“Settled then," Grolfir continued, “now the both of you can do my ears a great boon by keeping your mouths shut on the matter."

“Yes, warchief." Both the elder and the proving master spoke in unison before bowing their heads in submission and taking their leave.

As Wren shuffled out, Talina swung herself down from her beam to Land at the entrance to the tent and smoothly rolled out onto the grass outside. She followed the elder as he called to Ulag and fell into step a few paces behind them.

“We cannot allow this," Wren said.

“It seems we can." Ulag didn't sound happy about it, but he also obviously didn't have a choice in the matter.

"There is another way to rid ourselves of the human taint."

“I've told you, no."

“Ulag, after what they did to your son."

Ulag stopped in his tracks at this and grabbed Wren by the throat in such a vicious and sudden movement that Talina almost cried out. "And if I were to put a knife in the boy's back like you say? If he were to have an accident whilst in my care? Then tell me, elder, how would I be different from them? I'll hear no more of it. And if the boy comes to harm then do not expect this conversation to remain between us."

Ulag cast Wren aside and the elder fell back in the dirt, coughing and spluttering. The proving master's son had evidently been the wrong issue to press. Talina watched Wren pull himself to his feet and glower after Ulag before he limped away on his walking stick.

Well that was interesting.

She hurried back to Bolut's camp. The night kept the avenues and walkways clear enough for her to pass unseen with the aid of the invisibility potion still coursing its way through her body. Arriving back at her private tent, she opened the flap and stepped inside to settle and ponder her next action.

In fact, she was so lost in her own thoughts that she fell over Torren who had been sitting alone by the entrance.

“What!? Who's that?" Torren whipped up onto his feet faster than she would have given him credit for and unleashed his knife out into the open air.

"It's me, you big Lout!" She shuffled about on her floor to get her balance and then sat up to see him wild-eyed and standing his ground.

“Talina? Where are you?" He lowered his knife immediately.

“I'm on the damned floor!”

Torren peered at the floor as if expecting to see some sort of hole with her inside it.

"I can't see you."

“That's excellent, Torren. Very observant of you," Talina deadpanned.

“I don't understand." He frowned and slipped his knife back into its sheath on his belt.

“I'm invisible, you great oaf!"

“Oh! I'm sorry."

“For what?"

"I'm, uh, not really sure."