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Torj made a noise of agreement. ‘Several times.’

Wilder nodded. ‘We were at a disadvantage from the start. Not just in numbers, but the discord throughout our own units. It never makes for a strong front.’

‘The fall of Delmira was like that,’ Vernich told them.

For a second, Wilder stared at him, having long forgotten that it was indeed that battle where Vernich had earnt the name the Bloodletter. Even in the tiny village of Kilgrave, the children had grown up hearing stories of his courage, his ruthlessness, of the rivers of blood he’d spilt in the heather.

Wilder marvelled at the fact that they’d never spoken of it before. But then, they’d rarely seen each other in Wilder’s earlier Warsword years. It hadn’t been until Osiris reinstated the tradition of apprentices that they’d been forced into one another’s company. Then there had been the incident with Kipp, Thea and Seb, and Wilder had nearly killed the Bloodletter with his bare hands. It had hardly been the right circumstance for reminiscing about battles long past.

‘What happened?’ Wilder asked now.

Vernich groaned and held his hand out for the wine. ‘Give me that.’

Wilder passed it over and Vernich took a long slug with a grimace. ‘Where’s the fucking fire extract when you need it?’

Wilder could have laughed at that. Of course Vernich drank fire extract —

A sudden scream from the king pierced the air, only to be abruptly silenced as a block of wood struck the back of Artos’ head, knocking him unconscious.

Vernich dropped the timber and drank again before noting Wilder and Torj’s stares. ‘What?’ he said, nonplussed. ‘They didn’t say we couldn’t shut him up by other means.’

Wilder did laugh at that. ‘True enough.’

‘The battle of Delmira?’ Torj prompted.

Vernich took another gulp of the wine before passing it to the Bear Slayer. ‘As I said, similar in disadvantages to the one we just had… What we didn’t realise at the time was that he –’ Vernich jerked his thumb towards Artos. ‘– had been using his empath abilities to create discord among the people, long before there was any sign of trouble. When the wraiths and reapers struck, Delmira’s armed forces were already sceptical of their rulers’ loyalty to the midrealms. There was infighting between those who stood firmly behind Queen Brigh and King Soren, and those who were convinced that they were leading their people towards the darkness. Even the frontline wasn’t united. It was bad… Friend turning on friend mid-battle… The losses were catastrophic. On that field in Aveum yesterday, it felt much the same.’

‘The losses were almost as bad, though I don’t think we’ve got the final count yet,’ Torj said.

‘It’s too soon,’ Wilder replied. ‘We’ll lose more to injuries… Bodies will be found, if the snow ever melts.’

Vernich grunted. ‘It’s fucking grim.’

A dark laugh bubbled out of Wilder. ‘Isn’t that what I said to you on the cliffs when I first got back? It’s always grim news.’

‘So you did,’ Vernich huffed.

‘Did anyone tell you that your apprentice is dead?’ Wilder asked the Bloodletter bluntly. He wished he could have been there to see Thea snap Sebastos Barlowe’s neck. Even now, when he thought of the Guardian, his blood boiled. The bastard had caused pain to so many people Wilder cared about, and he’d threatened to rape Thea. A quick death wasn’t punishment enough for that.

‘No,’ Vernich said. ‘And he wasn’t my apprentice, not after all that shit at Notos. I got rid of him, or tried to, at least. Spineless prick if I ever did see one.’

Torj looked up from where he’d started cleaning his war hammer. ‘Why’d you choose him, then?’

‘Didn’t. Owed his uncle a favour. He made it clear there was only one option.’

Wilder shook his head in disbelief. ‘Who the fuck is this bastard’s uncle? That he has so much sway?’

Vernich frowned. ‘You don’t know?’

‘Evidently not.’

‘Osiris. Osiris is – or was – his uncle.’

The revelation sent Wilder reeling. Osiris? The Guild Master? How could they not have known?

Torj had much the same reaction. ‘You’re kidding! We were always told it was someone of influence, but… Fuck, it makes a lot of sense now.’

Vernich merely grunted again.