Kadoshim? The G.o.d-War that Orgull spoke of. Is there no escaping it? Will it suck us all into its jaws.

'So what do we do?' Krelis said. 'How do we get out of here?'

'We bide our time,' Peritus said. 'Hope for an opportunity, and if one presents itself, we seize it.'

If there is one.

The conversation went back and forth amongst them, daylight through a grate high in the wall slanting and fading to darkness. They spoke of Calidus, Ektor telling them of the giant scrolls and the hints they gave about the G.o.d-War, about Kadoshim and Ben-Elim, prophecies of fabled Dra.s.sil and the Seven Treasures.

'Dra.s.sil. That is why they are here,' Fidele said. 'That is why they are tearing down trees and building roads through this forest. They are searching for it.'

Maquin heard something, a grunt, maybe. Then the key in the corridor's door. It creaked open, footsteps, then Alben's face was looking into their cells. He held the ring of keys in one hand, an array of swords under his other arm.

'I found these in the guardroom,' he said with a nod of his head. 'Thought you might be needing them.'

He was greeted with a chorus of thanks.

'We must be quick,' Alben said, trying keys in Peritus' door, the first not fitting, nor the second. The third did, the door opening with a click. The ageing battlechief stepped out and slid his sword into his scabbard.

'Why are you doing this?' Ektor asked from his cell. 'With an apology we would most likely be forgiven in the morning. Now we will be fugitives.'

'If that is so then why are gallows being built in the courtyard?'

There was a stunned silence at that.

'That cannot be,' Ektor breathed.

'You're welcome to stay in here and see,' Alben said, 'but I'd advise you to come with us.' With another click Ektor's door swung open.

'I do not know what you did to fall so far from favour,' Alben continued as he moved to Maquin's cell, 'but something is happening here.' Alben tried keys in Maquin's lock. 'It is the middle of the night and warriors are mobilizing, thousands of them. Nathair's warband are already beginning to march across the river.'

'I named Calidus as being Kadoshim,' Fidele said.

Maquin expected a shocked response from Alben.

The silver-haired healer paused with the keys and looked at Fidele. 'Did you?'

'I did. Please, Alben, before you call me mad, listen to-'

'I believe you,' Alben said.

'What? How?' Fidele stuttered.

'I am a friend to Meical,' he said. 'I have been waiting for this day for many years. The sides have formed, the line is drawn. The time to act is here.'

There was a thud behind him Peritus falling to the floor. Alben spun around, the sword aimed for his head stabbing him between the shoulder and chest, blood erupting. He slid to the ground, Ektor tugging the blade free, standing over Alben, blood-spattered and breathing heavily.

'What are you doing?' Fidele screamed. Maquin lunged a hand through the bars, his fingers snaring around Ektor's wrist, and heaving him into the cell bars. Ektor's face crunched against iron, blood spurting from his nose, the sword dropping with a clang from his fingers. Maquin slipped his other arm through the gap, trying to get a grip around Ektor's throat, but Ektor squirmed and lunged, panic fuelling him, and he tugged himself free of Maquin's grip, staggering back, choking.

Alben reached for the sword but Ektor kicked him and s.n.a.t.c.hed it up again, pointing the tip at Alben's chest. Alben crawled backwards, away from him. He was bleeding heavily, looked to be on the verge of pa.s.sing out.

'Don't worry, Alben, I'll not kill you now. Calidus will be very interested in having a conversation with you, I think.'

Ektor looked at them all now, each standing at the bars of their cells, a self-satisfied smile spreading over his face.

'I knew Meical had got to one of you,' he breathed, wiping blood from a cut above his eye. 'It has taken me years of patience to reach this moment. Calidus will reward me well for this.'

He stepped away from Alben and casually thrust his blade down into Peritus' body.

Krelis screamed, 'Ektor, you pale-faced little b.a.s.t.a.r.d . . .' and hurled himself at the bars, tears running down his cheeks. 'When I get out of here.' He grabbed a bar and heaved, twisted, veins popping in his neck. The bar creaked in its setting, started to bend. Ektor chopped at Krelis' fingers, the big man throwing himself backwards just in time.

'Shut up, you oaf,' Ektor snarled.

'Ektor, what have you done?' Fidele said.

'Chosen wisely,' Ektor sniffed, curling a lip at her. 'You could have joined me. You still could.'

She spat at him through the bars.

'You have sold your soul to the devil,' Alben said from the floor.

'Perhaps,' Ektor shrugged. 'That I can live with, but I think I have chosen the winning side.'

'Why?' Krelis asked, calmer now, anguish leaking from his voice.

'You wouldn't understand,' Ektor said, 'you who have everything.'

'So did you,' Krelis growled. 'You want for nothing.'

Ektor shook his head. 'I. Had. Nothing,' he hissed bitterly. 'No respect, no loyalty, no future, outside of my scrolls. I was laughed at, mocked with whispers as I walked by. Father did not respect intellect, only brawn. Well, I showed him.'

'What?'

'How did you think he ended up on Veradis' sword, you idiot. Someone pushed him.' He smiled. 'It was not the only favour I have gifted to Calidus. How did you think the Vin Thalun scaled Ripa's cliffs?'

'I will kill you for this, I swear it,' Krelis said, a coldness in his voice more daunting than his rage.

'Unlikely,' Ektor shrugged, picking up the bunch of keys from the floor. 'Time to call some guards, I think.'

Footsteps sounded behind him, echoing down the corridor, the iron crack of eagle-guard boots on stone.

'Perhaps naming does call,' Ektor smiled.

Maquin peered down the corridor, saw a lone warrior in the black cuira.s.s of an eagle-guard striding towards them. He pa.s.sed under torchlight and Maquin saw who it was.

Veradis.

Nathair's first-sword, Maquin thought, bowing his head. All hope left him.

'Good timing, brother,' Ektor called out, 'though to be honest I could have done with your help a little earlier.'

Veradis paused when he saw Peritus' body, glanced between the fallen warrior and the sword in Ektor's hand, then stepped over Peritus and punched Ektor in the face.

Ektor staggered back, dropping sword and keys. Veradis followed and punched him again, flush on the chin. Ektor's eyes rolled up into his head and he collapsed, unconscious.

Veradis hurried to Peritus, crouched beside him, feeling for a pulse. He stood, shaking his head.

'What has happened here?' Veradis said. His voice was changed, the misery Maquin had heard in it the last time they spoke magnified a thousandfold.

What has happened to him?

'Ektor is an agent of Calidus, was thwarting Alben's attempt to rescue us,' Fidele said.

Veradis looked at them all. His eyes were red-rimmed, face pale as bone.

'Veradis, what has happened to you?' Maquin asked him.

'Fidele, you spoke the truth. Calidus is Kadoshim.' He hung his head, grief and shame dripping from his voice. 'And Nathair is . . .' He trailed off.

'The Black Sun,' Alben breathed from the ground.

Veradis sucked in a deep breath, looked down at Alben, at the keys on the ground. He bent and picked them up, put an arm under Alben and lifted him to his feet.

'I have been a fool, but no longer. You must leave here, now, under cover of dark,' Veradis said as he ripped a strip of material from Ektor's shirt, bound Alben's wound as well as he could and then set about unlocking their cells.

Maquin put his arms around Fidele and pulled her close, felt her sink into him and hug him fiercely.

Krelis pushed past him and retrieved his sword from where Alben had placed it. With no warning he swung it high and chopped down into Ektor, severing his head with one blow.

'No,' Veradis yelled. 'He was still our brother.'

'He killed our da,' Krelis said, nostrils flaring. 'He pushed him onto your sword. He confessed it.'

Veradis stared at Krelis, those words sinking in, then just nodded.

'Good, then,' he said.

'What do we do now?' Fidele asked.

'The warbands are making ready to leave,' Veradis said. 'Eagle-guard, Jehar, Vin Thalun. Many thousands of them. Dawn is still a long way off; it is chaos, your best chance is to escape in the confusion.'

'My men,' Krelis said. 'There are eight hundred men of Ripa up there. I would not abandon them.'

'They are ready and waiting for us,' Alben said. He was still pale, but Veradis' bandage had stemmed the flow of his blood and he seemed to have a little more strength about him.

'Can you ride?' Veradis asked him.

'I'll d.a.m.n well ride away from here,' he said.

'But where?' Fidele asked.

'We must get to Dra.s.sil,' Alben said, as if it were a simple task. 'It is where Meical is, and the Bright Star.'

'You will have to race Nathair and Calidus,' Veradis said.

'Then that is what we will do,' Alben replied.

'It's a plan.' Maquin shrugged. 'But first we need to get away from this tower. I lived here, once. I know the pathways, I can lead us out. We should travel with those others leaving, at first, leave them once we're away from this tower.'

He looked about at them, their faces stern and solemn.

'Agreed?' he asked.

'Agreed,' they replied.

They made ready. Maquin took Peritus' sword, unstrapping the dead warrior's belt and scabbard.

'You have a good man's blade there,' Krelis said.

'I will kill many of his enemies with it.'

Krelis smiled, a grim and fierce thing. 'May that knowledge go with him across the bridge of swords.'

They were about to leave when Maquin stopped.

'There are more prisoners in here,' he said, looking to the end of the corridor.

'Who?' asked Veradis.

'The giantess and her bairn.'

Veradis frowned a moment.

'Calidus wanted them locked away, and that is a good enough reason for me to set them free. Can you hide them, take them with you?'

'Hide them?' Krelis snorted. 'Not the easiest task.'

'We can try,' Alben smiled.

Veradis strode to the end of the corridor and unlocked their cell. Tentatively the two giants stepped out.

'Raina, Tain,' Fidele said, 'we are fugitives in this place, fleeing, in danger of losing our lives, but you are welcome to join us, if you wish.'

Raina looked from Fidele to the end of the corridor, the door open, torchlight inviting.

She is scared, thought Maquin. Has been a captive so long, the alternative is a thing of fear.

'It is a chance at freedom,' Alben said. 'You should seize it.'