"Why are you so certain this is the end?" asked Alyssa.

Zannah swept her hand across the horizon from left to right. All was desolation, dust and ruin. Nothing lived. Nothing grew. Nothing breathed. There was only cold, unfeeling stone and a bloody past, littered with corpses.

"I will not be leaving this place. There is no tomorrow for me, but perhaps some of the others will escape." Zannah sounded certain of her fate, yet Alyssa smiled at her friend.

"Have faith," said Alyssa.

"After all you've seen, how can you still believe?"

"After everything you've seen, how can you not?"

Alyssa knew her words puzzled Zannah, but she couldn't help it. She didn't know what would happen tomorrow. She didn't know who would live and who would be taken by the Forsaken, but her instincts told her this was not the end. Not the end of her people. They would go from this place in some way. They were filled with purpose like never before and nothing would stop them.

Tammy sat down beside Balfruss at the edge of the courtyard, watching as the dancers paused to take a much needed break. He looked a little better than yesterday, not quite as frail, but still seemed remarkably pale and weak.

"I'm not dying," he said without looking around.

"Can't you use your magic to heal yourself?"

"I'm just exhausted. Once I rest up I'll be fine." Despite not knowing him for very long Tammy heard the lie. He'd avoided the question about his magic, which probably meant he'd tried to use it and it hadn't worked, perhaps because he was too weak.

"Did you stop him?"

Balfruss's smile was grim. "Yes. Kaine is dead."

"You don't seem very happy about it?" she pointed out.

"There was something peculiar about the fight. It was almost too easy."

Tammy raised an eyebrow and gestured at him, huddled in a blanket, exhausted and haggard. "This was easy?"

Balfruss shrugged. "Even after a fight like that, I shouldn't be this drained. I'm trying to recover my strength, but it's taking longer than usual. It's like pouring water into a bucket with a hole in the bottom. I think it's this city. When I drew power from the Source, a piece of the darkness seeped inside."

After what she'd experienced, Tammy could believe that. Her self-control wasn't back to normal yet and every now and then she experienced impulses that she fought to repress. Her fingers would clench into fists, or a growl would start somewhere deep in her throat, and she had to take a few seconds to calm down.

"The sooner we leave this place, the better."

"I agree," said Balfruss. "I think my strength will return once we put this city behind us. I'm certain of it."

"Now all we have to do is survive the night. It's almost too easy."

Balfruss grinned. "I'll say a prayer to Elwei for you."

"I don't believe in the gods, but given what we're facing, I don't see that it could hurt."

"You really do remind me of my friend Vann."

"I'm honoured," said Tammy, rolling her eyes.

The smile drained from Balfruss's face and he became unusually still. He barely seemed to breathe and his dark eyes bored into hers. "He's the most grounded and capable man I know. He's strong, determined, stubborn as a mule, and a canny fighter. He's also one of a handful of people that I trust with my life." A second later Tammy realised he wasn't just talking about Vann.

"Oh," was all she could think to say.

"Can I offer you some advice?" he asked, and she gestured for him to continue. "I think you should enjoy the moment. I would be dancing with the others, but I don't have the strength. Tonight, the Forsaken will come, but until then you should live."

It was good advice. Everyone else was treating it as if it were their last day and so far all she'd done was train others to fight. A number of ideas ran through her head, together with several strong urges, but there was only one she wanted to pursue.

Leaving Balfruss to watch the dancers she went inside and down the stairs to her room. With stiff fingers she set her weapons aside, unbuckled her armour and took off her padded shirt. Her hands shook but she willed them to stop and the tremors quickly subsided. Even so, it didn't stop her stomach from churning.

In the lowest level she found several groups of people gathered around the wine racks. They were tapping barrels and filling up empty bottles with rich red wine. Someone offered her a couple of bottles, which she accepted and then went in search of company to share it with.

Tammy knocked on the door and went in immediately. She wasn't sure why she didn't wait for a response. Perhaps she'd been hoping to catch him doing something unpleasant, giving her an excuse to turn around.

Kovac was sat on the floor of his small cell-like room in a shirt and trousers. His ragged furs and armour were hung up on a peg on the wall. The rest of the room was tidy and organised, giving her more clues about his past before he became a mercenary. On the floor in front of him lay his sword, dagger and an oily rag. He held a second dagger in one hand and a whetstone in the other.

"Am I disturbing you?" It was a stupid thing to say but he just shook his head. "I thought you might fancy a drink. Everyone else is enjoying themselves."

"Sounds good to me," he said, putting his weapons aside and creating some space for her to sit down. They drank in silence for a while and Tammy tried to appreciate the taste of the wine. She knew it was expensive but wine had never been her thing. It was incredibly smooth though and her head was feeling a little fuzzy.

"I also came to apologise."

"What for?" asked Kovac.

"I tried to kill you and the others, right before we found the Forsaken under the church."

"You weren't yourself," he said. Tammy wasn't used to apologising and Kovac wasn't making it easy.

"I also made assumptions about you. I said that you came here for the treasure."

Kovac grunted. "You were right. I did." Tammy sensed there was a lot more to his story that he wasn't telling her.

"Before that, you helped at the temple and spoke up for me against Fenne."

"He gave his word, then tried to wriggle out of a deal. It wasn't right."

"I'm trying to thank you. Just shut up and take the compliment," she snapped.

Kovac blinked a couple of times before answering. "You're welcome."

They drank some more in silence until she'd calmed down. "I want to ask you for a favour."

"Name it," he said.

"If the Forsaken get over the wall, I want you to make sure the children aren't taken."

It was a difficult thing to ask of him, but it needed to be done. In this city they had all come to realise there were things worse than dying. She needed someone she could rely on. Someone who would follow through and not buckle under pressure at the critical moment. They drank some more in companionable silence while he thought it over.

"What makes you think I won't run at the first sign of trouble to save my own skin?"

"You put yourself at risk for me when you had no reason to. You're a man of honour."

Kovac's laugh was bitter. "Not any more."

"Well, you're a man of your word at least."

"I am that."

"Who were you, Kovac? Before becoming a mercenary?" It was probably something no mercenary liked to talk about, but she had to ask.

"You don't think I've always been one?"

"I'm a Guardian, remember? Most mercenaries are driven by greed or bloodlust, but neither drives you."

"Then what does?" he asked.

"I'm not sure. At first I thought you were seeking redemption. That you were punishing yourself for something in the past, but I don't think that's it either. I think something terrible happened and you were forced to start again. I think you're just trying to survive."

"I trusted the wrong man and lost everything." Kovac's eyes were angry and he took three long pulls of wine before the fury in them faded. "I can never go back. So, I came here seeking my fortune."

"I think you are a man of honour. You just hide it well from the others."

He didn't disagree this time and Tammy didn't push it.

"And you? Why did you come here?" he asked suddenly.

"To find out what was infecting the city and stop it spreading."

"I meant, why did you come to my room?"

Tammy put down her bottle of wine, which somehow was already half empty. Her hands were steady. "Because today could be our last. Because everyone is enjoying themselves. Because I don't want to be alone. And because I've seen how you've been looking at me since the temple."

Kovac tried to say something but she silenced him by pulling him close and kissing him. He tasted of wine and smelled of leather and oil. His beard tickled her face and she tried to remember the last time she'd kissed someone. The last time someone had held her. The last time she'd been at peace.

"No more words," she murmured, pulling up Kovac's shirt and lifting it over his head. Running a hand across his chest she found several old scars, but their stories and the world outside would have to wait.

CHAPTER 41.

As night fell on the last camp in Voechenka Zannah lit the torches above the gate and resumed her post on the wall, perhaps for the last time.

The air was cool but there was no frost on the streets and the sky was clear of any clouds. A full moon sat fat and heavy overhead. It offered some light but it was sickly yellow and made it look as if the whole city was dying.

The darkness stretched out in all directions as far as Zannah could see. Beyond their camp there wasn't another living soul who remained free. There was only the endless night and the Forsaken.

The wraith was back. She was leaning in an empty window of a nearby building and seemed unable to stop smiling. She looked delighted by the forthcoming battle and Zannah actually saw her rub her hands in glee at one point. In mockery of the Blessed Mother she put her left hand over her heart and blew a kiss at Zannah.

It had taken the Morrin months to realise who she was. It was the only answer that made sense. Hers was a blessing Zannah had neither pursued nor wanted. Only a fool would think being regarded as her champion was a good thing. She was an immortal black-hearted bitch who cared for no one.

Behind Zannah in the courtyard Tammy and the mercenaries were handing out weapons to everyone who could fight. There were some who were too old or too scared. They would be secured on the lowest level of the building with the children.

Alyssa had ordered a temporary hospital to be set up on the ground floor, with every room being converted to care for the wounded. Those held in reserve to fight would wait in the courtyard and drag the injured away to be cared for by the priests.

Tammy was attempting to organise people into squads but it was slow work. Each team would be led by at least one mercenary in an attempt to give them some order amid the chaos that would follow. The air was thick with tension, and not just because of the forthcoming battle. Some of the defenders had been humiliated, debased and treated as slaves by mercenaries in other camps. Now they were being asked to follow their orders. It made for an uneasy atmosphere.

Alyssa had not made a speech about why they had to forget about past crimes and fight together, because everyone already knew. Tonight they would fight as one, united as the living against the undead. If anyone survived and saw the dawn, then there would be time to settle old grudges.

All along the wall more torches were being lit and stacks of wine bottles lined up. They had been distilling wine since they'd first moved into the winery. It had provided them with fuel and light and now it would be a weapon against the Forsaken. Fire cleansed and purified and none could escape its wrath.

Alyssa made a circuit around the wall, checking that everything was in place, before coming to stand beside Zannah. Together they looked into the dark for a while in silence.

"I need to tell you something," said Alyssa. "It's about Roake." Zannah said nothing and waited. "He's asked for something in return for helping us."

"He could not even climb the rope. How can he help us fight?"

"That's not why he's here. He's neither one of us nor one of them. Alive or dead."

Zannah could hear the sympathy in her voice but she ignored it. She wanted to continue feeling nothing for Roake. "Then how can he help us?"

"When the time is right, he'll tell you."

Zannah pondered this for a while. Whatever Roake was offering was not something she would like.

"And what is his price?" she asked.

Alyssa placed her right hand over her heart, which she only did when thinking of praying to the Blessed Mother. "He believes taking his own life is a grave sin. He said it has to be you."

Zannah bared her teeth but said nothing. While they fought for their lives against the Forsaken he would cower in a dark corner and wait for it to be over. Then, if anyone survived he would dole out whatever nugget of information he had. It might prove useful to them, but his help would be meaningless if everyone was taken and changed. If that happened the Forsaken would kill him, as he could not become one of them. Whatever the outcome he would get his wish.

"He is a maggot," said Zannah, suddenly feeling something more than guilt for what had happened to Roake. Her hatred of him was starting to burn away any blame she carried for his current situation. "I will make him tell me what he knows and then kill him now."

"Not yet. Besides, I think there will be plenty of death without adding one more body." Alyssa's eyes passed over those in the courtyard and she quietly whispered a prayer. Only now was she coming to terms with what Zannah had known for some time. Very few, if any of her people, would survive the night. Zannah admired Alyssa for many things, especially maintaining her faith in the face of the horrors they'd experienced, but now she had realised the truth.

Balfruss slowly made his way across the courtyard and up the stairs. Zannah noticed he still had heavy shadows under his eyes, but his face was not quite as drawn and pale. He moved like a much older man, but that wouldn't matter as long as his skill remained.

"Your magic?" asked Alyssa, and Balfruss shook his head.

"As long as I don't try to do much with it, I'm fine," he said with a bitter smile. "Once I'm free of this place I'm confident it will return to normal. For now I'll just have to let this speak for me," he said, tapping the axe on his belt. Zannah noticed he hadn't said when he left this place, only that he would be free of it.

"We could use your help leading a squad," said Alyssa.

"It's the least I can do," he answered. "I have one last errand and then I'll be ready."