He disliked their arrogance and their sense of entitlement. Almost as much, he disliked the fact that they were right. The sarcophagus needed to be investigated, and he was the best man for that job.

Or perhaps he just needed to believe that he was. He wanted to have a purpose. He wanted to feel certain of anything again, as he had felt certain of everything when he was young.

He bowed his head to the angel, turned and left the Cathedral behind. He wished he could leave his doubts behind so easily.

* * *

The sunstone atop the Cathedral spire lit the courtyard bright as day. The air reeked of destruction. The collapsed roof of the Imperial Museum loomed before him like the skeleton of some beached sea monster.

Lady Marketa, the Lunar Ambassador, strode across the courtyard, flanked by two of her massive bodyguards. Her silver dress shimmered like moonlit fish-scale, the long train somehow drifting over the soot-blackened cobblestones. Strange symbols glowed on her rings and tiara. Cowled monks scurried away from her. Armoured guards turned their heads to look away. For all her raven-haired beauty, fear radiated around her. All knew she was a sorceress sworn to the service of the traditional enemies of Siderea.

“Blessings of the Lady upon you, Sir Kormak.” She walked right up to him. He caught the spiced scent of her perfume. It was subtle and alien. She tugged at one strand of erotically-disarranged black hair. “I hear you have been busy.”

“News travels fast,” Kormak said.

Her bodyguards glared at him for his disrespectful tone. They were even bigger than he was, and their expression was stony. Kormak doubted they would try anything in such a public place, but he moved to put Lady Marketa within easy striking distance if he needed to grab her and use her as a shield.

She smiled as if she understood what he was doing, and made a small hand gesture. The two big men backed off.

“Word has it you killed an Old One. In what remains of the Museum. Next to the Moon Gate I have been tasked with returning to my people.”

“Does it?”

“Come now. There is no need to be so coy. I am as aware of what happens in the Palace as your friend Frater Jonas.”

“I won’t ask you how you achieve such a feat. It might be construed as espionage by the King of Siderea.”

“I would not be doing my duty if I did not know such things,” said Lady Marketa. “The king and his ministers understand that. They no more want misunderstandings between our two nations than I do.”

“That is very diplomatic of you,” Kormak said.

“You killed Vorkhul, didn’t you?”

“I did, and I would do it again if the opportunity arose.”

“I am sure you would. Your hatred of the Eldrim is well known.”

“I have no hatred of the Old Ones.”

“You have a funny way of showing your love and respect, then.”

“I did not say I had those either.”

“You killed one of the Great Ones this night. Not for the first time.