thought the strange wanderer had been missing something for a long while now, some inner fire that Doranei had grown used to seeing. The Brotherhood knew Morghien to be irascible and complaining, but he shared the same dark humour. Coran had told him the man had been changed by the sundering he’d performed to free King Emin of Death’s influence. But now, Doranei thought, something of Morghien’s spark had been restored - though he had raged and sworn with a playwright’s invention two days previously, the day Morghien had discovered Isak alive — or at least, not dead - some part of his former spirit and energy had returned. The man of many spirits might have his reservations, but before, he’d lacked the strength even to argue properly.
It gives me a little hope, that the people we once were aren’t gone forever, Doranei thought. Let’s hope it works the same for the king. I doubt much of the news he’s received recently has been good.
They walked through the lines of tents, a thousand faces looking up from their supper and wondering at the cloaked and hooded strangers in their midst. In addition to his long, tattered cloak, Isak wore a faded shawl the witch had given him to shade his eyes from the afternoon sun. It hid his face, but even with his awkward stoop Isak was large, even for a white-eye. Doranei heard whispers of ‘Raylin’ more than once as they made their way across newly dug ditches and defensive lines of stakes.
Legana provoked as much interest as Isak, but while the white-eye shirked from the whispers, she rose to the occasion. Doranei had wondered how she would manage to keep up, with her inability to face the sun and her ungainly walk, but during the day she’d effectively blindfolded herself, and still matched the brisk pace he set without complaint.
With the sunset, Legana had uncovered her head and eyes and, walking with the aid of her gnarled oak staff, she looked like a figure of legend come to join the battle. The copper seams of her dark hair shone bright, caught by the waning light, and her emerald eyes were never brighter.
‘Doranei,’ called a voice from the small bridge that crossed a deepset stream and Morghien stepped forward, Veil beside him.
Doranei hurried over to embrace his Brother.
‘How goes it?’ he asked.
Veil’s face darkened. ‘Not good. From what we hear, Aroth was destroyed entirely. Lord Styrax put the whole fucking city to the sword, and since then the Menin have done the same to every town they’ve come upon. They’re not interested in prisoners; they’re even chasing down refugees fleeing the fighting. He’s sent a message, as if he hadn’t already made the point: he’ll kill everyone who crosses his path unless the king surrenders - or faces him in battle.’
‘Best our mages can tell, Styrax has sent one force roving west, laying waste to every town and village they can find,’ Morghien added, his face reflecting Veil’s anger. ‘The other, larger, army is coming this way, looking for a fast run to Narkang. No doubt his scryers have found us by now; it’s a matter of weeks before they reach us.’
‘I take it you’re still not happy about facing them?’
Morghien’s voice dropped to an urgent whisper. ‘I ain’t the only one — turns out bloody Larat himself warned the king not to face him in battle. Suggested he follow Aryn Bwr’s tactic, sapping the enemy’s strength in his retreat, using ambushes, rearguard actions, the lot.’
‘The last king lost that war,’ Doranei pointed out, ‘and I for one don’t intend to follow him all the way to the Dark Place. Besides, his intent’s clear enough even without the messenger. If we don’t face him somewhere, he’ll put the entire kingdom to the sword. It’s as much a warning to the Farlan as showing the king the price of retreat.’
He watched as Legana approached, Isak behind her. The white-eye walked with his hand on Mihn’s shoulder, as he had for much of the journey. Hulf trotted alongside, warily watching the soldiers.
‘You think this is the answer?’ Morghien said quietly. ‘The mad mystic converted you while I was away?’
‘Enough of that,’ Doranei warned. ‘You start that again and Mihn’s going to make good his threats. It ain’t for us to decide these things, not even you. We leave that for the king.’
Morghien made a disgusted sound as Legana had reached them. She stopped and looked at Veil for a moment. Her