‘That is not what my colleague means,’ Tayan said, swallowing hard when Enet caressed the bare arm of the slave kneeling by her side. Pilos ignored her: he knew from experience that there was no one with as much talent at getting under the skin of others as the Great Octave.

‘We are here to discuss how to end the war,’ Tayan finished.

Pilos shrugged. ‘Agree to join us in the Empire. Allow us to bring you under the song, for your own benefit and to learn of the Singer’s great love for all people. If you spurn this gift we offer you, then what choice do we have but war? It is the will of the Singer and therefore to your own glorification.’ He spread scarred hands. ‘Though I am a warrior and some would say my trade is death, it would please my heart to welcome you as friends with no more blood between us.’

‘There will always be blood between us,’ Betsu grunted, ‘because every pyramid you build is mortared with it. Your entire society is built on death and the cold-hearted murder of innocents to feed your fucking Drowned. I said I don’t want any!’ she snapped to the slave offering her a platter of fruit, shoving him away so hard she tipped it out of his hands. He stilled in horror and then spun to Enet and prostrated himself. Pilos could smell the fear on him even from here.

‘The fault was mine,’ Betsu said quickly, realising her error. ‘Your … This man did nothing wrong. Forgive me.’ She reached for the fruit and Enet raised her forefinger, stilling her.

The women watched each other for so long Pilos thought the air – and the slave between them – would catch fire. He knew Betsu would go to the slave’s defence if Enet passed judgement she didn’t like, regardless of how it affected this peace-weaving. He wondered if that was the Great Octave’s plan.

‘As you say,’ Enet said, cutting into Pilos’s thoughts as Tayan began to squirm in the smothering tension. ‘Clear up the mess.’ Betsu reached out again and Enet clapped once. ‘Not you, honoured guest,’ she said gently. ‘The slave must do it.’ Just the slightest emphasis on the word, enough to tighten lips and raise hackles and Pilos knew Enet had no interest in negotiating a peace. Had never had any intention of allowing this meeting or these people to be anything other than tools in her own ongoing scramble for ever-greater power.

And there is only one status higher than Great Octave.