If anything his posture became a fraction more bored and indolent. Kathea looked as if she wanted to speak, but dared not. She was not quite so secure in her power as the Taloreans wanted her people to think.

"I am Telarn Vashaka, Lord Governor of Halim," said a stately, silver-haired old Terrarch. His face was lined and his skin seemed parchment thin in the witchlight. An air of weariness and sadness hung over him like a cloud. How old was he really, Rik wondered? What might have been signs of ageing in a human were often signs of disease in a Terrarch.

"You are the one who chose to deny our legal request of surrender. You are the one who brought doom upon the people it was your lawful duty to protect."

"I acknowledge that Lord Elakar. I ask clemency only for my people, not for myself."

"The Queen's Soldiers were forced to fight. They have claimed their right of plunder."

"Surely you would not punish all the citizens of Halim for an old dotard's folly," said Telarn. It was obvious that he had chosen to take all the responsibility for what had happened upon himself, possibly in the hope that his family and friends would be spared. It would have seemed noble to Rik, had it not seemed so futile. Nothing was going to stop the rape of the city now that it had begun. He had seen such things before, during the Clockmaker’s rebellion back in Talorea.

"I don't think we have much choice in the matter," said Lord Azaar. "Events have taken the decision out of our hands."

Elakar looked at his fellow General as if shocked by his honesty. Rik guessed he was not a Terrarch who would ever admit to his own powerlessness. "Halim has resisted. Halim will pay the price," he said eventually. "In three days you will see what your folly has brought upon your city."

"In three days I will not be alive to see it," said Telarn. "I will atone for my folly with my life."

"Tell me why you chose to resist us?" Azaar asked. "It must have been obvious that you could not withstand our forces."

"We were promised aid," said the Lord Governor of Halim. "It never came."

"Who promised you this?"

"King Khaldarus."

"Khaldarus is not king," said Elakar. "He is a mere pretender to the throne that is rightfully his sister's."

Telarn looked as if he wanted to disagree. For a moment his features became almost animated but then one of the accompanying delegation, a tall, fine-featured Terrarch woman, reached out and touched his hand.

"It is as you say," he said, almost grudgingly.

"Not only is he a pretender to the throne, he is a liar and a traitor to those who trusted him. As you have found out to your cost."

"It is as you say, Lord Elakar. We have come to throw ourselves on your mercy and offer ourselves as hostages for our city. We place our fate in your hands, and request you show mercy as well as wisdom."

"You may approach," said Elakar. "We will accept your surrender, and your parole."

Elakar surveyed the approaching Kharadreans as if he had personally defeated every one of them in hand-to-hand combat and he expected applause and recognition for the deed. It was as if he, and not Azaar, was the famous General, and as if his plan, and not Azaar's had achieved the victory.

One by one the Kharadreans approached and were announced. Elakar gestured his acknowledgment but said nothing. Occasionally Azaar spoke, greeting some old acquaintance among the conquered.