But then I am a better class of person.”

“I have heard that some of the cellars have been converted into cells since the Inquisitor arrived. Not a few people seem to be going into them and not coming out.” He was serious now.

“My half-brother told me that Joran bore a warrant from the Queen sanctioning his activities. There has been too much dark sorcery lately for the Inquisition to be seen not to act.”

“I keep expecting them to come knocking on the door. It’s worse than waiting for the thief takers back in Sorrow.”

“It might be sensible not to recount your experiences with the thief-takers when you finally do meet the Inquisitor. He may not find them as charming as I do.”

“I’ll try and remember that. I am starting to wish they would come. At least the waiting would be over.”

“That is exactly the way they want you to feel, Rik. You must start thinking like a Terrarch. Learn patience. This is a game to them. They know you are not going anywhere. They think they have you trapped here.”

“I notice a lot of new servants in our part of the Palace.”

“Our chambers are under observation which is why we are having this little chat here.”

“Your sorcery prevents eavesdropping surely.”

“There are other means: wine glasses against walls, secret view points, bribed servants.”

“I have checked the rooms. We have taken all precautions.”

“And this is another one.”

“As you wish.”

“There’s no need to sound so surly.” It came to Rik, that beneath her usual assured manner, Asea actually was worried, and that gave him pause. If she was worried, he should be terrified. He did not enjoy the same level of political influence that she did.

Perhaps she was worried that the Inquisition might take him, and find out all manner of unpleasant things about her. As ever, he was amazed that she had not simply disposed of him. It was what he would have done in her place. He realised that his life might indeed be hanging by a thread here. One wrong word and…

“I am sorry,” he said. “I have never been good at waiting.”

“Life, you will find, consists of very little else, one way or another.”

“I believe you.”

“Now you are being too contrite. Do not worry so much Rik. I am not without influence at Court, and Azaar will support me through whatever might come, and for the moment, he is our commanding General.”

“How long will that last?”

“For the duration of the coming campaign, I hope. He is without a doubt the best General in the West.”

“From what you have told me, politics might still see him replaced.”

“It might, but I doubt it. Even the Emerald faction know that the fate of our world hangs on the coming clash. The flow of history for the next thousand years will be decided by whether Talorea or Sardea triumphs, and that is without taking into account the machinations of the Princes of Shadow.”

“I thought we were supposed to have put the era of the Inquisition behind us.”

“It is not like it once was, Rik. At least they have to make people disappear in the dark now, and they are required to have official sanction. There was a time when they could have simply plucked you off the street without consulting anything except their own desires.”

“And so the world progresses, eh?”

“And so the world does indeed progress. Despite all your youthful cynicism.”

“I heard you talking about the Gate in the East. Do you really think someone could open one?”

“I did once. Much as it pains me to admit it, I may not be unique among sorcerers.”

“What are the Gates?”

“They are ancient artefacts.”

“Did the Terrarchs make them?”

“No, the Angels did.