‘That’s the only bridge for miles,’ Karr informed them. He didn’t have to spell out the potential for ambush.

Caldason pointed at the map. ‘You’re sure they’ll go that way?’

‘They vary the route every time, but we have good intelligence that it’s going to be along here.’

‘When?’

‘That’s the thing. This evening. In about four hours.’

‘Gods, Karr,’ Serrah exclaimed, ‘that’s cutting it a bit fine, isn’t it?’

‘Yes. But the tip-off just reached us. It’s tonight or in another three months, and next time we might not know the route.’

‘What sort of numbers are we talking about?’ Caldason said. ‘How’s it protected?’

‘One or two wagons for the load. Escort party of between twelve and twenty, going on past form. Certain to be paladins among them.’

‘They outnumber us.’

‘I’m sure you can be inventive on that score. And maybe we can bleed their number with a few diversions.’

‘Hmmm,’ Serrah mused. ‘They’re going to be well glamoured, aren’t they?’

‘Chances are they’ll have standard magical ordnance. But so will you. Only you won’t have a trained sorcerer on hand to work it properly. This is a dangerous mission, I won’t pretend it isn’t. Which is why I have to be sure your band’s up to scratch.’

‘It is,’ Caldason assured him. ‘We can deal with this.’

‘I wouldn’t be quite so hasty,’ Serrah said. ‘This is all last minute, we’re going to be outnumbered, the band’s untested, and -’

‘Oh, come on. You know we can do it.’

‘

Planning

, Reeth. It’s the key to any successful operation. How much preparation can we do in four hours? What’s our strategy if things go wrong?’

‘It looks pretty straightforward to me. It’s perfect terrain for waylaying a convoy and we’ll have the element of surprise.’

‘Rushing in blindly’s a lot worse than not doing it at all, believe me. Remember, I’ve had experience running units like this. The least we should do is give the rest of the band the choice of coming along or not.’

‘This isn’t a temple picnic, Serrah. We’re supposed to be a disciplined unit. We can’t give people the option of backing out. You’re worrying about the band too much; they’ll be all right.’

‘

You’ll

be all right, you mean.’

‘Pardon?’

‘You’ve got this invulnerability thing, haven’t you? Well, the rest of us don’t have that luxury. You might keep that in mind when the lives of our band are on the line and you feel like behaving recklessly.’

‘I’d trade what I’ve got with you any time,’ Caldason replied icily. ‘And I’m not invulnerable. I can still be killed, or maimed if the wound’s bad enough.’

‘So you say. I’m just thinking about the safety of the group.’

‘Oh yes, that’s something you know all about, isn’t it?’

She glared at him. ‘What?’

‘They say you got a rich kid killed over in Merakasa. One of your band, wasn’t he?’

‘They say you’re a murderer of innocent women and children.’

‘That’s horse shit.’

‘Right.’

Karr watched them as though they were a game of pass the ball.

‘I’m not careless with lives,’ Caldason rumbled.

‘And

I

am?’ Serrah returned.

‘I didn’t say that.’

‘

When

are you respectful of other people’s lives? When you’re having one of your uncontrolled berserks, maybe?’

‘That’s not fair. I have no -’

‘Excuse me,’

Karr grated. ‘Can I have your attention, please? Thank you. If you two can’t work together I’ll have to disband your unit. Which would be a shame because we see this mission as a rehearsal for more ambitious assignments. And not only will it increase our funds, it’ll get you that bit nearer to the Clepsydra, Reeth. So why don’t you both turn your little creative tensions towards the job at hand?’ He beamed at them. ‘What do you say?’

They looked at each other. Serrah shrugged.

‘Fine,’ they chorused.

It was dusk by the time they got to the site and in position. That left about a quarter of an hour before the convoy arrived.

The point they chose was on a tight lane. One side was lined with outbuildings and abandoned properties. The other fronted the boundary of a wood, where a pair of cottages stood in a small roadside clearing.

Caldason and Serrah, on horseback, had hidden themselves on the wooded side. The bridge was to their right, but couldn’t be seen. What they could see was a lookout, stationed at a bend in the road, who had a clear view of the approach.

To their left was the city, sparkling with its usual dizzy magic. Light bursts, lancing beams, glamours born and dying like a million swarming fireflies. The distant urban roar.

Out here on Valdarr’s hinterland there was little in the way of magical discharge. Hardly anybody was about. A mild breeze carried the scent of honeysuckle, and grass after a recent shower. It was quiet, except for the sound of axes biting timber.

The sky was turning the colour of lemons and blood as the sun sank. Stars glinted against spreading purple velvet.

Serrah took a deep breath and let it out slowly, as though savouring a fine tobacco. The distraction of the mission seemed to have lightened her earlier testy mood.

‘At least the air’s better in these parts,’ Caldason remarked.

‘It’s not something I’m usually aware of.’ She added by way of explanation, ‘I’m a city girl.’

It was the first time he’d known her volunteer any kind of personal detail. ‘I prefer the reality of the countryside,’ he confided.

‘That’s an odd choice of word;

reality

.’

‘It’s the Qalochian way of seeing the world. To us, cities seem an unnatural way to live. Unreal.’

‘You’ve never got used to them? Even after all your…’

‘Years? No, it gets worse. More people buzzing pointlessly about more buildings. More self-deluding magic. None of it’s restful to the spirit.’

She glanced in the direction of the lookout. ‘Change happens. You can’t fight it.’

‘Live as long as I have and you realise that, believe me. But some things never change. People don’t, not really. They wallow in ignorance and always have an appetite for cruelty.’

‘I’d like to think there was some kindness and wisdom, too.’

‘So would I.’ His tone didn’t allow for any.

For a moment it looked like Serrah was going to take issue. Instead she steered him back to the mission. ‘It can’t be much longer now,’ she said, checking with the lookout again.

Two of their band appeared on low rooftops opposite. They lugged coils of rope.

There was a sudden absence of noise as the axes fell silent.

‘At least they got that done in time,’ Serrah muttered.

Late birdsong swelled to fill the void.

She dug into her saddlebag and brought out a cylindrical glamour. It was barely longer than the fist she clutched it in.

‘I don’t know why you need a wailer,’ Caldason grumbled. ‘A blast from a horn should serve.’

‘Do you

have

a horn?’ she came back acerbically. ‘Could you play one if you did?’

‘You don’t play it, you blow it.’

‘I’d rather not put that much reliance on your lungs. This is surer. Nobody’s going to miss hearing it.’

He had a finger to his lips. ‘Listen.’

The sound of a drawn out, unbirdlike whistle reached them. They turned to the lookout. He was waving frantically.

‘They’re on their way.’ Serrah wrapped her horse’s reins around one hand. She held the glamour ready in the other.

The men on the roofs ducked out of sight.

Caldason drew his broadsword. ‘Everybody should be in place by now. Sit tight.’

Several minutes dragged by. Then the lookout signalled again before concealing himself.

The clip-clop of hooves could be heard, and wagon wheels rattling on the bridge’s planks. Then the head of the convoy appeared: two mounted paladins, followed by a quartet of militia. An enclosed wagon came next, a four-hander, with driver and bowman guard. Another pair of militia rode behind, ahead of the second wagon. The caravan rounded off as it began, with the four militia-two paladin combination.