He smiled at her, keeping his thoughts locked within a cage of teeth. Enjoy the feeling while you can. ‘It’s funny, I’ve been terrified of this moment all these years but now it’s here I feel …’ Furious? Betrayed? Trapped? ‘… calm. I suppose there’s nothing to fear any more.’

‘Oh Satyendra,’ she whispered, stepping forward to embrace him.

‘Might I ask one thing before I go to present myself to the Bringers?’

‘Of course.’

‘I’d like to say goodbye to some of my friends amongst the hunters, and say thank you to Story-singer Ban for being so patient with me over the years.’

‘Yes.’ She gave him a sad smile. ‘He would appreciate that.’

‘And then, afterwards, might we have some private time together, before …’

Her tears were flowing freely now. ‘Yes. Yes, I promise. It’s the least I can do.’

‘Be brave, Mother. It isn’t for much longer now.’ He hugged her again, suddenly aware that he was taller than her. Perhaps I have grown, or perhaps she is shrivelling up. With her defences down it was tempting to plant a barb, something to make her suffer. One well-crafted sentence was all it would take. The idea stirred his hunger. But no, he had to keep her in this state, off balance and unfocused, if he was to succeed. ‘When it is time, I may need help.’ He looked down as if hiding shame, when in truth he wanted to avoid his mother’s scrutiny. ‘Can I count on you?’

‘Yes, always.’

‘It’s just, if the fear comes back, I might need a little push and it would make it easier if I knew you were here to help me make my last preparations. I mean, instead of the servants.’

He could see her weighing it up in her mind. She would have many things to oversee in the castle tonight, things that could take her all over. But he needed her out of the way, and to know exactly where she was.

‘Yes,’ she said at last. ‘It will take a bit of arranging, but I will be here when you get back.’

‘Thank you. I think I can do this, Mother, if you’re with me.’

He could see her trying not to cry again. Tears of joy were collecting in the corners of her eyes, and tears of pride. Useless tears. ‘Please don’t,’ he said, the slightest tinge of irritation betrayed in his tone – oh, so you want me to go quietly and to feel sorry for you as well! – ‘or you’ll set me off too.’

They hugged one more time and Satyendra left his chambers. Let them all think he had come to terms with his fate. Then, when his mother was ensconced in his room and the rest of the castle was busy dealing with the Bringers of Endless Order, he would make his escape.