Uthas sat in a chamber high in Uthandun’s keep. Unlike most of the fortresses that served as mankind’s seats of power in the Banished Lands, it was not giant made, nor stone, just timber and thatch, and so it was cramped and uncomfortable, doors too narrow, ceilings too low. There were no chairs suitable for a giant, and so Uthas and Alcyon stood behind Nathair and Calidus. The Kadoshim Sumur was also there, stood a pace behind Nathair, his eyes dark pools in a pale face.

The door opened and Rhin walked in, warriors behind her. With a wave of her hand she ordered them to remain in the corridor. Rhin shut the door and sat. She looked tired, dark shadows beneath her eyes. Uthas felt a wave of sympathy for her. She had been many things to him over the years – his enemy, his captor, torturer, saviour, and finally, strangely, friend. But he knew he could not help her now. Calidus glowered at her in her chair. Slowly she raised her eyes and met his gaze. A silence grew. She did not look away.

‘Well?’ Calidus eventually said, his voice breaking the quiet like a whip-crack.

‘We were outmanoeuvred,’ Rhin said. ‘A battle lost, not the war.’

Calidus slowly stood, the leather of his surcoat creaking. With deliberate steps he walked around the table to Rhin and stood beside her. He laid a hand on her shoulder. She twitched.

‘You have made a mistake,’ Calidus said, a whisper that filled the room.

‘Yes, I ca—’

‘No,’ Calidus said. ‘Do not shame yourself with excuses. There are no pretences amongst us, Asroth’s inner circle.’

Rhin’s eyes darted to Nathair.

‘Yes,’ Nathair said with a cold smile. ‘I have been enlightened.’

‘That is . . . good,’ Rhin whispered.

‘It is,’ Calidus agreed. ‘What is not so good is letting Meical and his Bright Star slip through your fingers, and allowing my fleet to be destroyed. Ships that were to take us, take the cauldron, to Tenebral.’

After a long silence Rhin finally spoke.

‘I am sorry.’ Rhin said. Uthas saw her shoulder twitch again beneath Calidus’ hand.

‘I am sure that you are,’ Calidus said, his voice calm, matter-of-fact. ‘But good intentions alone will not win us this war.’ He muttered, his hand upon Rhin’s shoulder moved, fingers contracting, a black mist flowing from his palm, slipping about Rhin’s throat like a dawn mist, heavy and slow. Rhin gasped, her mouth opening wide.

‘Do not try to speak,’ Calidus said, calm as before, ‘you’ll only find that you cannot. Only listen.’ He bent close, lips almost brushing her ear. ‘Asroth rewards, but he also punishes. Faithfulness is good. Faithfulness and success is better. Failure, on the other hand . . .’