So she’d finally found a better liar than herself. Or perhaps she’d just found one she wanted desperately to believe. Strange, that the deaths of thousands left her cold, while the betrayal of one boy made her furious. “How did you know that I’d… how could you know—”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. We all have sore spots.” He grimaced as he shifted in his chair. “I myself am one enormous one. And finding other people’s has been my business for a very long time.” He nudged another piece forwards across the board. “I know you like to think there are no chinks in your armour but, really, you’re not too deep a mystery to fathom. To me your guilt has always been plain as a sign around your neck. About the Breakers in Valbeck. About Collem Sibalt and his friends. About the rebels in Starikland. About your mother and father. About your sisters and your brother—”

“That was all you!” she snarled in his face. “You made me do all that! Sibalt, and the Breakers, and the rebels, and all the rest!” She stabbed at her chest with a finger and her voice warbled, cracked. “Why should I be guilty? What fucking choice did I have?” It had already become a plaintive whine. Fates help her, almost a tearful one. “You’re the one… you’re the one sent my family to the camps… in the first place…”

“I am aware,” said Glokta calmly. He hadn’t even flinched. “Where they died, and you survived. I told you to forgive yourself, remember? Your family simply weren’t tough enough. You are.”

Vick blinked down at the squares board, the anger already drained away to leave her hollow and helpless. Risinau, Judge, Orso, Leo dan Brock, they were all small pieces in the game Glokta had been playing. So small they never even guessed how vast the board truly was. Which made her what? A speck of dust between the squares, at best.

“Where were you rushing off to, anyway?” asked Glokta. “Talins? To work for Shylo Vitari? Please, the woman’s a hack. We both know how badly you want a cause worthy of your loyalty.” He winced as he twisted to reach into a pocket. “Arch Lector. Commissioner. It doesn’t matter what you call it. I believe the time has come for you to go from digging out the answers to posing the questions. To go from being one of the pieces…” And he leaned forwards to place something on the squares board. That ring with the purple stone he used to wear. That Pike had worn after him. “To making the moves. Practical Dole?”

One of the Practicals lumbered in, winced as he manoeuvred Glokta’s chair from behind the table. It caught one of the legs on the way and sent a few squares pieces clicking over to roll around in helpless circles on their sides.

“Feel free to refuse. I will understand.” Vick’s old master leaned to murmur as he was wheeled past. “But we both know that ring will fit you perfectly.”