Waylander turned to fetch his blankets – and froze. Standing not ten feet away from him, facing a fire, was Danyal. The firelight danced in her red-gold hair, and she was wearing a new dress tunic of wool embroidered and edged with gold thread. Waylander swallowed hard and took a deep breath. Then she lifted a hand to her hair and turned, seeing him for the first time. Her smile was genuine and he hated her for it.

'So you notice me at last,' she said, moving towards him.

'I thought you were staying in Skarta with the children?'

'I left them with the Source priests. I am tired of war, Waylander. I want to go somewhere where I can sleep at night without fearing tomorrow.'

'There is no such place,' he said bitterly. 'Come, walk with me.'

'I am preparing some food.'

'Later,' he said, walking away towards the pass. She followed him to a grassy knoll where they sat on jutting boulders. 'Do you know who is leading this caravan?'

'Yes,' she answered. 'A man called Durmast.'

'He is a killer.'

'So are you.'

'You don't understand. You are in more danger here than back in Skultik.'

'But you are here.'

'What has that to do with it? Durmast and I understand one another. I need him to help me find the Armour; he knows the Nadir and I might not get through without him.'

'Will you allow him to harm us?'

'Allow , woman? What on earth do you think I could do to stop him? He has twenty men. Damn you, Danyal, why are you dogging my footsteps?'

'How dare you?' she stormed. 'I didn't know you were travelling with us. Your conceit is colossal.'

"That's not what I meant,' he said defensively. 'It just seems that whenever I turn round you are there.'

'How depressing for you!'

'For pity's sake, woman – can you not hold back from jumping down my throat? I do not want to fight with you.'

'In that case, let me say that you have a regrettable line in small talk.'

For a while they sat in silence, watching the moon traverse the Delnoch Pass.

'I am not going to live very long, Danyal,' he said at last. 'Maybe three weeks, maybe less. I would very much like to end my life successfully …'

'Just the sort of stupid remark I would expect from a man! Who is going to care if you find that Armour of yours? It is not magic, it is just metal. And not even precious metal.'

'I will care.'

'Why?'

'What sort of question is that?'

'Stalling for time, Waylander?'

'No, I meant it. You think men stupid when they lust after glory? So do I. But this is not about glory – it concerns honour. I have lived in shame for many years and I fell to a level I would not have believed possible. I killed a good man … ended his life for money. I cannot undo that act. But I can atone. I do believe in Gods who care about humans. I do not seek forgiveness from some higher authority. I want to forgive myself. I want to find the Armour for Egel and the Drenai and fulfil a promise I made Orien.'

'You do not have to die to do that,' she said softly, placing her hand gently on his.

'No, I don't – and would prefer to live. But I am a hunted man. Cadoras hunts me. The Brotherhood seek me. And Durmast will sell me when the time is right.'

'Then why stay here like a tethered goat? Strike out on your own.'

'No. I need Durmast for the first part of my journey. I have an advantage! I know my enemies and I have no one to rely on.'

'That makes no sense.'

'Only because you are a woman and cannot understand the simplicity of the words. I am alone, so there is no one to let me down. When I run – if I run – I carry no baggage. I am self-sufficient and very, very deadly.'

'Which brings us to our first point,' said Danyal. 'You are trying to tell me that I am baggage to weigh you down.'

'Yes, Durmast must not realise that we know one another, else he will use you against me.'

'It is too late for that,' said Danyal, looking away. 'I wondered why he changed his mind about allowing me to ride with the wagons when I had no money. But I thought it was my body he desired.'

'Explain,' said Waylander wearily.

'A woman I met directed me to Durmast, but he told me that with no money I was useless to him. Then he asked where I was from, as he had not seen me before in Skarta, and I told him that I came in with you. Then he changed and asked me all about you, after which he said I could come.'

'You are leaving something out.'

'Yes. I told him I loved you.'

'Why? Why would you do that?'

'Because it's true!' she snapped.

'And he asked you whether I felt the same?'

'Yes. I told him no.'

'But he did not believe you.'

'How do you know?'

'Because you are here.' Waylander lapsed into silence, remembering Hewla's words about the redheaded woman and Orien's enigmatic warning concerning companions. What was it the old man had said?

That success or failure would depend on Waylander's companions. Or rather on whom he chose to accompany him.

'What are you thinking?' she asked, seeing him smile, and the tension fade from his face.

'I was thinking that I am glad you are here. It is very selfish of me. I will die, Danyal. I am a realist and the odds are too great. But knowing you will be with me, for a few days at least, gives me pleasure.'

'Even though Durmast will use me against you?'

'Even so.'

'Do you have a small copper coin?' she asked.

He fished in his money-sack, producing a tiny coin carrying the head of Niallad which he handed to her.

'What do you want it for?'

'You once said you never took a woman you had not paid for. Now you have paid.'

Leaning over, she kissed him softly and his arms moved round her waist, pulling her in to him.

Hidden in the trees, Durmast watched the lovers move to the grass beside the boulders. The big man shook his head and smiled.

The dawn broke bright and clear, but dark clouds loomed in the north and Durmast cursed loudly. 'Rain,' he spat. 'That's all we damned well need!' The first of the wagons was led to the crest of the Pass. Pulled by six oxen, it was some twenty feet long and heavily laden with boxes and crates. The driver licked his lips, his eyes narrowing as he gauged the dangers of the trail. Then he cracked his whip over the head of the lead oxen and the wagon lurched forward. Waylander walked behind, with Durmast and seven of his men. The first two hundred yards were steep, though relatively simple to travel for the path was wide and firm. But then it narrowed and dipped to the right. The driver hauled back on the reins and jammed the wheel-brake tight against the rim, but the wagon slid slowly sideways towards the yawning drop on the left.

'Ropes!' bellowed Durmast and the men ran forward to hook inch-thick hemp ropes about the axles. The wagon stopped its slide. Waylander, Durmast and the others took up the two ropes and gathered in the slack.

'Now!' called Durmast and the wagoner gently released the brake. The wagon inched forward, slithering to a stop some twenty paces on. The trail was angled here, and the weight of the wagon caused it to pull towards the edge. But the men on the ropes were strong, and well-used to the perils of the Delnoch Pass.

For over an hour they toiled, until at last the wagon came to level ground.

Far behind them a second wagon was making the descent, with seven more of Durmast's men hauling on ropes. The giant sat back and grinned as he watched them strain.

'They earn their money when they work with me,' he said.

Waylander nodded, too weary to speak. 'You've gone soft, Waylander. A little gentle exercise and you're sweating like a pig in heat!'

'Pulling wagons is not my usual occupation,' said Waylander.

'Did you sleep well?' asked Durmast.