‘Look at me, Pari. This isn’t living, it’s suffering. I’d rather die than go on this way. I’m sick of letting House Tanzanite down, and I’m sick of being a thing that you or the High Lord have to look after. I’ve had enough of pity.’ He gave a short, sharp shake of his head. ‘I don’t want to be a burden any more.’

She took his hands. ‘You know I’ve never seen you that way.’

‘I know, and I love you for it. But it isn’t enough.’

He kept hold of her hands while they waited. When they broke their circle, a different Bringer stepped forward to speak with them. Despite the identical dress, Pari could see that this one was of stouter build and, she was fairly sure, female, where the last had been male.

‘Do you have your armour with you?’

‘We both do,’ Pari replied.

‘Good. When you have discharged your duty with the Sapphire, meet me on the edge of the chasm beneath Lord Rochant’s castle. Come after sunsset.’

Pari nodded. ‘You’re going to help us?’

‘Yes.’

‘Thank you.’

The Bringer’s eyes widened. ‘You may not wish to thank me when this is over.’

‘Why are you helping us?’ asked Arkav. She saw he was looking at the other Bringers, some of whom had turned away. For the first time they appeared like separate clumps of people, rather than one mass. They are not all in agreement. Someone’s pride has been hurt in all this. Suns, they are no better than we are!

‘It is our role to shepherd the soul from one body to the next. In this, Lord Arkav, we have failed you. And,’ she added, a little excitement creeping into her voice, ‘such a thing has not been attempted in over a thousand years.’

Pari decided not to ask why. ‘We’ll be there.’

‘Before you come to us, you will pay your respects to the recently returned Lord Rochant, yes?’

Pari fought to keep the frown from her face. She wasn’t sure where this was going but Rochant was the last person she wanted to see. ‘Of course,’ she said. ‘It would be rude not to.’

The Bringer was already walking past her, the others following. It seemed the conversation was over. Stunned, Arkav and Pari watched them go.

‘Well,’ she remarked when they were well out of earshot, ‘I suppose that explains why nobody ever invites the Bringers to dinner.’

‘They are unhappy about Lord Rochant’s rebirth.’

‘Aren’t we all?’

Arkav ignored her sarcasm. ‘Their mood was off when they first arrived and it darkened again when his name was mentioned.’

Pari frowned. ‘They want us to go and see him. No, they want us to see something about him. But what?’

‘There’s only one way to find out.’