They are committed in the service of church and state. This is very fine wine by the way.”

“It comes from my cellar in Redtower.”

“I understand you have petitioned the Queen to be allowed to adopt this Rik into your House.”

Although she had told Rik she had done this, the Inquisitor’s words confirmed it. He felt a thrill pass through him. In this, as in other things, she appeared to be keeping her word.

“I trust the Queen has approved.”

“It is a most unusual request. He is a half-breed.”

“That is the case, but he is as gifted as many full Terrarchs. He has more raw talent for sorcery than anyone I have ever encountered, and it would be a dangerous thing to leave him untutored.”

“There is more than one way of dealing with that.” The menace was obvious in the Inquisitor’s voice.

“It would be a crime to waste such talent when it could be at the disposal of the realm.”

“Human sorcerers have proven very prone to corruption by the Shadow.”

“In this case, I believe the Terrarch side of his heritage will prove the stronger.”

“Have you any idea of the boy’s parentage?”

“The human mother is known. The father is not.”

“He was raised by humans?”

“An orphanage in Sorrow, and then a soldier of the Queen.” Rik was glad Asea had missed out the long period between when he fled the orphanage and took the Queen’s coin. He doubted Joran would be too thrilled to hear about his time as a thief on the streets of Sorrow. But all it would take would be a little digging for him to find out, and who knew where that would lead?

“He freed the unfortunate Queen Kathea from the Serpent Tower.”

“If she had lived she might have ennobled him herself.”

“It’s a pity she did not then, for that would have saved us some difficulties.”

“Difficulties?”

“These are not tolerant times. There are factions are Court who would not look kindly on the ennobling of one with human blood. The Emerald faction is a power in the land now. I don’t have to tell you that.”

“If there is anything I can do to help smooth the path. I am not without friends or gold.”

“I would be pleased to talk with this Rik as soon as possible.”

“I will make sure he gets the message.”

“What do you think of Lieutenant Sardec?”

“He is a very conscientious young officer.”

“I understand he has a human lover. He fought a duel over her.”

“I have heard some such gossip. I can assure you it in no way impairs his efficiency.”

“He was in command of your bodyguard during your mission to Harven.”

“And before that, when I visited Deep Achenar.”

“That was a mission for which he should have been commended. As I understand it, you prevented Uran Ultar from being resurrected. The return of such a demon at this exact moment could have been very dangerous to our war effort.”

“I think it’s all part of a pattern.”

“I am inclined to agree. We sent people to Achenar. They found the bodies of the Ultari, and the Magisters detected the residual energies of the portal. I read the report. So did her majesty.”

“You have been busy.”

“Not as busy as you. We would like to know more about the disappearance of the Serpent Tower as well. Was it destroyed by sorcery?”

“Ilmarec destroyed it. He intended to use the Serpent Men’s ancient weapons against us. It was a plan that backfired to our advantage.”

“You’ve left quite a trail of devastation behind you this past year, Milady.”

“I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Or the right place at the right time. One thing about this unfortunate train of events works in your favour. All of them have been to the advantage of Talorea. Ilmarec opposed our intervention here in Kharadrea. Uran Ultar’s followers could have tied down our army on the border. I understand there was some business with animated corpses in Halim’s main graveyard.”

Asea nodded.