Coll, hand settling on the grip of his sword, fear rising to lodge in his throat, stepped into the Elder God’s path. ‘Hold,’ he growled. His heart pounded as he locked gazes with K’rul, seeing in those eyes ... nothing. Nothing at all. ‘If you’re planning on opening her throat on that altar, well, Elder God or not, I won’t make it easy for you,’

Rath’Togg’s toothless mouth dropped open in a gasp on the other side of the pit.

The Knight of Death made a sound that might have been laughter, then said in a voice that was no longer his own, ‘Mortals are nothing if not audacious.’

Murillio moved up to stand at Coll’s side, raising a trembling hand to close on the hilt of his rapier.

K’rul glanced at the undead champion and smiled. ‘Their most admirable gift, Hood.’

‘Until it turns belligerent, perhaps. Then, it is best answered by annihilation.’

‘Your answer, yes.’ The Elder God faced Coll. ‘I have no desire to harm the Mhybe. Indeed, I am here for her ... salvation.’

‘Well then,’ snapped Murillio, ‘maybe you can explain why there’s a burial pit in here!’

‘That shall become clear in time ... I hope. Know this: something has happened. Far to the south. Something ... unexpected. The consequences are unknown – to us all. None the less, the time has come for the Mhybe—’

‘And what does that mean, precisely?’ Coll demanded.

‘Now,’ the Elder God replied, moving past him to kneel before the Mhybe, ‘she must dream for real.’

They were gone. Gone from her soul, and with their departure – with what Itkovian had done, was doing – all that she had hoped to achieve had been torn down, left in ruins.

Silverfox stood motionless, cold with shock.

Kallor’s brutal attack had revealed yet another truth – the T’lan Ay had abandoned her. A loss that twisted a knife blade into her soul.

Once more, betrayal, the dark-hearted slayer of faith. Nightchill’s ancient legacy. Tattersail and Bellurdan Skullcrusher both – killed by the machinations of Tayschrenn, the hand of the Empress. And now . . . Whiskeyjack. The two marines, my twin shadows for so long. Murdered.

Beyond the kneeling T’lan Imass waited the K’Chain Che’Malle undead. The huge creatures made no move towards the T’lan Imass – yet. They need only wade into the ranks, blades chopping down, and begin destroying. My children are beyond resistance. Beyond caring. Oh, ltkovian, you noble fool.