The Prahbrindrah Drah sat there an hour, staring at his bedchamber wall. He would not respond to his sisters questions. She was shaken. What had happened?

He looked at her at last.

Did she go through with it? Did you hope she wouldnt? I told you not to go.

She didnt resign. No. She didnt. He laughed squeakily. Not by a long shot. His tone was spooky.

What happened?

She resolved our problems with the priests. Not permanently, but itll be a long time before... His voice trailed off. Im as guilty as she is.

What happened, dammit! Tell me!

She killed them. Every last one of them. She lured them there by making them think they were going to humiliate her. She had archers cut them down. A thousand priests. And I was there. I watched her walk among them afterward, cutting the throats of the wounded.

For a moment the Radisha thought it was some grisly joke. That was impossible.

He said, She made her point. Did she ever make her point. Smoke was right.

The Radisha began pacing, lending only half an ear to his self-flagellation. It was grotesque. It was an atrocity surpassing comprehension. Things like that did not happen in Taglios. They couldnt.

But what an opportunity! The religious hierarchies would be in disarray for years. Atrocity or not, this was a chance to achieve all they had worked for. It could mean the return of the primacy of the state.

He heard a sound. She whirled, startled, gawked.

The woman was there, having penetrated the palace who knew how. She still wore her bizarre armor, covered with blood. Hes told you.

Yes.

The Shadowmasters attacked Dejagore. They were repelled with heavy losses. Blade is moving south to relieve the city before they gather reinforcements. Im going to join him. I have no one to leave here to continue my work. You two will have to handle it. Send the construction crews back to the fortress. Continue enrolling volunteers. Theres a slim chance we may get past the worst in the coming few weeks, leaving no one but Longshadow to deal with. But its more likely well face a prolonged struggle that will require every man and resource available.

The Radisha could not speak. The woman had the blood of a thousand priests on her hands. How could you argue with someone like that?

Ive handed you an opportunity you always wanted. Grab it.

The Radisha willed herself to speak. Still nothing came out. Never had she been so terrified.

The woman said, I have no ambitions here. You have no need to fear me-so long as you dont interfere with me. I will destroy the Shadowmasters. I will fulfill the Companys undertaking. And I will collect its reward.

The Radisha nodded as though a hand had grabbed her hair and forced her to move her head.