"Ah," he says, and hesitates, but - Well. She's asked for it. And he lives to serve. "That was your cousin Ezar who did that. He ordered that child Negri - the odd, quiet one who hangs around camp - to kill him. Presumably. It's possible death wasn't the intention, that it simply got out of hand - but there you are."

He shrugs, and then looks over at her, searching her face for some alarm or dismay. "I'm quite certain the order stopped with Ezar, but that Ezar didn't do this to undermine Piotr's authority or challenge him. The man's loyalty seems firm, if a bit cock-eyed."