“Significant,” Maithanet conceded, “but only as a signal, the way birds tell sailors of unseen land.”

“Hmm. Yet another unfriendly shore.” She studied his expression, watched the smoke tailings of an oil-lamp break about his hair and scalp. She had said this as a joke, but her scrutiny made it seem more of a test.

Maithanet smiled and nodded. “With my brother and his stalwarts gone, all the embers that we failed to stamp out during the Unification will leap back into flame.”

“What Nel-Saripal dares, others will also?”

“There can be no doubt.”

She found herself frowning. “So the Consult should no longer be our first priority? Is that what you’re saying?”

“No. Only that we need to throw our nets wider. Think of the host my brother has assembled. The first sons of a dozen nations. The greatest magi of all the Schools. Short of the No-God’s resurrection, nothing can save Golgotterath. The Consult’s only hope is to fan the embers, to throw the New Empire into turmoil, if not topple it altogether. The Ainoni have a saying, ‘When the hands are strong, attack the feet.’”

“But who, Maitha? After so much blood and fire, who could be so foolish as to raise arms against Kellhus?”

“The well of fools has no bottom, Esmi. You know that. You can assume that for every Fanayal who opposes us openly, there are ten who skulk in the shadows.”

“Just so long as they’re not so canny,” she replied. “I’m not sure we could survive ten of him.”

Twenty years ago, Fanayal had ranked among the most cunning and committed foes of the First Holy War. Though the heathen Empire of Kian had been the first to topple at the Aspect-Emperor’s feet, Fanayal had somehow managed to avoid his nation’s fate. According to Phinersa’s briefings, songs of his exploits had reached as far as Galeoth. The Judges had already burned a dozen or so travelling minstrels at the stake, but the lays seemed to spread and reproduce with the stubbornness of a disease. The “Bandit Padirajah,” they were calling him. By simply drawing breath, the man had immeasurably slowed the conversion of the old Fanim governorates.