“If justice were done to liars,” she said, “the world would be hideless, scourged raw.”

Brastias edged his horse past an intruding tree and chuckled amiably.

“It would be a pity to spoil so much beauty.”

“Eh!”

“The women would come off worst.”

Igraine flashed a look at him.

“Balaam’s ass spoke the truth,” she said.

They had not gone another furlong when Brastias reined in suddenly and stood listening. He held up a hand to Igraine, looking at her with prophetic face, his black armour lustreless under the trees.

“Hark!”

Igraine stared into his eyes. Neither moved a muscle for fully a minute.