The maid had climbed to her feet on the other side of the bed, her naked body ghostly pale. ‘How did you do that?’

Snarling, he spun to face her. ‘Get out.’ Another surge of sorcery, reaching into the body facing him, grasping hold of that secretive sliver of Syntara, and then tearing it loose, flinging it away like a torn rag. The maid collapsed.

Oh, a fine new rumour for Hunn Raal now – he kills the women he fucks. Strangles them, by the marks round the poor girl’s neck. Well, yet another sordid cloak to wear. These burdens are enough to make a man drink.

He gathered up a fur-lined cape, and then strode from the bedchamber.

Two guards stood at the far end of the corridor. Hunn Raal marched towards them. ‘Pult, rouse a squad to guard Vatha Urusander’s private chambers. If he wakes to the noise, inform him that we have an assassin in the town below, but that I have begun the hunt. Mirril, you’re with me.’

As Pult set off towards the troop hall, Mirril fell in a step behind Hunn Raal as he made his way to the keep’s central staircase.

‘There’s a dead woman in my bedroom,’ he told her. ‘Never mind the rumours that’ll come of that. The High Priestess of Light has a growing thirst for corpses – not that you can easily tell who’s dead and who isn’t, once she’s done with them. Look for the eyes, Mirril – they don’t match the face around them.’

The soldier made an obscure warding gesture.

‘Just get rid of it,’ Hunn Raal ordered. ‘No family to inform, I should think. Bury her in the refuse heap below the kitchen chute.’

‘And if, uh, she comes back to life again, sir?’

He grunted. ‘I doubt that – I wasn’t fooled, you see. But still… oh, take off its legs, then. Arms, too.’

‘Sir, I would advise the hog pens, rather than the heap.’

He glanced back at her as they reached the top of the stairs. ‘And the next slice of ham you eat, Mirril? How will it sit? No, the notion doesn’t appeal to me. Perhaps a shallow grave, then. Pick people you trust in this.’

‘Of course, sir.’

‘And let the soldiers know – no one from the High Priestess’s household can be trusted.’

‘That’s past saying, sir.’

They reached the main floor opposite the front doors. ‘Good,’ said Hunn Raal. ‘Off you go, then.’

‘Yes sir.’

He left her to take care of the maid and set out across the compound towards the barracks. By rota, a company of Hallyd Bahann’s Golds were quartered there, five squads in all. Two guards stood at post outside the barracks entrance, both coming to attention upon seeing Hunn Raal approach.