Her face was blank with thought and then she gave a nasty little laugh. ‘It’s simple, little cousin. You back me, and you live. You stand against me,’ she started to squeeze again, ‘and you know what’s coming. Remember, all I’ve done is stay quiet. I’ll just say I was waiting for Rochant to come back before I spoke out. Or I’ll say something else. It doesn’t matter. Nobody’s going to care about me because they’ll be too busy looking at you. You kidnapped Rochant, you ordered the death of his line, and you’re the traitorous son of Nidra Un-Sapphire.

‘So,’ she added, squeezing his shoulder with renewed vigour, ‘do we understand each other?’

He could feel her fingers boring into the bones of his shoulder. The instinct to shrug her off or push her away was strong. He did neither of these things. The old Vasin acted on instinct and lashed out whenever his pride was threatened. Those luxuries were denied him now.

I cannot fight Yadavendra without Yadva’s help. I must make her think she has won, get her to underestimate me.

He lowered his head and forced himself to say: ‘Yes.’

‘There.’ She released her grip. ‘That wasn’t so hard was it? Now, let’s go join the others. I’m starving.’

She left, assuming that he would follow. He hated her for that, and hated himself for falling into step behind her.

Whatever happens to me tomorrow, I have to make sure the house is restored and the Rubies send aid. And I have to find a way to help Mother.

But, noble as those thoughts were, they did not satisfy him. In that moment, he realized that over the years something in him truly had changed. He was no longer content to hunt and play. He wanted to be High Lord. He wanted to win.

‘Why aren’t you talking?’ asked Sa-at.

Rochant closed his eyes. ‘It all happened a long time ago. To remember, I have to send my mind back there, like taking a walk through the years.’

‘You said you named it. That’s the last thing you said.’

‘I did. Names are important, especially in the Wild.’

‘Why did you call it the Scuttling Corpseman?’

‘That is probably the most important question to ask.’

‘It is?’ Sa-at felt quite pleased with himself.