As she expected, Yadavendra remained in his armour, which made the normally spacious room seem cramped and the furniture undersized. A bottle of wine had been set next to a bowl of soup, and she wondered if it was the same one from lunch. Both appeared untouched.

‘Honoured Mother,’ he said, beaming.

‘High Lord,’ she replied with a deep bow. ‘How may I serve?’

‘Rest assured, we will come to that. But first, I wished to express my satisfaction with your son.’ He pointed at her. ‘And with you. Any fears I had at the fitting were banished during our lunch together. He really has our beloved Rochant’s aspect, don’t you think?’

‘It pleases me to hear you say so, High Lord.’

‘Uncanny. But what impresses me most is the way he thinks. He has Rochant’s way of coming at a problem and cutting through it. If my old friend is the sword of the house, then your Satyendra is the knife.’

He paused long enough for her to consider saying something.

‘Would that I could have both weapons at my disposal. Alas, it cannot be. Did you know, Satyendra suggested that I make him a new Deathless instead of using him as a vessel?’

‘I did not.’ She felt the heat of shame on her throat and cheeks as she bowed again. ‘I can only apologize, my High Lord.’

As she straightened, she saw that his smile remained bright and broad. Perhaps a little too broad to be entirely comforting. He leaned forward, the intensity of his presence magnified in the intimate space, and she found herself wanting to back away, to put distance between herself and the room, between herself and her High Lord. But she didn’t. Her posture remained straight, her face free of any misgivings.

‘Apologize? For showing initiative?’ Yadavendra laughed. ‘Would that the rest of my family follow his example.’ He put a hand on her right shoulder and she could feel, not heat exactly, but the weight of his personality radiating from the gauntlet, pressing down on her. ‘Today has shown me beyond all doubt that Satyendra is ready to fulfil his duty to the house. The Bringers of Endless Order are on their way and will arrive this very night. In the morning, I will have them conduct the rebirth ceremony.’

Unable to bow with his hand still on her shoulder, Chandni nodded her acceptance of his words. She was unable to speak, stunned by the suddenness of it all. I’ve known this was coming and yet I didn’t think it would be now. She knew she should be honoured, but all she could think about was Satyendra’s crumpled face, desperate, teary. He would be devastated when she told him, and she determined that it had to be her that brought the news.

‘You’re quiet,’ said Yadavendra, leaning down to peer at her.