'What now?' Jezal finally turned to face him. He was surprised to see that the Magus had shed his robes of state in favour of his old travel-stained coat, the heavy boots he had worn on their ill-fated journey into the ruined west. 'Going somewhere?' asked Jezal, hardly daring even to hope.

'I am leaving Adua. Today.'

'Today?' It was the most Jezal could do to stop himself leaping in the air and screaming for joy. He felt like a prisoner stepping from his stinking dungeon and into the bright sunlight of freedom. Now he could rebuild the Agriont as he saw fit. He could reorganise the Closed Council, pick his own advisers. Perhaps even rid himself of that witch of a wife Bayaz had saddled him with. He would be free to do the right thing, whatever that was. He would be free to try and find out what the right thing might be, at least. Was he not the High King of the Union, after all? Who would refuse him? 'We will be sorry to lose you, of course.'

'I can imagine. There are some arrangements that we must make first, however.'

'By all means.' Anything if it meant he was rid of the old bastard.

'I have spoken with your new Arch Lector, Glokta.'

The name alone produced a shiver of revulsion. 'Have you indeed?'

'A sharp man. He has greatly impressed me. I have asked him to speak in my stead while I am absent from the Closed Council.'

'Truly?' asked Jezal, wondering whether to toss the cripple from his post directly after the Magus left the gates or to leave it a day.

'I would recommend,' said in very much the tone of an order, 'that you listen closely to his opinions.'

'Oh I will, of course. The best of luck on your journey back to…'

'I would like you, in fact, to do as he says.'

A cold knot of anger pressed at Jezal's throat. 'You would have me, in effect… obey him?'

Bayaz' eyes did not deviate from his own. 'In effect… yes.'

Jezal was left momentarily speechless. For the Magus to suppose that he could come and go as he pleased, leaving his maimed lackey in charge? Above a king, in his own kingdom? The overwhelming arrogance of the man! 'You have taken a high hand of late in my affairs!' he snapped. 'I am in no mind to trade one overbearing adviser for another.'