‘That would be a shame; it is a magnificent creature, and useful.’

Calidus shrugged. ‘It is bonded to Nathair, would tear even me apart in his defence. If Nathair is to die, the draig must be killed too.’

‘And Nathair?’

‘If it comes to it, Alcyon will take care of him.’

They approached Nathair in silence. The King of Tenebral was spooning something from a bowl. When he saw them approaching he stepped closer to his draig and gave it the remnants of his meal. A long black tongue licked around the bowl, the creature nudging Nathair with its broad flat muzzle. Absently, Nathair scratched its chin and tugged on a long fang. Alcyon took a step back, his eyes fixed on Calidus.

‘We are ready to leave,’ Calidus said to Nathair, conversationally.

‘So I see.’

‘It is time for you to make your choice.’

‘I’m not sure I can,’ Nathair muttered, massaging his temple.

Calidus stared at him with a hint of a smile. ‘You already have made it. You are just struggling with the final step. You realize if you continue on this path there can be no going back for you.’

Nathair snorted. ‘You appear to know me better than I know myself.’

‘I do, Nathair. We have been through much together, you and I. Risked much. Dared much. Gained much. And here we are on the brink.’

‘You deceived me,’ Nathair whispered. He looked intensely at Calidus, and for a moment Uthas caught a flash of real pain in the young King’s eyes.

Betrayal is hard to bear. I saw that same look in Nemain’s eyes when she realized the truth about me.

Calidus returned the gaze calmly.

‘You know I had no choice. You would not have understood. If you were in my position you would have done exactly the same. For the greater good. Have you not done things that others would consider questionable, for the greater good?’

Nathair winced at those words, as if they brought him physical pain. ‘I have,’ he said, a whisper.

‘And have you not withheld information, even from those you value and trust? Veradis, for example? Again for the greater good.’

‘Aye.’ Louder this time.

‘Well, what I have done and will do is for the greater good – I am offering you a chance to fulfil your vision, to see an empire bring peace to these Banished Lands.’

‘Over a mountain of bodies.’

‘Was there ever going to be any other way? How many have already died for your visions of peace? This is no different. You and Asroth share the same vision: a world of order, of peace, where the powerful are able to make decisions to better lives without politics or bureaucracy getting in the way. You are stumbling over concepts – good and evil, right and wrong. Asroth has been depicted in the history of your world by his enemy – of course you will think him evil. But he is not. He is like you, a sentient creature with the ability to choose. Our base instinct is to survive, and sometimes to survive you must fight. This is not a game; it is a fight for life or death. But I promise you this, give you my oath: if we win, we will create an empire that will be everything you ever dreamed of.’ Calidus paused and stared keenly into Nathair’s eyes, holding him. ‘Join us. I will not lie, we need you.’