Rannick turned back to the window. ‘Those horsemen,’ he said, pointing. ‘Where are they going?’
Nilsson joined him. Feeling your way, aren’t you? he thought. As I am. ‘That’s Yeorson and Storran. They were going to look for Meirach. Now they’re going to see what lies to the north.’
Rannick frowned. ‘The Great Forest lies to the north,’ he said. ‘There’s nothing for you there. Your future lies down the valley and beyond. Have them stand down.’
‘No,’ Nilsson said, categorically. Rannick swung round on him, his eyes blazing. Nilsson knew that he could not meet his gaze, and kept his eyes on the men below. ‘Down the valley and beyond lies our past, and it pursues us,’ he went on. ‘The only way forward for us is to the north, away from here. If I order the men to stand down they’ll want to k
