‘He’s quick though. Could it be that their High Lord has raised him as a new Deathless to replace Rochant? It seems illogical but this is Yadavendra we’re talking about.’ She poked him on the arm. ‘And what about you? What was going on between you two? I swear you’d have been teasing each other’s tongues if I hadn’t been there.’

‘I … it’s difficult to put into words.’

‘Now I really have to know.’

‘At first, I couldn’t see him at all. His face was a mask and his words were … untethered.’

‘I don’t follow?’

‘I couldn’t link them to him, to his heart. I couldn’t tell if his feelings were behind them or not. But then, when he was close, I saw him.’ Arkav looked past her and his pupils dilated, as if he were reliving the moment. ‘There is an emptiness inside him. A need that is constantly being held back. A hunger. Yes. I saw him, and he saw me. It was like looking into a mirror of the broken bits of myself.’ He gave her a shy look. ‘I like him.’

‘Sometimes, Arkav, and I say this with great fondness, I am convinced you will be the final death of me. Putting aside your feelings, important as they no doubt are, we’ve agreed this man is not Lord Rochant Sapphire. He might be Deathless, he might not. Either way, we need to let Lord Vasin know without drawing attention to ourselves. Preferably before tomorrow’s business.’

‘I take it you have a plan?’

‘No. But I will have by morning, count on it.’

The suns were only just starting to rise as Chandni finished her morning preparations. Tradition had been served and, as much as she knew she should probably wait, she could not bear it any longer. She would pay her respects to Lord Rochant, and then put her fate in his hands.

The last piece of the mosaic sat on her dressing table. It was a lower middle piece, and depicted the linked hands of the people in the picture. As she peered closer she could see that clasped between their fingers was a miniature version of the same mosaic, the picture partly replicated again inside itself. She wanted to get out the other pieces and finally complete the image but it seemed wrong to do so before she had seen her lord.

It took her longer than usual to get ready. Being nervous did not sit well with her perfectionism. A hand she couldn’t feel didn’t help either. Luckily she had planned for all of these things, and allowed plenty of time to cater for her foibles.

She was surprised to hear one of the young lads from the kitchens singing for entrance. She quickly hid the mosaic piece as he came in with some fruit and fish, and set in on her bedside table.

‘What’s this?’