‘The young man looks familiar,’ said Ralis.
Appius nodded. ‘He is the half-breed son of Banouin, the Ghost General.’
‘Well, well,’ said Ralis, ‘Banouin, eh? Didn’t he become a troubadour, or something?’
‘A wandering merchant. He was killed in the Perdii campaign almost twenty years ago.’
‘Men say he was as good a general as Jasaray.’
‘No-one is as good as Jasaray, but he was skilled,’ said Appius. ‘He was a charismatic leader, worshipped by his men. But, more than that, he had an intuitive feel for battles.’
‘Didn’t he marry some slave, or such like?’
‘A northern witch woman.’
‘Baffling,’ said Ralis. ‘He could have been rich and powerful in Stone. Instead he took to the highlands and married a savage. I wonder why?’
‘We’ll never know. Do you miss the city?’ asked Appius suddenly.
Ralis gave a rueful smile. ‘Who would not? But we are doing our best here. This time next year the roads should be paved, and Macrios is raising funds to complete the bathhouse by the spring. Small beginnings, I know. But progress at least. Is Barus coming back this year?’
Appius shook his head. ‘He has been given a command in the east. Lia and I will look after his house for a while, until we decide whether to settle here or go home.’
Their eyes met, and Ralis had the good grace to look away. No citizen came here through choice. Either their funds had vanished or they had made powerful enemies back home. ‘How are things in Stone?’ asked the surgeon.
‘Lively,’ answered Appius, and did not expand on it.
‘Well, they are not so lively here, General. We have no Crimson Priests, and people feel they can speak freely, and live their lives according to the wishes of their hearts.’
‘Sounds pleasant,’ observed Appius. ‘Though perhaps ill-advised.’ He rose, signalling to his guest that the conversation was over.
Ralis bowed. ‘It was good seeing you again, General. If there is any worsening of your guest’s condition, please feel free to call upon my services.’
Appius shook the man’s hand, walked him to the door, then returned to the balcony. In the garden below Lia was walking with Bane. She seemed happy and carefree. It mattered nothing to her that they were thousands of miles from home. The sound of her laughter hung on Appius like a lead weight.
There were no Crimson Priests in Accia.
Not yet.
It was just past midnight when the scream ripped through the silence of the night. Bane was the first to react. Coming awake he rolled from the bed and raced naked into the next room, where Banouin was sitting up in bed, pointing towards the far wall. He screamed again. Bane ran to him, grabbing his friend by the shoulders.
The walls are alive!’ shouted Banouin. His face was drenched in sweat, and gleamed in the pale moonlight. ‘And there is a demon hunting you, Bane. Ah! I see him. Talon and claw. He is coming for you.’
‘If he is, I’ll kill him,’ said Bane. ‘Don’t fret. Lie back. Sleep.’
‘Watch out for him, Bane. Watch the tail. It flicks just before the demon leaps!’
‘I’ll watch the tail. Now, do as you’re told. Lie back.’
Banouin sagged against him, then let out a long sigh. He allowed Bane to lay him down. His eyes flickered. ‘It was not a dream,’ he said, his voice calm. ‘It was a vision, Bane. You were walking through. . . through corridors, but the walls were alive and writhing. You were carrying a short sword, and there was a man with you, an older man. And a demon was stalking you.’ He shuddered. ‘A terrible beast of incredible speed and strength.’
‘All in all,’ said Bane softly, ‘I would have preferred your first vision to have been of a beautiful young woman – maybe two beautiful young women – nursing me back to health after killing the beast. But no matter. Rest now.’
Banouin’s blue eyes closed, and his breathing deepened. Bane rose and walked out into the torchlit corridor beyond. Appius was standing there, dressed in a pale grey nightrobe. Beyond him was Lia.
‘He had a vision,’ said Bane.