A muttering swept across the rooftop, and the guests unfroze. Several, the ones with the closest ties to Dukarr, began to head surreptitiously for the stairs. Others clustered together to hastily discuss what had just happened. Chetta saw Kennevario Xudine staring at her expressionlessly. Was he wondering what he’d just got himself into?

The Celestarch of Belisarius flashed Chetta a vicious smile. Perhaps running with the Vlka Fenryka gave one an appreciation for such head-on conflict.

‘What have you done?’ Vittariel demanded, grabbing her by the shoulder and hauling her around to face him. Chetta winced and hissed in pain as her hip stabbed at her, and she steadied herself with her cane to avoid falling. Luc Krane stepped forwards instinctively, then paused, uncertain how to proceed when one Brobantis Navigator was laying hands on another.

‘I’ve changed the rules of the game,’ Chetta snapped at Vittariel, shaking his hand loose. ‘Now we adapt, or we die.’

Pieces

Pieces

Chetta had ensured that the ceremony had finished properly, although perhaps a little quickly. The mortal remains of Lord Azariel would now be taken down into the House Brobantis catacombs, down where outsiders would never be permitted, and interred with great honour. Somehow, Vittariel had kept a lid on his temper for that long.

It had just come off.

‘You are a reckless fool!’ he spat at her. She’d at least managed to get him into the family-only areas, away from prying eyes and ears, but now he stood and raged.

‘I appear to be the only one with the will and foresight to do what needs to be done!’ Chetta shouted back at him. ‘Doom other children of this house to misery if you wish, Vittar – I will not see it done to mine!’

‘If Azariel knew–’

‘Oh, he knew!’ Chetta snapped. ‘I told him! I told him many a time! “Wait,” he always said, “perhaps the omens will change again.” Well they didn’t, and now my husband is dead, and I will not lose my children as well!’

‘Perhaps,’ Jalamar Jo’Sin put in from further up the corridor, ‘your grief has affected your judgement?’

‘Krane!’ Chetta shouted, rounding on Jalamar. ‘Can you please explain to me why this man has been allowed into the Brobantis residence?’ He’d at least had the decency to leave his aide outside, but that wasn’t good enough.

‘He is here as my guest,’ Morandia said coldly, interposing herself between Jalamar and Chetta, as though she’d been about to strike him. Which in truth, currently greatly appealed.

‘And why,’ Chetta asked, unable to restrain herself from drawing the proverbial knives, ‘are you in here, my lady of Jo’Sin?’

For the second time in the space of an hour, everything went very quiet. Morandia’s throat muscles moved as she fought to restrain herself.

‘I was born and bred in this palace, you ignorant grox-fondler–’