Captain Gullaine came in a few minutes later, armed and armoured as she had been that morning, except she carried her helmet, revealing a completely hairless head. Gullaine had gleaming, dark brown skin, no hair or eyebrows at all, and her sharp blue eyes were a starker blue than Clariel had remembered, seen now out of the shadow of the woman’s helm.

‘Lady Clariel,’ said Gullaine formally, with an inclination of her head. ‘I hope you are recovering.’

‘I am, thank you, Captain Gullaine,’ said Clariel. ‘Only … what happened? I mean after I passed out?’

‘I think you can call me Gully now,’ said the guardswoman. She came over and sat down on the end of Clariel’s bed, with a stretch and a sigh. ‘Ah, I’ve been running backwards and forwards all day. Do you want the long or the short version?’

‘Um, I’m not sure,’ said Clariel. ‘Perhaps the short to begin with.’

‘The creature got away from me,’ said Gully. She stretched again and looked away as she spoke. ‘It can move through stone, albeit not that quickly, but I couldn’t track it once it went deep. Kargrin says the thistle spear weakened it, which was less than he hoped. Evidently the thing is of the second or third order of such entities at least, not something weaker.’

‘Do … Does Kargrin know what it is?’

‘Not yet. He’s scouring bestiaries, but that could take a long time. We’ve sent to Hillfair for the Abhorsen’s advice. He should know more, but Charter knows he doesn’t easily stir himself, even for this sort of thing.’

‘That’s what Bel said. But isn’t that what the Abhorsens are for?’

‘Yes,’ agreed Gully. ‘But old Tyriel lives for his horses and the Grand Hunt, and cares little for anything else. His daughter and the rest of them take their lead from Tyriel. Except for Bel, of course. He’s a throwback to the old days, or would like to be.’

‘Is Bel going to … going to be all right?’ asked Clariel.

‘He’ll live,’ said Gully. ‘Bed for a few days, a sore shoulder for a few weeks. He was lucky. A handsbreadth closer to the throat or chest and he’d have been killed instantly. Not to mention Magister Kargrin getting to him quickly. He is one of the most expert healers in the city. Among other things.’

‘Who shot Bel? It can’t have been the creature, could it?’

Gully shook her head.

‘A mortal follower, likely someone mazed into obeying the creature. It had laid numerous spells on both the Islet and the people there, spells of command and beguilement, reinforcing them over time. I think it’s been here longer than we thought. A year, at least. We should have looked over the Islet long before now.’

‘And is it connected with Governor Kilp?’ asked Clariel.