‘Mostly I hide, but as you can see, this is presently difficult to achieve. I have a solution, of course.’

‘Speak on, O spiteful one.’

Haut pulled out a clay pipe. ‘Ilbarea leaves, from your own tree, Varandas.’

‘Oh? I thought it was dead.’

* * *

‘That,’ said Varandas a short time later, ‘is an expression I will never forget.’

Haut frowned, reached out and picked up the pipe from where it had fallen from Korya’s senseless hand. He sniffed at the smoke still drifting up from the bowl, and his head snapped back. ‘Oh dear, this would challenge the constitution of a Thel Akai. How long have those leaves ripened on the vine?’

‘I can’t say for certain, since I never picked them off. Decades, I would think. Or perhaps centuries – why do you ask me such challenging questions? You delight in making obvious the symptoms of my stupidity and this makes me cross and prone to belligerence.’

‘Well, one hopes she will awaken on the morrow refreshed and full of vigour.’

‘Or perhaps the following day, or the next one after that. That was a lungful to melt iron ore. See how she still exudes white tendrils with each breath? But I will say this, her ill-disposition no longer offends us and so I judge this a pleasing outcome.’

‘The bottle is empty,’ Haut observed, ‘and I am no longer hungry, which is good since my cook lies supine.’

‘Then we must walk to the back of the tower, Haut.’

‘Very well, if you insist.’

‘We have things to discuss.’

They rose and left the motionless form of Korya, although Haut paused to fling a blanket over her as he passed by.

Varandas led the way to the edge of the vast hole in the yard. Haut joined him. They stared down into the pitch black and said nothing for a time.

Then Haut grunted and said, ‘I fear for Hood.’

‘I fear the precedent,’ Varandas replied. ‘An Azathanai now truly stands apart, and would make a bold claim to godhood.’

‘What is to be done?’

‘This question is asked by everyone, Haut. Barring Hood himself, who speaks not a word and languishes still in chains.’

‘In chains?’

‘The Lord of Hate has the care of him.’

‘In chains?’

‘This was deemed a mercy. An act of compassion. We await Hood, I now believe – all of us who choose to care. We await his word.’

‘And you?’

Varandas shrugged. ‘It has been a long time since I took up the sword, and now I view the gesture as one of bluster. What do I recall of war? What do I know of fighting? I will listen to Hood, however, and give him the openness of my judgement until I can weigh his words.’

Haut nodded. ‘That is honourable, Varandas. How many others will join you on that day, I wonder?’