Small dots of pink appeared in the white of the guard’s cheeks. ‘I’m here with the authority of High Lord Sapphire and in his name I say who comes and goes. Me! And if you don’t answer my questions you’ll have to sit here till you rot or go back home. I don’t care which.’ Several guards had appeared at the top of the tower, bows held casually, yet prominently in their hands.

‘I’ll take that as a yes,’ said Pari.

‘What?’

‘Clearly, you have forgotten your manners and clearly nobody’s taught you any history or you would know better than to claim authority here.’

‘What are you talking about? This is Sapphire land!’

‘No it isn’t.’

‘Yes it is!’

‘No,’ Pari replied, smiling a sweet smile and pointing at the nearby trees. ‘That is Sapphire land.’ She pointed at the tower. ‘That is on Sapphire land. We are on the Godroad, and the Godroad runs through your lands and mine, and the lands of all the Crystal Dynasties. It was built before even the first Deathless took breath and though it is our duty to protect it, it is also our right to use it. No one house claims ownership. No High Lord. No one.

‘So, by all means, patrol your dirt tracks and pathways, but do not think anyone has the authority to block me using any part of the Godroad, for I am Deathless, and you, road-born, you most certainly are not.’

There was a pause as the guard tried to process this. After a moment she looked back to her fellows who all stared back, their blank faces doing the equivalent of a shrug. One or two of the bows disappeared from sight.

Pari waited for the guard to realize that she was alone and in trouble.

‘I …’ she began. ‘I …’

Pari lowered her voice. ‘I would advise apologizing, using my proper title, and then getting out of our way as quickly as possible.’

‘I’m sorry, Lady …’

‘Pari. Of House Tanzanite.’

‘Lady Pari of House Tanzanite.’

‘There. Much better.’ She gave a little wave of her hand. ‘Now, off you go.’

The guard backed away, head bowed low, and the carriage set off, swiftly leaving the tower behind. Pari gave one last regal wave to the stupefied guards and sat back in her seat to find Arkav was staring at her.

‘What is it? Something on my nose?’

‘You lied. There is no law that separates the Godroad from the rest of the land.’

‘I think lie is a bit harsh. The law is unclear. I thought my interpretation made a lot of sense.’

‘It’s wrong.’

‘Careful, Arkav, rigid thinking has always been an issue for the Sapphire, but never for us.’