'I thank you for your part in our deliverance,' said Jezal. 'You have our gratitude. The war between the Union and the North is at an end. The tyrant Bethod is dead, and there is a new order. I am proud to call the man who threw him down my friend. Logen Ninefingers! King of the Northmen!' He beamed, holding out his hand. 'It is fitting that we should stride into this bold new future as brothers.'

'Aye,' said Logen, pushing himself painfully up from his chair. 'Right.' He folded Jezal in a hug, slapped him on the back with a thump that echoed round the great chamber. 'Reckon we'll be staying our side of the Whiteflow from now on. Unless my brother has trouble down here, of course.' He swept the sullen old men in the front row with a graveyard scowl. 'Don't make me fucking come back here.' He sat down in the big chair and frowned out. The Bloody-Nine might not have known too much about politics, but he knew how to make a threat alright.

'We won the war!' Jezal rattled the golden hilt of his sword, then slid it smoothly back through the clasp on his belt. 'Now we must win the peace!'

'Well said, your Majesty, well said!' The red-faced drunkard stood, not giving anyone the chance to get a word in. 'Then only one order of business remains before the Open Council stands in recess.' He turned with an oily smile and a hand-rubbing bow. 'Let us offer our thanks to Lord Bayaz, the First of the Magi, who, by the wisdom of his council and the power of his Art, drove out the invader and saved the Union!' He began to clap. The cripple Glokta joined him, then Duke Orso.

A burly lord in the front row sprang up. 'Lord Bayaz!' he roared, smashing his fat hands together. Soon the whole hall was resounding with reluctant applause. Even Heugen joined in. Even Isher, although he had a look on his face as if he was clapping at his own burial. Logen let his hands stay where they were. If he was honest, he felt a touch sick even being there. Sick and angry. He slumped back in his chair, and kept on frowning.

Jezal watched the great worthies of the Union file unhappily out of the Chamber of Mirrors. Great men. Isher, Barezin, Heugen, and all the rest. Men that he had once gaped at the sight of. All humbled. He could hardly keep the smile from his face as they grumbled their helpless discontent. It felt almost like being a king, until he caught sight of his queen.