Even Pilos blinked at the size of Yana’s promise. The man must have risen far to afford such a generous gift. And he is planting himself firmly on my side in the struggle to come. Pilos didn’t know whether to be worried or delighted, but Yana was an old friend and an old comrade; his offer was one of support for Pilos personally as well as for the Melody, and the warrior would honour his generosity. He inclined his head to Yana with gratitude.

‘Who expects us to pay for the High Feather’s failure?’ queried a voice and Spear Enet’s head snaked from behind the hanging to stare at him. Pilos’s heart clenched at her sudden appearance. Years before, during the reign of Singer Het, their families had negotiated an alliance the pair had been expected to fulfil through marriage. Yet when it came to it, Enet had refused. Pilos had been a boy and desperately in love with her – or so he’d thought. He’d believed himself shamed in front of the court and council and for years he’d been bitter at the rejection. These days he knew better, and thanked whichever holy Setat had spared him the fate of marrying her.

Now she was the Singer’s chief courtesan as well as his Spear and, despite sharing the status with Pilos, he knew that what she whispered in the pillows carried more weight than the council’s words or the Melody’s needs.

‘Councillor Yana merely proposes a course of action and offers a gift of aid, Enet,’ he said evenly, his voice and face serene, refusing to be goaded. ‘The decision rests with the Singer.’

Her beautiful black eyes narrowed. ‘You will address me correctly.’

Pilos pursed his lips. ‘I have been at war for some time, Enet,’ he said, deliberately using her name again as his gut roiled with unease. ‘I am unaware of any change in your status. Please, how should you be addressed?’

Enet glanced back at the Singer behind the curtain and her face softened, lips curving in a smile that set Pilos’s balls to aching. She’d smiled at him like that, once. ‘I have the honour of being known as Great Octave now,’ she said sweetly, her head on one side to better study his reaction.

Pilos’s balls stopped aching and tried to crawl into his belly. Great Octave? Chief adviser to the Singer, above even the Spears, head of his household, master of wealth, and senior Chooser? The title had not been granted in a hundred sun-years, it was so dangerous to the harmony of the Empire. Between them, Xac and Enet ruled the world – and no one could gainsay them.