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suspect but he’s not the only one. You still want to come with me? On the trail of a necromancer?”
    “Yes. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll need to call back the sentry and go explain the matter to Gena.”
    “I think that might take some explaining.”
    “When you’re right, you’re right,” said Brandon. He meant his grin to look devil-may-care but instead it just looked nervous.

CHAPTER FOUR
    KORMAK ACCEPTED THE offer of nuts, waybread and dried meat from the old woman. She was the grandmother of one of the children he had rescued from the barrow and she wanted to show her thanks. He took the food and placed it in his saddlebag, and then accepted some small copper coins from the father of another boy.
    He noticed that there were more parents here giving him things than just those of the children he had rescued. He guessed the whole village wanted to show its gratitude. Part of him was embarrassed and part of him was grateful. Not everyone was so generous to Guardians as these people were being. Many times on his travels he had gone hungry amid richer folk.
    Brandon stood nearby talking in a low voice with his wife. Lady Gena seemed none too happy with her husband riding off. Or maybe it was something else. Maybe she was just as angry with whoever opened the barrow as Brandon was. Brandon finished talking to her, then went and said something to Radney. The eldest boy would be standing in for him while he was away. At least that was the theory. If things went the way they usually did, Lady Gena would be the one in charge.
    After what seemed like hours, all farewells were said and the villagers lined up to wave them off. The men mounted up and set off along the road north. As they passed the milestone Kormak looked back and he could still see the villagers watching and waving.
    He looked at Brandon and the knight looked back at him then gave him a conspiratorial grin. Kormak guessed that he was glad to be back on the road. It took him back to the times of their youth. It was odd that someone could be nostalgic for the times of the Orc Wars, but he thought he understood.
     
     
    The land was bleak and dreary. Occasionally Kormak made out sheep in the hills to the south but there was nothing living to the north. Not even a crow hovered in the empty sky. There was something about the Barrow Hills that discouraged living things.
    Their road had originally created by the Solari Legions. It ran straight and true as all the ancient Empire’s roads did. No one had dared uproot or deface the runic way markers that showed the symbol of the Holy Sun and the time worn face of one of the Emperors. Kormak thought it belonged to Adrianicus, judging by the resemblance to some old coins he had seen.
    Brandon was mounted on a big, fierce-looking chestnut warhorse. He rode as easily and well as he had done in his youth. Kormak envied him the skill. He had grown up in the mountains and was more at home on his own two feet than in the saddle even after all these years. Brandon looked at Kormak then looked north then back at Kormak.
    “Gena was not too happy about me going off with you.”
    “I suspected as much.”
    “She thinks I should stay at home with her and the boys and not go gadding about over the Northlands.” Kormak could tell he was quoting his wife exactly from the tone of his voice.
    “How did you convince her?”
    “I told her I wanted to punish the bastard who let the wight loose. He’s the one who really killed little Olaf.”
    “How far is it to Hungerdale?.”
    “About two days ride along the old road. We’ll make camp for the night in the shelter of the Stricken Oak. There’s a wardstone there.”
    Brandon was silent, then he looked at Kormak and said, “Let’s hope we get things done before the first snows. Winter is a miserable time of the year here. The wind blows in off the Barrow Hills and it has the chill of the grave on it. It’s been getting worse for years now, even before the Comet appeared