The hall beyond was like a temple, but it would have swallowed whole even the great temple in Shaffa, where thousands called hourly out to God. It dwarfed the lofty dome where Jezal dan Luthar had been given a crown. It was an expanse that made even the vastness of ruined Aulcus seem petty. A place crowded with solemn shadows, peopled with sullen echoes, bounded by angry, unyielding stone. The tomb of long-dead giants.

The grave of forgotten gods.

Yulwei and Bayaz stood at its centre. Tiny, insect figures in an ocean of gleaming darkness. Ferro pressed herself to the cold rock, striving to pick their words out from the sea of echoes.

'Go to the armoury and find some of the Maker's blades. I will go up, and bring… that other thing.'

Bayaz turned away, but Yulwei caught him by the arm. 'First answer me one question, brother.'

'What question?'

'The same one I always ask.'

'Again? Even now? Very well, if you must. Ask.'

The two old men stood still for the longest time. Until the last echoes had faded and left only a silence as heavy as lead. Ferro held her breath.

'Did you kill Juvens?' Yulwei's whisper hissed through the darkness. 'Did you kill our master?'

Bayaz did not flinch. 'I made mistakes, long ago. Many mistakes, I know. Some out in the ruined west. Some here, in this place. The day does not pass when I do not regret them. I fought with Khalul. I ignored my master's wisdom. I trespassed in the House of the Maker. I fell in love with his daughter. I was proud, and vain, and rash, all this is true. But I did not kill Juvens.'

'What happened that day?'

The First of the Magi spoke the words as though they were lines long rehearsed. 'Kanedias came to take me. For seducing his daughter. For stealing his secrets. Juvens would not give me up. They fought, I fled. The fury of their battle lit the skies. When I returned, the Maker was gone, and our master was dead. I did not kill Juvens.'

Again a long silence, and Ferro watched, frozen. 'Very well.' Yulwei let fall his hand from Bayaz' arm. 'Mamun lied, then. Khalul lied. We will fight against them together.'

'Good, my old friend, good. I knew that I could trust you, as you can trust me.' Ferro curled her lip. Trust. It was a word that only liars used. A word the truthful had no need of. The First of the Magi's footsteps rang out as he strode towards one of the many archways and vanished into the gloom.

Yulwei watched him go. Then he gave a sharp sigh, and padded off in the other direction, his bangles jingling on his thin arms. The echoes of his passing slowly faded, and Ferro was left alone with the shadows, wrapped in silence.