Heirn was absently sliding the horseshoes back and forth along the nail. Delicately he lifted one of them over the large round head as if testing its weight.
‘Why would you want me to know about this enemy of yours? And whose attention are you frightened of’?’ he asked.
The residue of Atlon and Dvolci’s argument vanished and they looked at one another uneasily.
‘Because He wasn’t just our enemy,’ Atlon said, stepping back into the forge. ‘He’s an enemy to every living thing. Had He defeated us — and He nearly did — you’d have known about Him by now. Your city would have been razed or enslaved. And you’d have been either in chains or making them.’
Heirn seemed inclined to disagree but did not speak.
‘And the people we’re afraid of?’ Atlon patted the pocket containing the box. ‘Anyone w
