‘There was a frozen moment, the whole room staring at Raina and Tain, the two giants looking around the room with disdain at those gathered there.

‘Raina?’ a voice grated. ‘Tain?’

It was Alcyon. His face had drained of all colour, skin as pale as if he’d been dead a ten-night.

Then he smiled.

‘Raina, Tain,’ he repeated.

‘Alcyon,’ Raina whispered.

‘Get them out of here,’ Calidus hissed.

‘No,’ Alcyon said, taking a step, reaching a hand out.

‘Now,’ Calidus yelled.

The eagle-guard behind the giants must have tugged on their collars, for they were both jerked backwards.

‘No,’ Alcyon snarled, reaching for his hammer. Then the strangest thing happened.

He froze, his arm part-raised, then, slowly, tremblingly, he lowered his arm, his face smoothed of all emotion and he passively watched Raina and Tain as they were dragged shouting from the room.

The door slammed shut, the giants’ cries fading down the corridor.

Calidus said something to Alcyon and the giant took a step back, resuming his position behind Nathair’s chair.

Fidele frowned. She noticed that Veradis was looking concerned at the turn of events as well.

‘So,’ Nathair said, resting his elbows on the arms of his chair and steepling his fingers, appearing as if nothing unusual had just happened. ‘Tenebral. Our home. There can be no conflict, no state of war within my own realm. Veradis has spoken to me briefly of the various grievances and accusations between you, but for the sake of clarity I will have him recount the disputes now, for all to hear. Then, if any disagree, they can speak up now. Once we have dealt with this I will not go back to it.’ He looked at them all, then nodded to Veradis, who tore his frowning gaze away from the now-mute Alcyon and stepped forward.

Veradis stood between them and began to talk. He spoke of the rebellion within Tenebral, the factors that he thought had contributed – the insensitively handled influx of the Vin Thalun and their ways, including the legalizing of fighting-pits, the order of Peritus’ execution, the wedding of Fidele to Lykos, clearly unpopular amongst the people of Tenebral, especially so when Fidele’s first husband Aquilus had ruled the realm for so long and was a figure of such great popularity and respect. Veradis criticized Lykos’ handling of the power given to him, his hasty resort to violence rather than negotiation, his inability to politick.

For a while Veradis’ words filled the room, an ebb and flow to them as he recounted the facts as he understood them.

The reality was worse, far, far worse than you even begin to touch upon.

Fidele realized Veradis had stopped talking and was looking at her. He took a deep breath, as if steeling himself for battle.

‘Lady Fidele has accused Lykos of terrible things,’ Veradis said, ‘misuse and abuse of power, manipulation, murder . . .’ He paused again, took another deep breath. ‘Sorcery.’