‘Thank you, that’s enough, Kruppe. Believe me, I am quite capable of castigating myself without any help from you.’

‘Of course,’ the Daru murmured.

Silverfox settled her gaze on Pran Chole once more. ‘I would ask of you and your kin a question.’

‘We await, Summoner.’

‘Are there any Jaghut left?’

‘Of pure blood, we know of but one who remains in this realm. One, who hides not in the service of a god, or in service to the Houses of the Azath.’

‘And he will be found at the heart of the Pannion Domin, won’t he?’

‘Yes.’

‘Commanding K’Chain Che’Malle undead. How can that be?’

Kruppe noted the hesitation in Pran Chole as the Bonecaster replied. ‘We do not know, Summoner.’

‘And when he is destroyed, Pran Chole, what then?’

The Bonecaster seemed taken aback by the question. ‘Summoner, this is your Gathering. You are flesh and blood – our flesh and blood, reborn. When the last Jaghut is slain—’

‘A moment, if you please!’ Kruppe said, edging another step forward. Silverfox hissed in exasperation but the Daru continued. ‘Pran Chole, do you recall worthy Kruppe?’

‘I do.’

‘Worthy, clever Kruppe, yes? You said you know of but one Jaghut. No doubt accurate enough. None the less, saying such is not quite the same as saying there is but one left, is it? Thus, you are not certain, are you?’

Olar Ethil replied. ‘Mortal, other Jaghut remain. Isolated. Hidden – they have learned to hide very well indeed. We believe they exist, but we cannot find them.’

‘Yet you seek an official end to the war, do you not?’

A susurration of motion rippled through the undead ranks.

Silverfox wheeled on him. ‘How did you know, damn you?’

Kruppe shrugged. ‘Sorrow unsurpassed and unsurpassing. They in truth seek to become dust. Had they eyes, Kruppe would see the truth no plainer writ. The T’lan Imass wish oblivion.’

‘Which I would only grant if all the Jaghut on this world had ceased to exist,’ Silverfox said. ‘For that is the burden laid upon me. My intended purpose. The threat of tyranny removed, finally, once and for all time. Only then could I grant the T’lan Imass the oblivion they seek – so the Ritual demands of me, for that is a linkage that cannot be broken.’

‘You must make the pronouncement, Summoner,’ Okral Lorn said.

‘Yes,’ she replied, still glaring at Kruppe.

‘Your words,’ Pran Chole added, ‘can shatter the Ritual’s bindings.’

Her head snapped round. ‘So easily? Yet-’ She faced the Daru once more, and scowled. ‘Kruppe, you force into the open an unpleasant truth—’

‘Aye, Silverfox, but not the same truth as that which you seem to see. No, Kruppe has unveiled a deeper one, far more poignant.’

She crossed her arms. ‘And that is?’