‘Lead on then,’ Yatsu said, lifting his hand for silence. The Mandroc scurried through one of the tunnel openings and Yatsu beckoned the others to follow.
‘Follow that?’ Jaldaric said. Hawklan started at the snarling anger in the young man’s voice. As he looked at him, however, the memory returned to him of Jaldaric standing alone in the spring sunshine and facing Aelang and the chanting mob of Mandrocs that was to m******e his friends.
Hawklan took his arm and felt his dreadful fear and rage. ‘Yatsu is commander,’ he said simply. ‘We talk as we walk.’
Jaldaric turned to him, his face riven with torment. Hawklan urged him forward. ‘As we walk,’ he repeated forcefully.
They did little talking for some time however, the route being upwards and the Mandroc setting a fair pace, for all his
