’

‘Dakto,’ Lilla called, suddenly wanting to part with everyone on good terms and make sure Ilandeh did nothing to antagonise Xessa again while he was gone. ‘Everything all right?’

Dakto hurried over, Ilandeh trailing behind looking furious and bewildered and a little bit scared. His stomach turned over.

‘Fang Lilla,’ the Xenti said, ‘do you have room for one more in your Paw?’

Something that sounded suspiciously like a sob broke from Ilandeh’s mouth and she half turned away. Xessa, unsure what was happening, nevertheless went to her and put an arm around her shoulders.

‘You have been ordered to fight?’ Lilla asked, surprised.

Dakto shook his head. ‘No, but I want to. I’ve been out with you before. I’d like to fight at your side. With what’s coming – what you’re trying to achieve – I thought, well, I want to help.’