‘Let the two priestesses set talons to each other,’ Aegis retorted. ‘All this talk of Father Light and Mother Dark. Since when did matters of religion demand… unveiling of daggers, much less swords? Before this pogrom – before the atrocity… unmitigated slaughter of innocents – we Tiste dwelt well enough in a plurality of faiths.’

Degalla snorted. ‘My dear Aegis, and how many Deniers crowded your distant holdings? Scant few, I should think. No, the worm of disaffection was set among us the day Draconus elevated our queen into a goddess. While even you, wife, would see Anomander the instigator of our present disorder. He is not.’

‘Even so,’ Syl insisted, ‘he has indeed failed in meeting the challenge.’

‘The failure is not his,’ Degalla said.

‘I am content enough,’ said Aegis, ‘seeing him reduced.’

‘I am sure.’

‘What do you mean by that, Vanut?’

‘Sheathe your knives, Aegis. Your refutation on the matter of Andarist’s choice of woman to wed lacked subtlety. What future do you imagine? Why, if a schism now exists between Anomander and Andarist, you will surely offer commiseration to ease a certain grief and the pain of bereavement. But no matter. We would see the Legion weakened, but not necessarily destroyed.’

‘The challenge,’ added Syl Lebanas, ‘lies in achieving that.’

‘Then you two would side with Hish Tulla,’ said Aegis.

Degalla replied, ‘The diminishing of power and influence upon both sides would be ideal, Aegis. Anomander feels free to indulge himself in personal matters – not well suited to the commander of Mother Dark’s armies. We are all agreed on that, yes?’

‘And should he be stripped of such responsibility?’

‘Then a more modest sibling might serve in his place.’

‘But not,’ said Syl, ‘that bloodless brother of theirs. If, among the three, there is one to truly fear, it is Silchas Ruin.’

‘Why?’ demanded Aegis.

Vanut Degalla answered. ‘Silchas Ruin does not understand loyalty.’

Aegis snorted. ‘Meaning, he cannot be bought. But you think Andarist can?’

‘I leave his suborning to your sympathetic hands.’

‘Then we are agreed?’

‘We will attend the battle, and see how it plays out,’ Vanut said.

‘Hish will believe us with her, then?’

‘She can believe what she likes. In this, we are hardly alone in our unwillingness to commit. My sister agrees entirely with this position, and so too House Manaleth.’

Aegis spoke again, her tone suddenly harsher. ‘You know something, Degalla.’

‘Let us say, we are confident in matters, to the extent that anything can be predicted. It is, indeed, more a matter of expectation.’

‘Enlighten me further.’

‘Have faith, Aegis.’

‘Faith?’

‘Just so,’ and Sukul could hear the sly smile in Syl Lebanas’s voice. ‘Faith.’

‘We should return to the dining hall,’ Vanut Degalla said. ‘My sister will not attend, preferring to leave this night to me. I believe I heard the bell announcing the arrival of yet another highborn.’

Aegis grunted. ‘That should be enough to begin things, then.’

‘Hish Tulla will decide.’