‘And have I ever given you reason to doubt my loyalty?’ Satyendra fervently hoped that Rochant had not.

‘No.’ Yadavendra banged the butt of his staff on the ground. ‘You have been a steadfast friend to the house and now you are back we can take decisive action. This pleases me … But still, sometimes I think about my sister and … did I go too far?’

‘What other choice did you have?’

Yadavendra’s mouth worked silently for a moment, making ghosts of words that he could not bring himself to say. ‘I had to be strong.’

‘Of course you did, you are the High Lord of House Sapphire. All of the others follow your lead because you are strong. The strongest of them all.’

‘The strongest of them all,’ whispered Yadavendra. As quickly as it had vanished, his confidence visibly returned. ‘Now, enough of the past. Let us talk about the future. The other houses band together to challenge my rule. But what to do about them? They will make their demands tomorrow and I must answer, one way or another.’ His eyes narrowed accusingly. ‘You said they were all bluster, that they would never come if we looked ready to fight. I have armed my people and put them on the Godroad. I behave like I am hungry for war. My own people are scared of me, and it has not worked! All this,’ he lifted his glaive, ‘constant display of force. Years of it!’ he brought it down again, hard. ‘All for nothing!’

It soon became clear to Satyendra that he was expected to conjure up a solution, something brilliant. It was almost too funny to be true! He, who knew nothing of the higher level politics of the Deathless, was supposed to be Yadavendra’s guide in the darkness. Out of his depth and only vaguely aware of the rules, Satyendra did what he had done his whole life in such situations: he bluffed.

‘You were wise to make them wait until after the feasting. Whatever their authority, they are coming onto your lands. I say, keep them comfortable but give them nothing.’

‘And when they invoke the authority of the Council of High Lords? What then? It is one thing to ignore a message, which, I tell you now, I have done many times. Quite another to refuse a Deathless to their face.’

‘With what power do they remove you? They are two Deathless with a handful of loyal subjects. You are six, with a castle stuffed to the brim of the finest Sapphire. What can they possibly do to you here, in the very heart of your power?’

‘Yes. Yes! You are right.’ His smile was only brief however. ‘But what if they make demands? What if they threaten me? I have already crossed so many lines …’