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Toryn woke to find he was back in Omstrad. He looked down to his arms and found no sign of the wounds sustained at the nest. The dark window confirmed dawn had yet to break, but he felt as if he had slept for a week.

Gundrul strode into the hut. ‘I can see by your face you feel the same as me.’ He drew his sword and swung as if taking the head off a shreek. He beamed. ‘I can’t say I’ve felt this good since… actually, I can’t claim I’ve ever felt as strong as I do now.’

Toryn stood and rolled his shoulder. ‘Look at that. No pain. After yesterday I thought I’d barely be able to move.’ He reached for his sword belt. ‘What news of the wide world?’

Gundrul glanced to the door. ‘I would have lost my wager about the rain. It’s the oddest thing. Those storm clouds haven’t moved. Above, the stars shine bright in a clear sky. But those clouds sit piled high in the north as if waiting to make their move.’

‘That’s exactly what they’re doing.’ Eryn entered. ‘They gather over our enemy. The clouds carry a heavy load of snow and ice. A barrage of that in our faces will slow anyone’s hand.’ She looked to the captain. ‘But as you know, that is not the only reason to bring the freezing air this far south.’

Gundrul’s sword arm dropped to his side. ‘Norgog. They came close to caving in my skull at Tunduska. Can’t say I’m looking forward to another encounter with those thick-skinned brutes.’

Eryn clasped his broad shoulder. ‘Take heart. You and your company have received sustenance from the Amanach. You will each fight with the strength of three.’ She smiled. ‘That may help to even up the numbers. And as for you, Toryn. You can now go deeper into the Song. For the coming days, you will have the ability approaching that of your father’s. Use it, use it well. We need all the powers at our disposal if we are to survive the coming onslaught.’

Toryn looked at the door. ‘And what of your sisters? Do more ride to our aid?’

Her head bowed. ‘I know only of three. Of the others I can now sense nothing, they are either no longer on these shores... or have shared the same fate as Cymori. But the three will be here soon.’

‘And you can be certain they have not been corrupted?’

Eryn’s eyes shone. ‘Of that, I am sure. We drew deep from the well of power at the stone. We are stronger than we have been for many a year. The three who ride from the north are skilled fighters. Six Amayans will ride together for the first time since our failed mission to save Tanis.’ Her outline shimmered in the dull room and she appeared to grow taller as her voice rose. ’We shall avenge both Amyra and Cymori today. Vordrak comes. He will not see the end of this day.’ The light dimmed. She turned to Gundrul. ‘Your company are ready?’

‘As they’ll ever be.’ The captain grinned at Toryn. ‘Eryn thought it best we let you have a lie in. You looked so peaceful it seemed cruel to wake you.’

Eryn laughed. ‘What he means is you required longer to recover and be ready for this day.’ She strode to the door. ‘But now we must ride. Lady Harlyn and the remaining strength of the realms, hold the line across the plain to Roth’s Doom. We will best assist by attacking the enemy’s left flank. Those clouds will be upon us by noon, and that is when they will strike. With speed, we’ll make the battlefield shortly after it’s begun.’ Her eyes flashed. ‘We’ll give those swine the surprise of their miserable lives.’ Eryn whistled. ‘Our horses come. They are also well rested and will ride faster than any in the realm.’ She threw an arm around Toryn. ‘And don’t look concerned. Your newfound strength will ensure you can stay on Midnight’s back.’ The horses whinnied and trotted to meet them.’ Eryn mounted. ‘We shall meet the last of my sisters on the way.’

Gundrul patted Toryn’s back. ‘You and the Amayans will ride on ahead. Our ponies won’t have a hope of matching your speed. We have two hundred riders, and Amyndra will lead fifty more who arrived in the night, still loyal to Bardon. If we can fight with the strength of three, that makes us a force those creatures can’t take lightly.’ The captain grasped Toryn’s forearm. ‘Good luck, my friend. May we meet on the battlefield as victors.’

Toryn returned the grip. ‘I dearly hope so, Captain.’ He jumped onto Midnight’s back. The lines of Hamar’s old map formed in his head. He called to Eryn. ‘Do we ride the same path as the Amayans when answering Draegelan’s call?’