‘Most generous,’ Curdle said in a faintly awed whisper. ‘The Slaughterer of Dragons seeks redemption. Did not honour die long ago? It seems not. Well then, on behalf of my kin, living and slain, I accept your offer, Skillen Droe. Seal Starvald Demelain.’

‘There is a catch,’ K’rul said.

Both women snapped their attention to him. ‘Ah, hear this, Curdle?’ crooned Telorast. ‘It could never be so easy, could it?’

‘I have need of you two,’ said K’rul. ‘In fact, I have need of all the Eleint who have come into this realm.’

‘What manner of need?’ Curdle demanded.

‘Guardianship.’

There was a long pause, and then Telorast hissed. ‘The Gates of Sorcery!’

‘My Warrens, yes. In return, you can feed upon your chosen aspect.’

‘Warrens,’ said Telorast. ‘Well named, Azathanai.’

‘But you are not to resist those mortals who would draw upon my sorcery,’ added K’rul.

‘Then against whom do we guard?’

‘Azathanai, for one. Your fellow Eleint, for another.’

Ardata suddenly cut in, ‘These two will defy you, K’rul. They seek the Throne of Shadow, upon the rise of the Grey Shore. It is their singular obsession.’

K’rul shrugged. ‘They need only convey my offer to their kin. What will come of the Grey Shore is not yet known.’ He returned his attention upon the Tiste women. ‘Well?’

Curdle scowled. ‘It seems too generous. All in the manner of gifts. Where is the loss for us? The sacrifice? K’rul is devious, the most devious of all the Azathanai. I am suspicious.’

‘I am indeed being overly generous,’ K’rul replied. ‘And this is my reason: another Azathanai seeks to usurp my Warrens, to corrupt them utterly. Should he succeed, even the Eleint of this realm will suffer a harsh fate. Control over the gates of my Warrens is essential, and so I turn to the only beings capable of becoming guardians – indeed, wards – of my sorcery.’

‘Now he flatters us,’ Telorast said.

‘He asks only that we voice the offer to our kin,’ Curdle pointed out. ‘You and me, love, we yield nothing.’

‘True.’

K’rul shrugged. ‘The only thing you two yield is your choice of Warrens. In fact, given your obsession, it seems that you will surrender them entirely in favour of a throne that may never appear. That of course is your choice.’

Telorast turned to her companion. ‘I see no reason to remain here, Curdle. Do you?’

‘None at all!’ Curdle replied. ‘K’rul, we accept your bargain! Where then are these unclaimed gates?’

‘Here and there. Follow the scent of magic and you will find them.’

Scabandari gasped as the two Tiste women seemed to blur, vanishing inside twin burgeoning clouds that moments later manifested as a pair of dragons. Wings hammering the air, scattering sparks from the bonfire, they lunged upward into the darkness.

In their sudden absence, no one spoke.

Then Scabandari gestured with his sword. ‘Who is this giant?’