Chandni’s scowl cut her off. ‘Our arrangement hasn’t changed. I’ve always provided appropriate substitutes for the fittings and you have been well compensated for your understanding, not to mention my discretion over your own failings. I have not betrayed your secrets, I am sure you can do me the same courtesy.’

The Gardener-smith glanced at Pik. ‘The size is right, for now anyway. This lad will outgrow yours in another year.’

‘In a year this will be well behind us.’ Please let it be behind us.

‘But what about the bond?’

It was seen by the Gardener-smiths as a sacred triangle: the Deathless soul, the perfect vessel, and the crystal skin. Each was connected to the other and together they were strong. ‘This boy shares my blood, that will have to be enough.’

The Gardener-smith grumbled but picked up a bracer from the stand and placed it carefully on Pik’s forearm. Then, with a false nail on her little finger, she pricked his hand, touching a daub of blood to the crystal to wake it.

It felt wrong to stay and watch, and so Chandni retreated to the entrance of the chamber. She hadn’t been there long when a young guard arrived at speed. It was a few moments before he could speak but she already knew what he was going to say by the manner of his arrival and the strained look in his eyes.

‘Honoured Mother, High Lord Yadavendra is here. He wants to see you and Lord Rochant’s Honoured Vessel immediately.’

‘Tell him we are just having a fitting and will be with him shortly.’ She gave a moment of silent appreciation to Roh. ‘Tell him we have food prepared and will send it to him while he waits.’

‘Forgive me, Honoured Mother. The High Lord is aware of the fitting. When I say he is here, I mean he is following right behind. The captain knows how much you hate surprises so he sent me ahead.’

Her heart began to thud heavily in her chest. ‘Give the captain my thanks. Now guard this door and don’t let anyone in until we’re ready, not even the High Lord, do you understand?

‘Honoured Mother?’

‘Do as I say!’ she snapped, and rushed back into the chamber.

When his mother had left, Satyendra counted to a hundred in his mind, making sure to pause between each number. One of the many annoying things about being an Honoured Vessel was that it was hard to go anywhere without being noticed. And nobody could know what he was about to do.

He pushed himself off from the back of the wardrobe and listened through the door. There were no sounds and no shadows visible through the frosted glass. He opened it a crack and listened again before stepping out.