The more he thought on it, the more uneasy he became. Better to sell it to some merchant in G’danisban. The extra coin could prove useful. The thought settled him. He would sell the conch, be rid of it. While no-one would deny a Spiritwalker’s power, it was likely dangerous to lean too heavily on it. The Tano priests gave up their lives in the name of peace. Or worse. Kimloc surrendered his honour. Better to rely on the Moranth incendiaries in my pack than on any mysterious shell. A Flamer will bum a Soletaken as easily as anyone else.

Crokus rode up alongside the sapper. ‘What are you thinking, Fiddler?’

‘Nothing. Where’s that bhok’aral of yours?’

The young man frowned. ‘I don’t know. I guess he was just a pet after all. Went off last night and never came back.’ He wiped the back of his hand across his face and Fiddler saw smeared tears on his cheeks. ‘I sort of felt Mammot was with me, with Moby.’

‘Was your uncle a good man, before the Jaghut Tyrant took him?’

Crokus nodded.

Fiddler grunted. ‘Then he’s with you still. Moby probably sniffed kin in the air. More than a few highborn keep bhok’arala as pets in the city. Just a pet after all.’

‘I suppose you’re right. For most of my life I thought of Mammot as just a scholar, an old man always scribbling on scrolls. My uncle. But then I found out he was a High Priest. Important, with powerful friends like Baruk. But before I could even come to terms with that, he was dead. Destroyed by your squad—’

‘Hold on there, lad! What we killed wasn’t your uncle. Not any more.’

‘I know. In killing him you saved Darujhistan. I know, Fiddler...’

‘It’s done, Crokus. And you should realize, an uncle who took care of you and loved you is more important than his being a High Priest. And he would have told you the same, I imagine, if he’d had the chance.’

‘But don’t you see? He had power, Fiddler, but he didn’t do a damn thing with it! Just hid in his tiny room in a crumbling tenement! He could have owned an estate, sat on the Council, made a difference ...’

Fiddler wasn’t ready to take on that argument. He’d never had any skill with counsel. Got no advice worth giving anyway. ‘Did she kick you up here for being so moody, lad?’

Crokus’s face darkened, then he spurred forward, taking point position.

Sighing, Fiddler twisted in the saddle and eyed Apsalar, riding a few paces behind. ‘Lovers’ spat, is it?’

She blinked owlishly.

Fiddler swung back, settling in the saddle. ‘Hood’s balls,’ he muttered under his breath.

Iskaral Pust poked the broom farther up the chimney and frantically scrubbed. Black clouds descended onto the hearthstone and settled on the High Priest’s grey robes.