‘All right, wee bear, what’s the crack up there? Place is in uproar.’ She stomped to the low table at the room’s centre and unloaded her cargo, spilling fruit and pastries. Foss placed his crates down beside the table with great care. ‘Not that it didn’t play into our hands.’

Chel stirred from his perch. ‘What’s all this? Where did you get that?’

‘Did a bit of a tour, picked a few things up. Everyone’s tear-arsing around, nobody minded us a jot.’

‘You stole this?’

Loveless was in the doorway, a sack over one shoulder, a thick clay jug under the other arm. ‘Fuck them. You can’t rob snakes.’ She kicked the door closed behind her and strode to the table, laying her contraband beside Lemon’s. Something peeked from her jacket, a wrapped package, and she tucked it quickly back inside. ‘Where are the others? What’s the fuss? I thought I heard thunder.’

Chel rubbed his eyes and wondered where to start. ‘I don’t know where Rennic is. Kosh is still with Matil, and Tarfel is with them. In the gallery.’

‘He let you out of his sight? You’re his comfort blanket, aren’t you?’

‘I was … removed.’

Lemon was already devouring a fig. ‘Removed? What magnificence did you perform, wee bear?’

‘I demanded they reopen the city gates. Quite … strenuously.’

‘The gates are closed?’ Loveless had been halfway to sitting, but this brought her back to her feet. ‘All of them? Why the fuck are the gates closed?’

‘The main gate, the bridge to the plateau. I don’t know about the plains side. They’re closed to stop thousands of people fleeing into the city.’

‘And why are they fleeing the plateau?’

‘Because Corvel’s accursed alchemists have levelled Korowan.’ Rennic stood in the opening doorway, leaning heavily against the frame. ‘They’ve destroyed it with witchfire.’

‘How?’ Loveless had spun to face the door, her words an accusation. ‘It’s a fucking mountain of stone!’

‘Packed those kegs around the base and blew it in on itself? Battered the first gate and stacked them within? Either way, it’s gone. Where’s the Nort? She might be able to shed some light on this.’

‘With her new friend, apparently,’ Lemon said. ‘Keeping a low profile, I imagine.’

‘That’s the other thing,’ Chel said, eyes back on the plum stone. ‘Matil is Keeper now, it seems. Acting, maybe. I don’t know if Exalted Hayal herself is still alive, somewhere.’

‘What?’ The shout came from multiple directions.

‘She … fell. Just after the fortress.’ He turned to Rennic. ‘You’re sure? The fortress is really gone?’

He nodded. ‘It’s rubble and blood, the pass is blocked. They sent riders from the gatehouse, they just returned.’ He saw Chel’s look. ‘What? I know a little Serican, enough for professional courtesy.’

‘How did the riders get back in? The gates are closed.’