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Khareh continued. ‘Battering rams, catapults, that sort of thing. This forest is perfect for some of my new inventions. Not that I’ll need them if things go to plan.’ Khareh pouted, like a child denied his toys. ‘No matter. With the knowledge I’ll gain from Samar, I’ll be able to perfect all my weaponry.’
    Wadi took a deep breath. Even though she knew Khareh would never abandon traditional weapons of warfare for his new shadow-army, seeing it coming to life in the forest around her was frightening. When Khareh’s attention was distracted, she turned around to one of her guards. ‘Why do you follow him? Why do you—’ but before the words could even leave her mouth, the soldier shook his head furiously and moved his hand to his sword hilt.
    At first, she was confused. But then it became obvious. Although she was a prisoner, she was also being kept in Khareh’s inner circle; they thought she might be looking for a way to turn Khareh against them. She was a foreigner too – they could tell that by her accent, her mode of dress and the very colour of her skin. No, these soldiers would not talk to her. She was alone.
    Her mouth set in a firm line, Wadi resigned herself to silence.

6
RAIM
    What if Wadi doesn’t want to be rescued?
    Vlad’s words echoed in his thoughts, making him shudder.
    ‘You don’t mean that,’ Raim had replied. Of
course
Wadi would want to be rescued. She wouldn’t want to spend any more time than was necessary with Khareh.
    ‘I heard them talking about her, when they thought that I had passed out from the pain. They’re not torturing her. They want her pass-stone.’
    ‘They might have just been saying that to confuse you.’ Raim folded his arms across his chest.
    Vlad shook his head. ‘No. She can read and write too, can’t she? Khareh was using her to write orders to other warlords, and she obeyed. She is not in any danger. They need her.’
    ‘
I
need her,’ said Raim. ‘Just because they’re not torturing her, doesn’t mean she should be kept there against her will.’
    Vlad’s hawk-like stare softened for a moment. He turned to look at Loni, then at the other men of the Cheren who were around. A gentle steppes wind swept through the wiry strands of hair on Vlad’s head; he closed his eyes and let the breeze caress his tired features. He looked at peace. ‘You were right to wait here,’ Vlad said. ‘This place is perfect for an ambush. You know the steppes well, and the wind would have brought with it the smells and noise of the wagon long before the guards could spot you in the long grass. They didn’t stand a chance.’ He opened his eyes slowly and settled his gaze on Raim. ‘But to ambush Khareh’s camp you have to sneak past the legions of tribeswarriors pledged to him. Even if you succeed there, you would need to get past his personal guard, made up of the very same elite Yun soldiers you know all too well. And if you defeat them, Khareh will call up his shadow-army, and they will be led by
your own spirit
. And then there is the promise that prevents you from hurting Khareh – but he would have no such problem killing you. No, Raim. There is no way for you to do this.’
    Raim hung his head. ‘I can’t give up,’ he said, although the words came out as barely a whisper.
    Vlad stepped forwards and put a hand on Raim’s shoulder. ‘You’re not giving up. You have to give yourself a chance, for Wadi’s sake. You’ll find a way to get her back. But not with this.’ He reached down and grabbed Raim’s wrist, then shook it in his face, so all he could see was the hideous scar.
    ‘He’s right,’ said Draikh. ‘I hate to say it, but he is. When we’re stronger, we’ll get her back.’
    ‘Before anything else.’
    ‘Before anything else,’ Draikh repeated.
    And so, even though it went against every fibre in his being, Raim had agreed.
    That had been three days ago, when Vlad, Loni and the rest of the ambush crew had returned to the Cheren.