'I am scarcely qualified to speak on the military aspects of such a decision. But as it turns out, his terms are generous. One thing is certain. If we refuse this offer, and the Gurkish do take the city by force, the slaughter will be terrible.' She looked up at Glokta. 'There will be no mercy then.'

All too true. On Gurkish mercy I am the expert. 'So all three of you are for capitulation?' They looked at each other, and said nothing. 'It has not occurred to you that once we surrender, they might not honour your little agreement?'

'It had occurred,' said Vissbruck, 'but they have honoured their agreements before, and surely some hope…' and he looked down at the table top, 'is better than none.' You have more confidence in our enemy than in me, it would seem. Hardly that surprising. My own confidence could be higher.

Glokta wiped some wet from under his eye. 'I see. Then I suppose I must consider his offer. We will reconvene when our Gurkish friend returns. At sunset.' He rocked his body back and winced as he pushed himself up.

'You'll consider it?' hissed Vitari in his ear as he limped down the hall away from the audience chamber. 'You'll fucking consider it?'

'That's right,' snapped Glokta. 'I make the decisions here.'

'Or you let those worms make them for you!'

'We've each got our jobs. I don't tell you how to write your little reports to the Arch Lector. How I manage those worms is none of your concern.'

'None of my concern?' Vitari snatched hold of Glokta's arm and he tottered on his weak leg. She was stronger than she looked, a lot stronger. 'I told Sult you could handle things!' she snarled in his face. 'If we lose the city, without so much as a fight even, it's both our heads! And my head is my concern, cripple!'

'This is no time to panic,' growled Glokta. 'I don't want to end up floating in the docks any more than you do, but this is a delicate balance. Let them think they might get their way, then no one will make any rash moves. Not until I'm good and ready. Understand me when I say, Practical, that this will be the first and the last time that I explain myself to you. Now take your fucking hand off me.'

Her hand did not let go, rather the fingers tightened, cutting into Glokta's arm as hard as a vice. Her eyes narrowed, furious lines cut into her freckled face at their corners. Might I have misjudged her? Might she be about to cut my throat? He almost grinned at the thought. But Severard chose that moment to step out of the shadows further down the dim hall.