Pari examined herself for the third time. If only her face wasn’t swollen! She wasn’t usually vain about her appearance, but it was one of the few things left about the day she could control. ‘More jewellery, I think.’

Her servant added a second, longer necklace to compliment the first, and draped a string of mixed stones from the horns of her headdress. It might break my neck, but by the Thrice Blessed Suns, they’ll certainly see me coming.

‘Much better. Is Lord Arkav ready to go?’

‘Yes, my lady. He’s been asking after our progress for some time.’

‘Then we had best not keep him waiting any longer.’

Two more servants took up position behind her, kneeling down ready to pick up her train when she moved. Normally she favoured the star-shaped gowns that required four servants, but today was for Arkav to shine, not her, and so she’d toned things down.

He was waiting for her in his own finery, a long violet robe that darkened towards the bottom, spilling out in seven directions at his feet. In one hand, he held a chain from which hung a triangular lantern to represent the three minor houses, with panes of ruby, opal and peridot. In the other he held a wand topped with another lantern, four sided, for the major houses: Sapphire, Tanzanite, Spinel and Jet. Both were lit by a diamond, deftly signalling that the Bringers were behind him as well. From head to toe, Arkav sparkled, the lantern lights dancing on his heavy hooped earrings, and the many tiny stones set like stars in his sash.

Seeing him like this, it was hard to remember how frail he was inside. She hoped the illusion would be enough to convince the others.

‘You look marvellous, my dear.’

He inclined his head. ‘As do you.’

‘The lanterns are a nice touch.’

‘High Lord Priyamvada gave them to me before we set out. They were made by the Bringers.’

‘Well aren’t you blessed? She only had words for me before I set out.’ And not especially nice ones at that. ‘Shall we go and teach the Sapphire a lesson in style?’

‘It would be a shame to go to all this effort just to bring justice and stability to the land.’

‘I couldn’t agree more.’

It wasn’t easy for the servants to carry both of their outfits in such close proximity, and Pari quickly took pity on them, allowing Arkav to walk in front, though she did mutter quietly about the corridors being too narrow. At least they were better than the ones in the House Ruby castles. The one time she had visited there, it had felt like being threaded through a succession of needles.

Many, many guards lined the walls as they walked, all armed and stony faced. ‘I think they’re trying to make a statement,’ she said to Arkav.

‘Really?’ he replied. ‘I hadn’t noticed.’