Chapter 19Thyrn had been doing the last spell on guard duty and, at first, he was not missed. There was a little ritual grumbling when the wakers emerged to an unlit fire and this was followed by a vague presumption that he had probably gone to fetch water from a nearby stream.
The fire was lit and breakfast was being cooked before it became apparent that he had been away a long time. Even then, there was no great concern. Though it was chilly, everything presaged a fine day, the sky was clear and the air was invigoratingly fresh.
‘He’s probably exploring up in the rocks,’ Nordath said. ‘There’s a lot of him that never got past eight years old.’
Adren made a disparaging sound. ‘Do any men?’ she asked of no one in particular, gingerly snatching a piece of hot meat from the pan.
‘Oh, goi
