Below them, the River Marne glistened like a winding, silver snake – a lifeline, an escape route, a projection of their desperate need to find Meryn. Heaps of white clouds meant their journey should be rain-free; against that, their desire for the safety of cover had cost them their comrade and the whereabouts of the waiting craft. They needed to skirt the woodland along the river to plunge into the trees at the first sign of danger. With no landmark to help orientation should they turn left or right? Their captain, paid to wait for seven sunrises, had moored at the village of Tours so three remained to find the vessel, but Begiloc hoped to find it in hours rather than days by going down to the river, hailing a passing craft and seeking information. While he did this, Aedre stayed in the s
