‘What do you mean? You’re lying. Dun Carreg is moons from here.’
‘She’s not in Dun Carreg, is she? She’s the other side of those mountains, going north with Nathair and Rhin.’
‘And Conall’s with them?’ Halion spoke now, looking much like Corban felt.
‘Why?’ Corban said. ‘Why would Cywen be Nathair and Rhin’s prisoner? She’s of no consequence to them.’
‘I don’t know.’ Rafe shrugged.
Corban grabbed Rafe and spun him round, slammed his back against a tent pole. ‘You’re lying.’
‘I’m not,’ Rafe said, his smirk gone, fear in his eyes. ‘Why would I lie?’
‘As a last spite from you, when you can do nothing else.’
‘I swear, she’s alive, and Conall. Ask anyone.’
‘I will,’ Edana said. ‘And if you are lying I shall let Corban feed you to Storm.’
Corban walked through the camp, avoiding the celebrations.
Coralen had questioned a handful of prisoners: a mixture of people, some warriors, others tradesmen, smiths, tanners, a few women. All had given similar information, that a girl, a captive, had travelled from Ardan with Rhin’s warband. Each description sounded like Cywen, dark haired, fiery, though none had known her name. It was easier still with Conall – all had known his name, told of how he had bested Morcant.
Corban felt sick. Cywen was alive, and he had left her, run away. Abandoned her. How must she have felt. Tears stung his eyes. Then he smiled. Cywen’s alive.
He reached their part of the camp, saw some of his friends around the fire – Brina with Craf perched on her knee, Camlin and Ventos sharing a skin. Then he spotted who he was looking for. His mam, sat with Gar. They were talking quietly, smiling. He stood in the shadows and watched them, not wanting to break this moment. Then his mam looked up and saw him. Her smile withered as he stepped out of the darkness and she saw his expression.
‘What’s wrong?’ she asked him.
‘It cannot be. Tell me again.’
‘Mam, I’ve told you twice already.’
‘My poor Cywen – alone through all of this.’ She started to sob, trying not to. Gar squeezed her shoulder and she turned and pummelled his chest. ‘You said you’d go back, that you’d go back and get her!’
Gar let her. ‘But she was dead,’ he said.
‘I’m going to go and find her,’ Corban said. ‘Bring her back.’
‘Ban, you can’t,’ Gar said.
‘Yes, he can,’ Gwenith said, standing and putting her arm around Corban’s shoulder. ‘We can. I’m going with him.’
Gar sighed, holding back his objections as he looked from one to the other.
‘I’ll go and pack,’ he said.
Corban stepped into Edana’s tent. Rafe was gone now; only Marrock, Vonn and Halion remained with Edana.
‘Quite a night,’ Edana said to him with a sorrowful smile.
‘Yes. I have come to ask you something.’
Edana studied him. ‘You mean to go after her.’
‘I wish to.’ Corban nodded. ‘But I have sworn an oath to protect you. I did not take that oath lightly . . .’
‘I know you didn’t,’ Edana said, ‘and you have already fulfilled it a hundred times over. But Cywen is alive, and your heart breaks for her. I can see it in your eyes.’
She stepped around the table and took his hand. ‘Go. I give you permission.’
‘But the battle, the war . . .’
‘Is almost won,’ Edana said. ‘You saw today – did more than see, you played a great part. The spirit of Rhin’s warband is broken, nearly half of their warriors dead. Tomorrow we will end this.’
‘You don’t mind?’
‘No, I don’t mind. I will worry for you, but you must go. Cywen is part of us, is she not? She is like family to me. As are you. Go and get her, Corban. And hurry back.’
‘Thank you,’ he said, his voice cracking.
‘I wish I could come with you, that we all could go. I know we were running for our lives, but there was something about our journey, living day to day. Here it is just politicking: I have to be so careful of every word I say.’ She sighed. ‘Now, let’s see what I can do to help you.’
It was still dark as Corban climbed into a saddle. He should have been tired, exhausted, but an energy coursed through him, giving him strength. His mam and Gar sat on horses beside him, and Coralen just in front.
Edana had taken Corban to Rath, and he had provided horses and provisions, and also Coralen as a guide to lead them north. She had not complained about the task, though she had been quiet, none of her sharp comments forthcoming. She looked thoughtful. Perhaps it is the possibility of seeing Conall.
‘Ready?’ she asked them.
‘Corban nodded.
‘Best get on, then.’
They set off at a slow walk as the edge of dawn was turning the land a uniform grey.
‘Wait,’ a voice called and Corban turned to see Edana appear, figures behind her. Some led horses. Dath and Farrell, Brina riding at their head. A squawk drifted down from above.