‘I hear, but I don’t know what it has to do with me,’ he answered.
“They were seen riding from the area and Bodalen was brought to trial. He was sentenced to a year in exile, and Karnak paid a fortune in blood-geld to the dead man’s father.’
Waylander’s mouth was dry. ‘Where was the village?’
‘Adderbridge.’
‘Are you saying he killed my Krylla!’ hissed Waylander.
‘Yes. Karnak found out that you were her guardian. He fears you will seek Bodalen. That is why the Guild hunt you.’
Waylander’s mind was reeling and his unfocused eyes stared into the darkness, memories flooding him with echoes of the past, Krylla and Miriel splashing in the stream by the cabin, laughing and squealing in the sunshine, Krylla’s tears when the pet goose died, her happiness when Nualin had proposed, the gaiety of the wedding and the dance that followed it. He saw her smiling face, the twin of Miriel, but with a mouth that smiled more easily and a manner that won over every heart. With great effort he forced the memories back and turned his now cold eyes on the witch woman’s image.
‘Why did you come here, Hewla?’ he asked icily.
‘I told you. I like you. Always have.’
‘That may or may not be true. But I ask again, why did you come?’
‘Hmm, I do so admire you, child. There is no fooling you, is there?’ Her malevolent eyes gleamed in the firelight. ‘Yes, there is more to this than just Bodalen.’
‘I did not doubt it.’
‘Have you heard of Zhu Chao?’
Waylander shook his head. ‘Nadir?’
‘No. Chiatze. He is a practitioner of the Dark Arts. No more than that, though he would no doubt describe himself as a wizard. He is young – not yet sixty, and still has the strength to summon demons to his bidding. He has rebuilt the Brotherhood, and – nominally, mark you! – serves the Gothir Emperor.’
‘And Bodalen?’
‘Karnak’s son reveres him. The Brotherhood is behind the coming wars. They have infiltrated many of the noble houses of Ventria, Gothir and Drenai. They seek to rule, and perhaps they will succeed – who knows?’
‘And you want me to kill Zhu Chao.’
‘Very astute. Yes, I want him dead.’
‘I am no longer an assassin, Hewla. If the man was threatening you then I would deal with him. But I will not hunt him down for you.’
‘But you will hunt Bodalen,’ she whispered.
‘Oh, yes. I will find him. And he will know justice.’
‘Good. You will find him with Zhu Chao,’ she said. ‘And if the little wizard should happen to step into the path of one of your bolts, so be it.’
‘He is in Gulgothir?’
‘Indeed he is. I think he feels safer there. Well, I shall leave you now. It is difficult at my age to hold such a spell.’ He said nothing. She shook her head. ‘Not even a thank you for old Hewla?’
‘Why should I thank you?’ he answered. ‘You have brought me only pain.’
‘No, no, child. I have saved your life. Look inside yourself. You no longer wish to wait here and die alongside your lovely Danyal. No. The wolf is back. Waylander lives again.’
Angry words rose in his throat. But Hewla had vanished.
7
Miriel’s head was aching, but the acute pain of the night before had faded to a dull ache as she rose and dressed, making her way through the cabin to the clearing where Angel was chopping logs. Stripped to the waist he was swinging the long-handled axe with practised ease, splitting the wood expertly.
He stopped as he saw her and thudded the axe into a log, then took up his shirt and strolled towards her. ‘How are you feeling today?’ he asked.
‘I’m ready,’ she told him.
He shook his head. ‘I think you should rest this morning. Your colour is not good.’
There was a chill in the air and she shivered. ‘They will come back,’ she said.
He shrugged. There’s not a blessed thing we can do about that, Miriel.’
‘Except wait?’
‘Exactly.’
‘You don’t seem concerned.’
‘Oh, but I am. It is just that I learned long ago that there is little point in worrying about matters over which you have no control. We could flee, I suppose, but to where? We don’t know where they are, and could run straight into them. At least here we have the advantage of home ground. And this is where your father expects to find us. Therefore we wait.’