The sun creeps above the horizon. Warm dawn light washes over the camp. Solma hears the distant call of wildervores as they wake. Is it her imagination, or do Python’s eyelids flutter as the beasts roar? Does he hear them?
No-one moves as Urutu guides Python to kneel. Unbidden, Python digs his fingers into the earth. Urutu kneels in front of him. Solma notices his hands are trembling. She tightens her grip on her hunting knife. If he makes one wrong move—
She needn’t worry, though. Bell’s watching him with the fierce, flashing focus of a darkcat. She holds her rolling pin ready. But, since the revelation about his brother, Urutu’s been in a daze. Fear shines in his eyes. Solma doesn’t blame him. None of the Whisperers are sure if Python knows it was Urutu who trapped his mind. If he’ll
