used this path,” Luralyn explained. “Traversing it was a rite of passage of sorts. Any Cova who successfully made it through to raid the caravans bringing ore from the mountains had many years’ boasting to look forward to.”
“Did Kehlbrand make it through?” Vaelin asked.
“Eight times. Twice as many as any other, as you would expect. He never could resist outshining the achievements of others.”
They traversed the marsh for a full day, eventually stopping at a large islet formed of the firmest ground so far. A solitary tree grew in the centre of the islet, spindly branches reaching up into the misted sky as if in forlorn hope of grasping sunlight.
“Kihlen, I think we can risk a fire,” Luralyn said to one of the pretty-faced twins. “If you would be so kind.”
“Won’t that reveal us to the scouts, mistress?” he asked, exchanging a worried glance with his sister.
“Oh, I doubt it, and don’t call me that.”
They assembled the bundled sticks from their packs to fashion the fire, there being no dry timber to be had. Kihlen flicked his hand towards the piled wood, sending an egg-sized ball of flame into it. The blaze took hold immediately, birthing a warmth that banished the dank chill of the marsh air.
They ate a meal of dried venison as night descended to shroud their surroundings in an impenetrable black curtain. With the meal complete Luralyn reached into her jerkin to extract a small scroll, which she handed to Vaelin. Unfurling it he found a rudimentary map tracing a westward course through marshy ground into a series of hills.
“Two miles on you’ll come to another tree,” Luralyn said. “It’s important you take the path on the right. Keep to the route marked until you see a mountain rising above the mist. Head straight towards it and you’ll reach the hills before nightfall.”
Eresa, the diminutive woman seated next to Luralyn, frowned at her in utter confusion that slowly turned to fear as the meaning of her words sank home. “You mean for us to leave you?” she asked in a small choked voice.
Luralyn didn’t look at her, eyes steady on the flames of the campfire and tone flat. “I do.”
Varij, the sturdy young man on her right, got slowly to his feet, staring at Luralyn in frank disbelief. “You can’t mean that . . .”
“I can. I must.” She took a hard breath and shifted her gaze from the fire, looking at each of her companions in turn. “You have followed me for years now. I commanded and you followed. Now I have another command for you. Go with this man.” She nodded at Vaelin. “Follow his word as you would follow mine. It is my wish that you journey to Keshin-Kho and do everything in your power to resist my brother’s assault, for it is surely coming.”
“And you?” Varij asked.
“My brother will not harm me. You know that. I guided you here to secure your escape. I never deluded myself that there would be any escape for me. This is my final command to you. Come the morning you will go with this man and leave me here.”
“We never followed you because you commanded it,” Eresa said.
“No, you followed me because you were slaves, beaten and starved and grateful for the slightest kindness. You thought I freed you. I didn’t. Just because you couldn’t see the chains I bound you with doesn’t mean they weren’t real. It was all farce, all lies. The Darkblade needed you for his army, needed you to counter the power of the priests. You were useful, that is all.”
“If that is all,” Varij said, “why are you letting us go?”
Vaelin saw her begin to speak, no doubt intending to voice some more caustic lies designed to force them to hate her, but the words died on her tongue. He could see as well as she could that there was nothing she could say that would sunder these people from her.
“When they come,” she said, “they will bring other Gifted with them, those who truly believe in my brother’s godhood.”
“Then we’ll fight them,” the twins said with unnerving uniformity of both voice and conviction.
“As we have fought before,” Eresa added. “We stood together against the Merchant King’s army, as you taught us to.”
“It’s hopeless!” Luralyn shouted, rising to her feet. “Can’t you see that? There will be too many, Stahlhast and Gifted. Too many to prevail against.” She turned to Vaelin, a desperate plea in her gaze. “Tell them,” she said. “You