Carlot dan Eider's hand was trembling as she reached for the pen. It rattled against the inside of the inkwell, dripped black spots on the table top, scratched against the paper. There was no flush of triumph. There never is, but we have one more matter to discuss.

'Where will I find the Gurkish agent?' Glokta's voice was sharp as a cleaver.

'I don't know. I never knew. Whoever it is will come for you now, as they did for Davoust. Perhaps tonight…'

'Why have they waited so long?'

'I told them you were no threat. I told them that Sult would only send someone else… I told them I could handle you.' And so you would have, I do not doubt, were it not for the unexpected generosity of Masters Valint and Balk.

Glokta leaned forward. 'Who is the Gurkish agent?'

Eider's bottom lip was quivering so badly that her teeth were nearly rattling in her head. 'I don't know,' she whispered.

Vitari smashed her hand down on the table. 'Who? Who? Who is it, bitch? Who?'

'I don't know!'

'Liar!' The Practical's chain rattled over Eider's head and snapped taut around her throat. The one-time Queen of merchants was hauled over the back of her chair, legs kicking at the air, hands fumbling at the chain round her neck, and flung face down onto the floor.

'Liar!' The bridge of Vitari's nose was screwed up with rage, red brows drawn in with effort, eyes narrowed to furious slits. Her boot ground into the back of Eider's head, her back arched, the chain cut white into her clenched fists. Severard looked down on this brutal scene with a slight smile around his eyes, tuneless whistling vaguely audible over the choking, hissing, gurgling of Eider's last breaths.

Glokta licked at his empty gums as he watched her thrashing on the cell floor. She has to die. There are no options. His Eminence demands harsh punishment. His Eminence demands examples made. His Eminence demands scant mercy. Glokta's eyelid flickered, his face twitched. The room was airless, hot as a forge. He was damp with sweat, thirsty as hell. He could scarcely draw a breath. He felt almost as if he was the one being strangled.