Craf jumped onto his shoulder and pecked his head.
‘Get off,’ Corban cried, trying to wave the bird away. Then he finally heard what the crow was saying.
‘Wolven, wolven, wolven, wolven,’ the bird was repeating. ‘WOLVEN.’
The branch burst into flame and Heb dropped it. The fire flared bright, illuminating the bowl, showing figures locked in combat all about, but Corban’s eyes were drawn higher up, to the ring of pine trees that circled them. Suddenly eyes glowed green in the firelight. Lots of eyes.
Then the first wolven leaped at them.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
FIDELE
Fidele sipped from a cup of wine. She was in Lamar’s chambers at the top of his tower in Ripa. There was a wide window dominating the wall opposite, giving an extensive view of the bay, and her eyes kept being drawn to the sea, the hypnotic swell and roll of waves.
Others were sitting at the table with her: Lamar, Baron of Ripa, and his two sons, Krelis and Ektor. Two more disparate brothers she could not imagine: Krelis larger than life in every way, physically almost a giant, but with a great warmth to him. She imagined that he could love and hate with equal passion. And Ektor, quiet, introverted, pale skinned, almost withered looking, yet with a fierce intellect. Her thoughts drifted to Lamar’s third son, and first-sword to her own son, Nathair – the loyal Veradis. He is somewhere in between these two: physical, a warrior, like Krelis, but quiet, reserved, like Ektor. She was glad Veradis served her son. His loyalty was beyond doubt, something solid to cling to in these turbulent times.
Peritus sat beside her, fingers drumming on the table, and Orcus her loyal shadow stood behind her.
‘So what will we do about the Vin Thalun?’ Peritus said.
Always it comes back to this, no matter where the conversation leads.
‘I have told you. The men involved have been punished. There is little more to do now, except wait for Lykos to return. Then I shall speak with him.’
‘Like you spoke to him before?’
She felt a flare of anger but suppressed it. Peritus was struggling with so much change. Struggling with the death of Aquilus, with Vin Thalun wandering Tenebral, with Nathair’s new ways, especially his new techniques of fighting. The shield wall was a particular thorn in Peritus’ flesh. But change had come to them, whether they liked it or not. It was swim or be drowned. She looked hard at Peritus. He looks like a drowning man. Nevertheless, an insult was an insult. If Peritus had spoken to her so in private she would have overlooked it, for friendship’s sake. But not in front of Lamar and his children.
‘If you dare speak to me in such a way again I will have you sent back to the ranks,’ she said, coldly. Peritus looked away, blushing, mumbling an apology.
‘The Vin Thalun have learned a lesson from you,’ Lamar said in his deep voice. ‘Learned that you are not to be disobeyed.’
‘Or learned to hide their disobedience better,’ Ektor added.
It is time to change the subject. ‘How go your preparations for the coming war?’ Fidele asked.
‘Well enough,’ Lamar said. ‘My warband is ready, and I have gathered every able-bodied man to me.’
‘And your warband’s training? I am asking of Nathair’s new methods. He sent men to aid you in learning the shield wall.’
‘Aye, he did,’ Krelis said. ‘I’ll speak plainly, as I know no other way.’
‘Please do,’ Fidele said.
‘My men are learning it, but most of them don’t like it. The older ones especially. It goes against our ways, against generations of learning. It feels dishonourable.’
Fidele sighed. All over she had heard the same complaints. But it was Nathair’s order, and he was king. And, besides, by all accounts it was devastatingly effective.
‘It works,’ Fidele said. ‘Peritus saw the shield wall first-hand, led by Veradis. Tell them.’
Peritus sat up straighter. ‘Veradis led the van against Mandros in Carnutan. We were ambushed whilst fording a river. He and his warband formed the shield wall, knee-deep in the river, and carved a way through two thousand men, almost to Mandros himself.’
Fidele watched their faces as Peritus spoke. Lamar tensed, a tightening around his eyes and lips. Why? Is there some grievance between Lamar and Veradis? If so I have not heard of it. Krelis beamed with pride. Ektor showed nothing, whether through self-control or lack of interest, she could not tell.
‘And you followed with your warband, did you not?’ Fidele said.
‘I did.’
‘And how many men of yours died in the battle?’
‘Around five hundred.’
‘And from Veradis’ shield wall?’
‘Fewer than thirty.’
Lamar raised an eyebrow; Krelis blew out a long breath.