[Arry]

Wulfham


While the others scurried about, getting their gear together, Brand took Athwen aside and explained what Incana and Vaenosa had seen. At the first mention of Orcs, her eyes had gone wide. He reached out and put his hand on her arm to reassure her, though he wondered how to frame what Dorran had said about the men who sometimes followed after the raiding Orcs . . . the Easterlings.

‘Not Orcs, Athwen. They’re just men, like us.’ He was about to tell her the whole of what Dorran had told them, then thought better of it. ‘We’ll take care of them.’ He pointed to where the likely place was that they would enter the camp. ‘I’d like you and Dorran and Leod to let them keep you in sight. So that they think you’re the ones they saw. You three will head out of camp going that way. And while you’re luring them after you, Incana, Vaenosa, and I will be the ones to ambush them.’ He rubbed his left thumb unconsciously along the left side of his jaw, a nervous habit. ‘It will all work out fine. All you have to do is your part, and leave the rest to us.’