Morgon returned from the north with his new army and set up camp. His first priority was a meeting with Ardolf, the new War Master of Gorm. He summoned the clansman to his tent and lost no time asserting his authority.

'Is the little whore dead or isn't she?'

'Who?'

'The princess ... who else?'

'The people think she has returned from the dead,' Ardolf said.

'I know that.' Morgon bellowed. 'She was a big enough danger before. Now those simpletons think she died and has been resurrected ... that makes her ten times more dangerous.'

'The Catti have girls dressed like her. They ride through the villages and vanish before anyone can get a good look at them.'

'How do you know one of those girls isn't the princess?'

'I don't,' Ardolf confessed.

'By Bithras.' Morgon thumped the table. 'That slip of a girl is undermining your authority. What are you doing about it?'

'The people are linking her name with the Sky Warrior.'

'So what?'

'They think he's the Good God. The princess says she's an earthly manifestation of the goddess ... or something like that... you know that trick she does with the holly berries.'

'Yes ... go on.'

'Tomorrow is the Festival of Our Lord's Ascendancy. The Sky Warrior has challenged the authority of the Duideth. He has told the people that he has done special magic and the countenance of Lady Moon will not be dimmed. He says the goddess will triumph over Our Lord Sun.'

'Who do you believe?' Morgon grunted.

Ardolf looked surprised. 'The holy brothers, of course.'

'Let's hope they're right.'

'I know they're right, Lord Morgon.' Ardolf puffed out his chest. 'The Sky Warrior's fate is sealed. After tomorrow the Catti will recognise him as an imposter. The miserable creature will suffer the fate of all who think they can usurp the authority of those who are born to rule. He is playing the Good God and he will die like one.'

***

The night of the full moon was a holy occasion for the Catti. It was a time when the mother goddess manifested herself in all her glory and shone forth her radiance through her sister, Lady Moon. Those who had been converted to the religion of the Lord Sun saw the occasion differently. For them, full moon was a time of evil when witches rode upon the backs of giant crows and feasted on the flesh of newborn infants.

It was, accordingly, with some trepidation that the people of Gorm left the safety of their homes to make the dangerous journey to the sanctuary of the Duideth and witness the ascendancy of the Lord Sun over the one they called the Great She Whore.




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