Yana caught her around the throat and slammed her into the wall. ‘I always watch over him. It is I who deals with all of this when you have had your way, when you have poisoned him and the song and the whole world with your sickness. You should leave, yes, but don’t come back. Don’t bring any more poor souls to be torn apart in there. Don’t ruin him any more than you have already. Take your fortune and go and I will personally ensure that you live out your days unknown and in luxury.’

‘The Singer—’ she wheezed.

Yana squeezed harder and the edges of Enet’s vision began to bleed blackness. ‘I will look after the Singer. I will wean him off this sickness and restore him to health. Whatever your plan was, Enet, it has failed. The Singer will be confined for his own good until this heresy has burnt from him. I will ensure he is happy and content and that the Empire is stable and prosperous under his hand. You will not be here.’ He let her go and took a step back.

Enet leant against the wall and coughed, rubbing her throat and trying to think. ‘How dare you speak to a Chosen so,’ she began, and then squeaked as Yana drew back his fist. She slid along the wall.

‘I will go,’ she croaked, ‘because my Singer has ordered me to. I will do as he commands and return with more offerings. Wait! Listen to me, Yana. Can you not see how strong we are? We are winning in the north. The blood feeds the song and the song blares across the sky and all who hear it are commanded by it. I have made him stronger.’

‘You are killing him,’ Yana said and took a threatening pace forward. ‘And I will kill you if I see you in here again. Chosen or not, I no longer care. Get out.’

This was no youthful bravado or empty words, for Yana was neither young nor given to boasts. Enet knew without doubt he would put a blade into her if she returned to the source. And if she did not? If she left all this behind instead? Could she, after having come so far? After giving Pikte to the song?

The world spirit’s time approaches. Its awakening is near and he cannot manage it. He could not even before the blooding that was supposed to strengthen him.

This was a mistake, but I did it for him and I did it in good faith. For the world spirit and the holy Setatmeh. For us all.

Always Enet had been here to do what was needful. Always she had put herself last, had sacrificed everything for the good of the Empire and the good of all the world. She would not stop now, and if Yana thought to halt her, she would have to do what was needful there, too.