‘It was a ruse, nothing more, intended to give us the rest of the Wet to train the non-fighters. Betsu escaped two weeks before I was sent back. She was coming here to tell you to appear defeated to buy time to teach everyone to fight, whether they walk the jaguar path or not. Time to build defences. But now, with this … they’ll know. They’ll know the peace-weaving meant nothing and they’ll be coming. Maybe even during the Wet.’

Tayan closed his eyes. He’d accomplished absolutely nothing. ‘The plan was that if they were expecting a surrender, they’d send pyramid-builders, overseers, and officials, and only a Talon or two at most to protect them. We’d wipe them out and gain the advantage, then retake Yalotlan while they sent for reinforcements. But that’s obviously not going to work now. They can communicate through the song itself. Any warrior who escaped your ambushes could have crossed into the song and used the magic to tell the Singing City what is happening. They’ll be coming. Maybe only days behind me, depending on when you started killing them and how quickly they passed word.’

Tayan looked from Lilla to Lutek and Kux and Tiamoko and all the others. Took in their shocked, disbelieving, determined faces. He had to make them understand that everything they’d learnt through a season of war was just the beginning. That they had to win. ‘I saw an offering made to the holy Setatmeh and I heard the prayers they spoke to it. I saw the … utter belief in the Pechaqueh at what they are doing. They call us frog-lickers and god-killers and if we don’t win then we’ll all be offered to the holy Setatmeh when they finally bring us into the glory of the song.’

‘Glory of the song?’ Kux demanded, her voice a bark of outrage.

‘Holy Setatmeh? Surely you mean Drowned,’ Lutek said at the same time and Tayan felt heat crawl up his throat to stain his cheeks. ‘Be careful, shaman: you of all people know the magic in words. And as for us,’ she added, folding her arms across her chest, ‘we asked Malel herself for guidance and she answered. Is she less powerful than this song you’re suddenly so fond of?’

Tayan didn’t – couldn’t – answer her. He turned away and walked into the trees. He needed time to think, but it was so hard, in the silence. Without the song.

‘Tayan? Tay?’