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‘Agreed, Braphen. But we will give them the compound at the very least, and the stable for their animals. Sergeant Savarro, kindly hold your people back, will you? The situation here is not as simple as it seems. On second thoughts, have them gather here, this side of the gate, while the two of us renew our acquaintance.’
Braphen retreated to permit the troop to spill into the compound. Kagamandra saw that there had been no split from the ranks, despite the news of Calat Hustain’s return. Some of the tension in the air had reached the children, and most were bawling. The mules and horses baulked at the threshold and required some effort to bring them inside. Gesturing to Savarro, Kagamandra moved a dozen paces away from the jostling mob.
She and Ristand joined him, the huge man scowling and casting glares at Braphen.
‘Lord, forgive me,’ began Savarro. ‘You didn’t identify yourself earlier—’
‘No need for apologies, sergeant. I was in no position to enlighten you on the condition of this estate. Now, it seems that the argument I left behind has been settled, although not in the way I would have expected.’
‘We voted, milord, and went with the majority. Continue on. The Vitr’s bitter curse on Calat Hustain. We saw too many friends dead on that hillside.’
‘That castellan giving us grief,’ said Ristand, scowling. ‘What kind of welcome is that? It’s cold. The sun is going down. The night is going to be frigid. My feet ache and I’m hungry. I told you, Savarro, it’s a new age, an age where no one cares to help anyone else. Kurald Galain becomes a realm of refugees. That’s no way to live.’
‘Will you shut your mouth for once, Ristand?’
‘Why should I?’ He waved towards Kagamandra. ‘Even this estate’s lord tried talking us out of coming here. Why else tell us about Hustain’s return to the fort? Hunn Raal has the right of it – you fight for kin and the rest can go to the Abyss!’
Kagamandra cleared his throat, and then said, ‘You are welcome to stay, Wardens. But my invitation must be qualified—’
‘What’s that mean?’ Ristand’s head whipped round to his sergeant. ‘What’s he mean by that?’
‘I mean,’ Kagamandra resumed, ‘that we have Jhelarkan hostages here. Children. They are as near to feral as wolves. Your horses and mules are not safe, although we will endeavour to set a guard upon the stables.’
‘Jhelarkan?’ Ristand tugged at his snarled beard. ‘See, Savarro? What did I tell you? Qualified. He invites us into a nest of shapeshifting wolves! More horses to keep ’em fed and not eyeing us with hungry eyes! I should have voted against you.’
‘But you argued the most for coming here, Ristand!’
‘Because this lord here didn’t tell me the truth!’
‘He didn’t know!’
‘He does now!’
‘Ristand, get out of my face before I cut you into little strips! See to the animals, and arrange us a watch for them, two on guard at all times.’
‘They’re hostages, sergeant! We can’t harm them even if they’re chewing off our feet!’
‘Just beat them back. Flat of the blades. Milord, how many Jhelarkan hostages are here?’
‘Twenty.’
‘Twenty?’ Ristand shrieked.
His cry elicited howls from the main house, rising gleefully into the crepuscular air. Hearing them, Ristand swore under his breath and drew his sword. ‘I rescind my vote,’ he snapped. ‘You hear me, sergeant? I vote the other way. That makes it a majority. I’m not getting my feet chewed off.’
‘Ristand! Just go and arrange the guard postings, will you? The vote’s done with. We’re here now. Besides, I was only humouring all of you, about that majority stuff. I’m sergeant, highest rank left among us. It’s my decision.’
‘Cock curdling liar! Tit bag whore! I knew it!’
‘Go, you’re embarrassing us all.’
Ristand snarled and set off back to the others waiting by the gate.
Wiping at her brow, Savarro drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. ‘Apologies, milord. Husbands, what can you do?’
* * *
Four trackers were on her trail, two of them moving up alongside her. Sharenas Ankhadu caught glimpses of them through the crazed lattice of leafless branches and twigs to either side. The remaining pair had drawn up behind her on the track.
