'It's not been consecrated,' Isak muttered.

'Eh?' Carel said. 'The shrine? What about the symbol of Vrest, then?'

'I assume the shepherd who built this doesn't know much about religion. He probably built it to give thanks for finding a lost lamb or something like that, so it made sense to put the symbol there. He didn't realise a priest still needed to consecrate it.'

'I will make a note of it, and we'll inform the nearest border village Unmen,' Vesna said.

'Don't bother,' Isak replied. 'It's over the border, and it won't remain peaceful in Tor Milist for long. There are too many mercenaries – any priest daring to come this way will need an armed escort, and that escort would either be the local suzerain's hurscals – and then we'll be accused of taking part in the conflict – or soldiers wearing neither crest nor colours, and they'd risk attack by anyone who sees them.'

Vesna stared at him before a smile spread over his face. 'Gods on high, perhaps we'll make a lord of you yet!'

Isak gave a snort and grabbed Carel by the scruff of his neck to haul him upright again. 'Perhaps you will at that – and to think all I ever wanted was to join the Palace Guard. You people should leam to pay more attention when you're handing out jobs!'

The comment provoked a burst of laughter from his companions. 'II you'll forgive the observation, my Lord,' Vesna said, his grin widen-Ing, 'you've still not passed the trials. Now I'm willing to admit you've dune a few things on the battlefield some might call noteworthy, but that doesn't mean you can just walk into the Ghosts.'

Isak gave a hiss of mock exasperation and thumped the count on the shoulder in response.

'I can't see Kerin agreeing to it,' Carel agreed, 'but I'm not going to be one to complain about unearned honours; I still don't quite believe I'm now Marshal Carelfolden, and you're still just some snotty-nosed chiId I took pity on a few times. Sweet Nartis, it must be more than thirteen summers since I found you snivelling in that wood, knees and eIbows all scratched up – feels like last month. What'd they done to you again?'