Chapter Six
Later found Konrad, Nanda and Tasha secreted deep in the Bone Forest, in hiding.
Not, to Konrad’s regret, in his own, familiar hut. He had made his way there on instinct, but Nanda had stopped him partway there with a vicelike grip upon his arm.
‘You’re going to your hut.’
‘Where else?’
‘Konrad. Nobody but the three of us knows about that place, right?’
Konrad had given it due thought. ‘How could they?’ he had concluded.
‘I don’t know, but people have learned unwelcome truths about you before. You need to be sure, Konrad. Do I need to remind you that your life literally depends upon it?’
In the end, he had only been nearly sure. Nanda was right. For all his caution, he had at times been caught out. Followed, out-guessed, pre-empted.
‘Where else, then?’ he’d said again,
