Zax understood now. He nodded but she saw his fingers tighten on his spear. Clearly the man had poor self control. Though that saddened her, it also hardened her resolve.

‘So there is no misunderstanding, I will make myself crystal clear: you will do what I say, when I say it, and nothing more. If you shame yourselves in my house again, I will pass that shame to the High Lord. Do you understand?’

They all straightened at that, speaking in unison: ‘Yes, Honoured Mother Chandni.’

She noted that the gap between them had suddenly got wider and passed through it, head held high. She also noted that they all knew who she was, which proved her point rather nicely.

The Gardener-smith had been busy while she’d been away. Each sapphire piece of armour had been lovingly removed, polished and returned to its stand, leaving a diminished Pik shivering in a corner, despite the heat. Though he was wearing Satyendra’s clothes, he had never looked less like her son.

‘Put the cloak on,’ said Chandni.

‘But it’s so hot in here, Honoured Mother.’

She didn’t bother answering that, glaring at Pik until he’d put on the cloak, and then pulling the hood as far forward as she could. ‘Are you ready to go?’

Pik shook his head. ‘I can’t. The hunters are out there!’

‘Yes. They’re going to escort us back to Satyendra’s room.’

‘But they’ll see me, they’ll know I’m not him.’

‘Not if you keep your head down and your mouth shut.’

‘But they’ll know!’ repeated Pik, the last word stretching out into a whine.

Before she could reply, a familiar voice came from behind her, making all three of them jump. ‘For once, I’m afraid I have to agree with Pik.’

She span round to find Satyendra standing there in a servant’s cloak, a sly smile on his face. For a moment she couldn’t decide whether to hug him or hit him. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Isn’t it obvious, Mother? I’m saving us.’ He began to shrug out of his clothes and she got Pik to do the same, facilitating the swap.

‘That was brave of you,’ she said, ‘but foolish. The hunters must have seen you. How are we going to explain that?’

‘The hunters see what they want to see,’ scoffed Satyendra, ‘a servant, nothing more. Besides, they were too busy recovering from the dressing-down you gave them.’

‘You saw that?’

‘I did,’ his smile broadened, flashing in the bright light of the chamber, ‘and I loved it. I think one of them was trying not to cry.’

‘It was my duty. I took no pleasure in it.’ He raised his eyebrows and she couldn’t help but smile. ‘Well, perhaps just a little.’

‘You were magnificent,’ he said.

‘Thank you. Now, the High Lord is waiting. Are you ready to be magnificent?’

‘I suppose so.’