‘No. You should know better than that. I wouldn’t give him the mercy of death, especially not this close to the rebirth ceremony. He’s escaped.’

Vasin thought of Rochant. Crippled and bound, with barely the strength to eat. ‘How?’

‘Lady Pari came to visit. She spoke to Rochant and then I showed her the hill where the Corpseman sleeps. When we came back, he’d gone. He’d been carried out. We don’t know numbers.’

‘What do we know?’

‘Nothing!’ Her eyes narrowed. ‘But I have my suspicions. We had no trouble while that Tanzanite bitch was between lives. Then, she comes back to me on the very eve of our plan coming to fruition … and he just happens to disappear.’

‘No. I can’t believe that. Lady Pari is our friend and ally.’

‘She loves him still! I see it in her face. You can’t trust a Tanzanite. You can’t trust anyone. If you’re to be a High Lord you must hold that truth close and never forget it.’

He pushed aside the feelings of despair stirred by his mother’s words. ‘Where is Lady Pari now?’

‘Out hunting for Rochant. She hasn’t come back so perhaps she found him.’

‘I should go after her.’

‘Yes. Find her. Find him. Before it’s too late. If he goes between lives all is lost.’

He turned to go, then stopped. ‘Don’t give up hope in Lady Pari yet.’

‘They are out there right now laughing at us, Vasin! Don’t you see? Pari tricked me into looking after Rochant all these years. She made me think of her as a fellow victim, but she is Rochant’s lover still. And now, it’s too late to touch her. Rochant will return with Wrath’s Tear’s ascencion, and he will destroy us both!’ She sagged against the door frame, displaying a fragility he had never seen before. ‘And there is nothing I can do. We spent everything on this gamble. I’ve nothing left.’

He went to her and scooped her into an embrace. ‘You have me.’

‘You? What use are you?’ She pushed him away. He could easily resist her in his armour, but he moved back, one hop on his Sky-legs putting her on the edge of his aura. ‘What use is an embrace to me? Look at me. Look. I am dying. I am dead.’ Her eyes bored into his. ‘Did you even bring me any food? Any drink? I am sick of foraged mush and stolen leavings.’

‘I’m sorry. I rushed here from the Ruby lands. Things are dire there, and it all comes back to Rochant. I have to find him for all our sakes.’

‘Maybe if you’d spent more time in the Sapphire lands, where you belong, this wouldn’t have happened.’

‘I had to go. They needed me.’

She turned away. ‘I needed you.’

‘I’m sorry.’