Whiskeyjack grunted. ‘You’re asking the wrong man, Captain. I’m only repeating what Silverfox has said. One thing, though, that has just occurred to me.’ He stepped closer. ‘Not a word to the Tiste Andii – not Korlat, not Anomander Rake. The Son of Darkness is an unpredictable bastard, by all accounts. And if the legend of Dragnipur is true, the curse of that sword of his is that no-one escapes its nightmare prison – their souls are chained ... for ever. You’ve cheated that, and perhaps the Hounds have as well. You’ve set an alarming ... precedent.’

Paran smiled bitterly in the darkness. ‘Cheated. Yes, I have cheated many things, even death.’ But not pain. No, that escape still eludes me. ‘You think Rake takes much comfort in the belief of his sword’s ... finality.’

‘Seems likely, Ganoes Paran, does it not?’

The captain sighed. ‘Aye.’

‘Now, let us go down to meet Silverfox.’

‘No.’

‘Damn you, Paran,’ Whiskeyjack growled. ‘This is about more than just you and her all starry-eyed. That child possesses power, and it’s vast and . . . and unknown. Kallor has murder in his eyes when he looks at her. Silverfox is in danger. The question is, do we protect her or stand aside? The High King calls her an abomination, Captain. Should Caladan Brood turn his back at the wrong moment—’

‘He’ll kill her? Why?’

‘He fears, I gather, the power within her.’

‘Hood’s breath, she’s just a—’ He stopped, realizing the venality of the assertion. Just a child? Hardly. ‘Protect her against Kallor, you said. That’s a risky position to assume, Commander. Who stands with us?’

‘Korlat, and by extension, all of the Tiste Andii.’

‘Anomander Rake?’

‘That we don’t yet know. Korlat’s mistrust of Kallor, coupled with a friendship with the Mhybe, has guided her to her decision. She says she will speak with her master when he arrives—’

‘Arrives?’

‘Aye. Tomorrow, possibly early, and if so you’d best avoid him, if at all possible.’

Paran nodded. One meeting was enough. ‘And the warlord?’

‘Undecided, we think. But Brood needs the Rhivi and their bhederin herds. For the moment, at least, he remains the girl’s chief protector.’

‘And what does Dujek think of all this?’ the captain asked.

‘He awaits your decision.’

‘Mine? Beru fend, Commander – I’m no mage or priest. Nor can I glean the child’s future.’

‘Tattersail resides within Silverfox, Paran. She must be drawn forth ... to the fore.’

‘Because Tattersail would never betray us. Yes, now I see.’

‘You needn’t sound so miserable about it, Paran.’

No? And if you stood in my place, Whiskeyjack? ‘Very well, lead on.’

‘It seems,’ Whiskeyjack said, striding to the edge of the barrow’s summit, ‘we will have to promote you to a rank equal to mine, Captain, if only to circumvent your confusion as to who commands who around here.’