“We held, Mistress.” Shih-ka’i studied her companions. Two men and a woman, of western stamp. The woman carried an infant. The younger man had the warrior look. His gaze did not rest. His lips were taut and pale. The older, thinner man looked angry. Shih-ka’i faced his Princess, his question implied.

“The wizard Varthlokkur,” she said, indicating the older man. A chill scrambled down Shih-ka’i’s spine. “His wife, Nepanthe, and their daughter.”

Shih-ka’i bowed to the woman. “My Lady.”

Mist said, “I’ll have to translate.”

Shih-ka’i nodded, considered the third man. The wizard’s bodyguard?

“King Bragi of Kavelin,” Mist said.

Shih-ka’i went rigid. His commanders stirred angrily. He admonished them with a gesture. “The Ragnarson of Baxendala and Palmisano?”

“The same.”

One of the Tervola stepped forward…

“Meng Chiao! Comport yourself. Mistress, because of this man he lost three brothers, four sons, and his legion.” Shih-ka’i planted himself before Ragnarson. The westerner towered over him. He removed his mask, stared into the man’s eyes. He saw no fear in those pools of blue. The man said something.

Mist translated. “He says you look like an honest soldier. The first he’s seen among Tervola.”

Shih-ka’i smiled, replied, “You’d find me more stubborn than Lord Ko.” He awaited Mist’s translation, asked, “Mistress, what is this?”

“These people were close to the Deliverer once. His grandfather. His mother. His godfather.”

The commanders stirred again.

“Mistress?”

“And he’s my nephew by marriage. Lord Chin kidnapped him during the Pracchia thing. We thought he’d died. Somehow, he survived, made an alliance with your godling, and came after us, assuming we were behind his misfortunes.”

Shih-ka’i paced. Finally, “What do you propose, Mistress?”

“That we go talk to him. That we shatter his illusions. That we steal away his cause for destroying the empire.”

Shih-ka’i surveyed the visitors. “These people have no reason to help.”

“They will. For their own reasons.”

“Then let’s try it. Pan ku. Bodyguards.”

“Lord!” Pan ku saluted snappily, departed. He returned in minutes. “Ready, Lord.”

Shih-ka’i explained, “The Deliverer has made it impossible to walk the streets unguarded.”

The city was a ruin gutted by fire, shattered by blows from the skull-faced things. Every street boasted its heap of charred bones.

Mist said something. Ragnarson grunted, conceding awe at the devastation. The wizard betrayed no reaction at all. He had a big anger on. His wife seemed included in the flame of his ire. Shih-ka’i dropped back, doffed his mask, examined the baby. He expressed his approval with a smile. The woman responded in kind.

“Why is it so quiet?” Mist asked.

“The calm before the storm. He’s resting.”

“Could you have stopped him again?”

“I doubt it. This’s our last cast of the dice.”