‘I made compact with the Wild. Once to keep myself alive, and a second time to keep my son alive. I intended to confess when we returned, but my son was sick, and I feared that without me, he would die. He struggled sometimes, but I helped him, and in the end, he overcame the taint of the Wild and brought you back to us.’

‘You made two deals with the Wild?’

She lowered her head. ‘Yes, my lord.’

‘What were they exactly?’

‘The first was with a Hunger Tree. It saved me from the assassin’s poison and in return it took the nails from my middle finger and thumb on my right hand. They’ve never grown back.’ She showed him her gloved hands. ‘I’ve kept them covered ever since.

‘The second deal was for the Wild to protect Satyendra. I sacrificed the life of another in exchange for his. She was an exiled woman called Fiya, whose family had served our house long ago. She turned on us and I … did what I had to to protect your line. I don’t know which demon accepted Fiya’s body, but I know that one did.’

‘You killed someone, gave them to the Wild, so that a demon would protect your son?’

‘Yes, my lord.’

‘Is that why he was sick?’

‘I don’t know. So much happened to us there. A Whispercage tried to steal him. Perhaps its touch infected him. Or perhaps he caught something in the Wild. Forgive me, my lord, I hate to think that it might have been my actions that made Satyendra sick, but it is possible.

‘May I ask if you have felt strange since your return, my lord? Satyendra had an allergy to the castle’s sapphires, and resonant crystal could blister his skin.’

‘No. Any sickness your child had was purged when my soul returned.’

She put her hands to her chest. ‘That is such good news. I had hoped but was concerned.’

‘Does anyone else know of your crimes?’

She thought about Varg. He knew, and she doubted he would have told anyone else. But giving his name could place him in danger. She squeezed her hands together, aware that the nails on her left were digging into the skin on her right, but feeling nothing. ‘No, my lord.’ In this one thing, I will fail my house. I owe Varg that much.

‘Honoured Mother, your actions have doubtless saved my life, and for that, I, and House Sapphire, will always be grateful.’ When she looked up she found he was watching her, waiting to catch her eye. ‘However, you have broken our sacred trust and that cannot be ignored. After all, my people look upon you as a bastion of the house. You are an example to them. Let you be so in death as you have been in life.’