The Red Blade eyed the portal. ‘Has the assassin left the warren, then? This does not look the same as the other one ...’

The Claw wiped ash from his brow, leaving a dusky streak. ‘Ah, no. This represents a ... a detour. I’m the last surviving operative, after all. The Empress so despises idle hands ...’ He gave her a wry smile, then shrugged. ‘This is not my only concern, alas. We are being tracked.’

She felt a chill at those words. ‘We should double back, then. Prepare an ambush—’

Pearl grinned, waved an arm. ‘Choose us a likely place, then. Please.’

She glanced around. Flat horizons in all directions. ‘What of those raised humps we passed a while back?’

‘Never mind those,’ the Claw said. ‘Safe distance the first time and no closer now.’

‘Then that pit...’

‘Mechanisms to measure futility. I think not, my dear. For the moment, I fear, we must ignore that which stalks us—’

‘What if it’s Kalam?’

‘It isn’t. Thanks to you, we’re keeping our eyes on him. Our assassin’s mind wanders, and so therefore does his path. An embarrassing lack of discipline for one so weighty. I admit I am disappointed in the man.’ He swung to face the portal. ‘In any case, we have digressed a rather vast distance here. A small measure of assistance is required – not lengthy, I assure you. The Empress agrees that Kalam’s journey suggests ... personal risks to her person, and so must take ultimate precedence. Nonetheless...’

The Claw removed his half-cloak, carefully folding it before setting it down. Across his chest was a belt containing throwing stars. A brace of knives jutted pommel-forward under his left arm. Pearl went through a ritual of checking every weapon.

‘Do I wait here?’

‘As you like. While I cannot guarantee your safety if you accompany me, I am for a skirmish.’

‘The enemy?’

‘Followers of the Whirlwind.’

Lostara Yil unsheathed her tulwar.

Pearl grinned, as if well aware of the effect his words would have. ‘When we appear, it shall be night. Thick mists, as well. Our foes are Semk and Tithansi, and our allies—’

‘Allies? This is a skirmish already underway?’

‘Oh, indeed. Wickans and marines of the Seventh.’

Lostara bared her teeth. ‘Coltaine.’

His grin broadening, Pearl drew on a pair of thin leather gloves. ‘Ideally,’ he continued, ‘we should remain unseen.’

‘Why?’

‘If help appears once, the expectation is it will appear again. The risk is dulling Coltaine’s edge, and by the Hidden Ones, the Wickan will need that edge in the weeks to come.’

‘I am ready.’

‘One thing,’ the Claw drawled. ‘There’s a Semk demon. Stay away from it, for while we know virtually nothing of its powers, what we do know suggests an appalling ... temper.’

‘I shall be right behind you,’ Lostara said.

‘Hmm, in that case, once we’re through, pull left. I’ll go right. Not an auspicious entry my getting trampled, after all.’