‘And how soon is that going to be?’ asked Clariel bitterly. ‘Tyriel isn’t going to do anything. Not with the Summer’s End Hunt to get through first, and who knows what else he thinks is more important.’

‘He says the King is safe enough in the Palace,’ said Bel. ‘And he doesn’t take Kilp seriously anyway. I’m sorry, all right?’

‘Sorry for what?’

‘For not flying you to Estwael like you asked,’ said Bel. ‘Though I guess with your aunt being arrested there –’

‘What!’

‘Maybe not arrested exactly; being taken to Belisaere for her own safety,’ said Bel quickly. ‘Didn’t the Abhorsen tell you?’

‘No.’

‘Maybe he only found out this morning. There have been so many message-hawks flying back and forth all the pigeons have fled Hillfair …’

‘She was arrested by Kilp?’

‘On the orders of the Governor,’ confirmed Bel. ‘The story being that her safety was at risk, with the “rebels” threatening Queen Jaciel … There’s still no public sighting of her by the way …’

‘There won’t be. She’s dead,’ said Clariel, stony-faced.

‘You can’t be absolutely sure of that,’ said Bel awkwardly.

‘The Abhorsen could, though. He can go into Death can’t he?’

‘Yes,’ admitted Bel. ‘But it wouldn’t be that easy to find out. If she was killed at the dinner then she would have long since passed the Ninth Gate. So it would be a matter of questioning certain … things … that lurk in the Precincts between, maybe even go as far as the Sixth or Seventh Gate. Tyriel would never do that. Risky even for a practised Abhorsen.’

‘You mean he wouldn’t get off his horse long enough to do something useful!’

‘It isn’t just that,’ said Mogget. He had found a dandelion and was intent on delicately removing each petal with a single out-thrust claw. ‘He’s afraid of Death, afraid of being the Abhorsen. That’s why he never comes here, because everything reminds him of what he’s meant to be. Out hunting, he can forget.’

‘What?’ asked Clariel. ‘That can’t be true …’

Her voice faltered, because she could see from Bel’s face that he shared Mogget’s opinion. The Abhorsen was afraid of Death, and was shirking his responsibilities.

‘He’s a coward?’ asked Clariel. That would explain why he was so slow even planning to take action against Kilp …

Bel shook his head.