Were you ever what you pretended to be?”

“Interested in killing her? No, not really.”

“Do you intend to try and kill me?”

“No. We talked about this before. It might be useful to both of us to have a friend on the other side.”

“Are you trying to recruit me?”

“No. I am just telling you what I think.”

“And you really expect me to take you up on that, after you killed my -- our -- father.”

“I am just letting you know the offer still stands.”

She slumped backwards and laughed again. It was an odd sound, half mirth, half sorrow. “I can’t actually believe that this time he won’t be coming back. He always seemed invincible.”

Rik could not disagree with that. One thing Malkior had not lacked was self-confidence. He had planned to use the entire human race as cattle if he got the chance. It was no small ambition.

“So the old monster is finally dead,” said Tamara. “And I am free of him after all these years.”

“If that’s what you want,” said Rik cautiously.

“He was hateful and he made me the same.”

This was not exactly the reaction he had been expecting.

“And what am I going to do about you?” she asked. “I doubt the Empress would recognise any claim of yours to his estates.”

Was that what she was worried about? Malkior must have been extremely wealthy. He had been one of the First and one of the most powerful nobles in the Dark Empire. If that was what she was concerned about, she could stop.

“I don’t want anything that belonged to him,” he said, and was surprised to find that he meant it. Not that it made much difference anyway. Tamara was right. The Sardeans would never accept a legal claim from someone like him. “It would appear that you are rich.”

She studied him closely. The appraisal in her gaze started to make him uncomfortable. “You got more from him than I think you know.”

“Forgive me if I seem ungrateful.”

“I think you inherited some of his personality as well as some of his gifts and his tastes. I noticed it during our last meeting. You have taken up thanatomancy, haven’t you?”

“Not willingly.”

She arched an eyebrow.

“I killed a Quan. It was trying to eat my soul. Instead I ate its.”

She looked shocked and a little more respectful. “Then you have more native talent than most sorcerers.”

“So Lady Asea tells me.”

“She would know.” An uncomfortable silence filled the air between them. Rik wondered how he was going to get out of here without shooting her. He had no desire to turn his back on her as he went up the stairs.

“What will you do now?” he asked eventually.

“I believe I will return to Sardea and stake my claim on the estate before I am declared dead too.”

“There is a war on. You may find it difficult to travel.”

She gestured towards the shadows. “I am sure I will find a way.”

He was sure about that too. She was nothing if not competent.

“What about you?” she asked.