Skimming only inches from the surface of the Godroad, Vasin’s vision was a blur of dancing sparks, red and blue. Then there was a flash, and Vasin was driven into the air, accompanied by roars of delight from Quasim and the hunters. He gave them a quick salute and set his course for the castle, floating high above.

An hour later, he was striding through the corridors of the castle, wishing they were wider. Even twisting his body, he worried that his wings would chip on the stone. It was bad form not to go direct to the Gardener-smiths to have them removed, even worse form to barge in on another Deathless armoured, armed and caked in swamp muck. But he told himself there was no time to lose.

Despite his haste, he could not help but think of his own High Lord, and the uncomfortable feeling that from the outside his behaviour would seem like a mirror to Yadavendra’s. But by then he was committed.

Anuja received him without comment in the main throne room, though her expression made it clear he’d better have something important to say.

‘The hunt was a success,’ he began, and though she nodded, none of the tension left her. ‘Both tributes survived. We faced unprecedented numbers of Murkers and a Weeper.’

‘How many did we lose?’

‘Four hunters were lost, my lady.’ He forced himself to hold her gaze. ‘All from my flight.’

The gold around her eye flashed as she nodded. ‘And the other flights?’

‘Alive, though the Opals have a lot of injuries. Can we speak freely here?’

‘Yes.’

‘Why didn’t you warn me about the others? I’ve never hunted with such a …’ he forced himself to think, to try and remember the close ties between the three minor houses and be polite. He failed. ‘Lord Quasim has skill but all the restraint of a hungry Dogkin at dinnertime, and Lord Lakshin is possibly even worse in the sky than my brother!’

‘The Opal and Peridot lands have always been peaceful. There has never been need for them to hunt as hard as we do.’

‘It was like last time, Anuja. The demons waited for your people to land and then went for them exclusively. If they hadn’t, I suspect the losses would have been much higher in the other flights.’

‘There can be no doubt now.’ Her fists clenched in frustration. ‘But why us? What has brought such rage upon my house?’

‘I don’t know, but I intend to find out.’ He started to turn and then remembered his manners. ‘My apologies, Lady Anuja. I said I would stay to hunt for you as long as you needed me, however I must return to my own lands.’