‘I don’t think we’re going to get much out of him when he’s in this condition,’ King Wargun growled. ‘I’ve been through that sort of thing myself, and I know. Give him some wine. He’ll be more or less coherent when his hands stop shaking.’

Kalten looked at Sir Nashan, and the plump Pandion pointed at an ornate cabinet in the corner. ‘It’s only for medicinal purposes, Lord Vanion,’ Nashan explained quickly.

‘Of course,’ Vanion said.

Kalten opened the cabinet and took out a crystal decanter of Arcian red wine. He poured a large goblet full and handed it to Krager. The suffering man spilled half of it, but he did manage to get the rest down. Kalten poured him another. And then another. Krager’s hands began to grow more steady. He looked around, blinking. ‘I see that I’ve fallen into the hands of mine enemies,’ he said in a voice made rusty by years of hard drinking. ‘Ah well,’ he shrugged, ‘fortunes of war, I suppose.’

‘Your situation here is not enviable,’ Lord Abriel told him ominously.

Ulath took out a whetstone and began sharpening his axe. It made a very unpleasant sound.

‘Please,’ Krager said wearily, ‘I’m not feeling well. Spare me the melodramatic threats. I’m a survivor, gentlemen. I fully understand the situation here. I’ll co-operate with you in exchange for my life.’

‘Isn’t that just a bit contemptible?’ Bevier sneered.

‘Of course it is, Sir Knight,’ Krager drawled, ‘but I’m a contemptible sort of person – or hadn’t you noticed? Actually, I deliberately placed myself in a position so that you could capture me. Martel’s plan was very good – as far as it went – but when it started to fall apart, I decided that I didn’t really want to share his fortunes when they were on the decline. Let’s save time, gentlemen. We all know that I’m too valuable to kill. I know too much. I’ll tell you everything I know in exchange for my life, my freedom and ten thousand gold crowns.’

‘What about your loyalties?’ Patriarch Ortzel asked sternly.

‘Loyalty, Your Grace?’ Krager laughed. ‘To Martel? Don’t be absurd. I worked for Martel because he paid me well. We both knew that. But now you’re in a position to offer me something of much greater value. Do we have a bargain?’

‘Some time on the rack might lower your asking price a bit,’ Wargun told him.

‘I’m not a robust man, King Wargun,’ Krager pointed out, ‘and my health’s never been what you’d call very good. Do you really want to gamble on my expiring under the ministrations of your torturers?’

‘Let it lie,’ Dolmant said. ‘Give him what he wants.’

‘Your Grace is a wise and gracious man.’ Krager laughed suddenly. ‘Awfully sorry about the pun there, Patriarch Dolmant. It was accidental, I assure you.’