‘Why is it you believe the warning we brought is prophetic?’ asked Bartiman, leaning forwards on his elbows. ‘We barely know its true meaning ourselves, and only came this far to deliver it because of the circumstances of its acquisition. But you overrode the authority of the militia-militant and rushed us straight to the heart of Draconium on the strength of a few cryptic lines.’

‘I hoped you knew more than you had said, the actual nature of what Chaos-spawned horror approaches,’ said Morthan.

‘Be that as it may,’ Bartiman continued, his airy gesture making the bangles on his thin wrist clank together, ‘what little we do know clearly resonated with you. I think I speak for all my comrades when I say that we are intrigued to know why.’ Borik snorted, but Bartiman pressed on. ‘So, since we’re stuck here anyway, and thus the consequences of any impending threat may well be ours to face as well as yours, indulge us. What has you so unsettled, Captain Morthan? I think you owe us that much after this evening’s events.’

‘Helena,’ she said, raising her tankard then pulling a sour face as she realised it was empty. ‘I’m Captain Morthan when I’m on duty, and this is definitely off the books.’

‘Helena, then,’ said Bartiman, looking expectantly at her.

‘I’m not sure where to start,’ said Helena. ‘It’s been weeks now. We’ve had fights, disappearances, civil disturbance, religious agitation.’

‘Nothing unusual for a large city like this,’ said Romilla.

‘No, but the unrest has risen like a flood-tide,’ said Helena. ‘And there have been all manner of strange circumstances. Grown adults dragged down and eaten by swarms of insects, if you can believe that. Babes and pets snatched from homes, incidences of sudden and inexplicable insanity that have spread like plague. Why, two days ago there was a riot in Fountains Square when a homewife started screaming of great eyes in the sky, and then others near her took up the panicked cry, but then another faction attacked them. Shouted at them to stop “angering the face in the darkness”. Six people died during that fracas and another thirteen were injured, but worst of all was that everyone touched by the violence was found afterwards to have pale purple fungi growing right out of their flesh.’

A couple of the Swords made disgusted noises. Bartiman leaned so far forwards that Aelyn thought he would crawl onto the table.

‘Fascinating,’ he exclaimed. ‘Do you think that the fungus was the cause of the madness? There have been cases, so I have read, of fungal spores driving men mad with fear, anger, even cannibalistic hunger.’

‘Perhaps, but it’s far from an isolated incident,’ said Helena. ‘It’s just… I don’t know, everything, I suppose. There’s been inexplicable subsidence, animal attacks, break-ins that I simply can’t perceive motive or method for. Then there are the omens.’

‘Omens?’ asked Romilla.