needy rummaged for scraps.
The raven homed in on a safe house, ready to tell its tale and die.
On the opposite side of the city, an hour or so after the glamour’s demise, wintry sunlight bathed the Pastures of Sleep. No such luxury existed in the catacombs beneath; only man-or magic-made light pushed back the gloom there.
A single charmed globe gently lit one particular chamber. Within, two sleeping children shared a cot, while Tanalvah sat on the only chair, head in hands. Had she sobbed, it would have been quietly, for the sake of the children, but she had reached a place beyond tears.
Teg and Lirrin were all that had stopped her from confessing. Her terror of what might become of them, and of the child she carried, was the remaining brake to her admission of guilt. But under the weight of the secret she carried, her thinking had changed. How could she subject them to life with a murderess? What kind of existence would they have when she might be exposed at any time? Above all, how could she live with herself after what she’d done? And loathe as she was to accept it, underlying everything was a growing acceptance that Kinsel was lost.
She slowly rose, stifling the groan brought on by the familiar stabbing pain in her lower back. Leaning with some difficulty, she lightly kissed each child, then she turned and shuffled from the cell.
There were people about, as there always were, day and night. Some nodded or waved. She didn’t notice. A short walk took her to the great central hollow at the heart of the complex of tunnels. Karr and Goyter were cosseted in a corner, occupied with paperwork. Tanalvah made her way to them.
Karr saw her and called a greeting.
‘Everything all right, Tan?’ Goyter asked.
‘Can I join you?’
‘Of course,’ Karr said. ‘Nothing’s wrong, I trust?’
‘I’ve something important to tell you.’
Goyter was concerned. ‘Whatever is it, dear? You look terrible. Here, do as Dulian said and sit down.’
Tanalvah sank onto a chair.
‘Are you ill?’ Karr wondered.
‘I’m fine.’ She took a breath. ‘No, I’m not.’
‘So you are sick?’
‘It’s not that. I…’
‘I hope you know that you can share your problems with us, Tanalvah.’
‘All I need you to do is listen. And try to forgive me.’
‘Forgive you? Whatever for?’
‘Just hear me out.’ She took in their confused, expectant faces. ‘The way you see me…the way you think I am…it’s wrong.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘Please, Dulian. This is hard for me. I have to tell you…tell you…it was me who-’
Somebody was shouting. A figure emerged from one of the tunnels at speed and ran towards them.
‘It’s Quinn,’ Goyter said. ‘I wonder what’s happened now.’
Disgleirio arrived, breathless. ‘Good, you’re all here together.’
‘We were having a private conversation with Tanalvah,’ Karr told him, piqued at the interruption. ‘So unless your news is urgent-’
‘It is,’ Disgleirio panted. ‘With respect to Tan, I think that what I have to say is much more important.’
‘Really? And what might that be?’
‘Kinsel’s alive.’
‘What?’ Tanalvah whispered. The colour bled from her face.
‘It’s true. He’s alive, and he’s on the Diamond Isle.’
Deathly pale, Tanalvah swayed, looking ready to faint. The others clustered around. Disgleirio took her shoulders, steadying her. Goyter fanned her with a sheaf of documents.
‘Here, drink this.’ Karr held a cup of water to her lips.
She sipped from it. ‘I’m all right,’ she managed. ‘I just…I’m sorry…’
‘How do you know this, Quinn?’ Karr demanded.
‘A glamour; a pretty fancy one. It carried a message from Darrok.’
‘What did it say?’
‘Not a lot. Apparently Kinsel was rescued from pirates.’
‘Pirates? Gods. How is he?’ Karr asked.
‘The message said only that he was alive.’
‘I said Iparrater would protect him,’ Tanalvah stated softly. ‘I knew the goddess wouldn’t forsake us.’
Karr squeezed her trembling hand. ‘And your faith seems to have been vindicated, my dear.’
‘How does this make you feel about coming to the Diamond Isle now, Tan?’ Disgleirio asked. He was grinning.
She looked dazed for a second. ‘I’ll go. Of course I’ll go.’
They were all beaming at her.
‘And I’m sure we’ll find that Kinsel’s just fine,’ Karr assured her.
‘When do we leave?’
He laughed. ‘As soon as we can.’
‘You were trying to tell us something, Tanalvah,’ Goyter reminded her. ‘Before Quinn arrived.’
‘I…It was nothing. Nothing at all.’ Her moment of joy was corrupted. It all came flooding back. The only crumb of consolation was that she now had a chance to make her peace with Kinsel before the end. An end she knew was inevitable.
‘Well, if you’re sure,’ Goyter said. Her expression seemed a little guarded.
‘I’m sure.’
‘You look sad.’
‘Do I?’
‘This is a shock for you. Your feelings are bound to be confused. Just remember that we’re here for you.’
‘I will. Thank you, Goyter. Now I really must tell the children.’ She made to stand.
Goyter stretched a hand and restrained her. ‘That can wait for a moment. Get your breath.’
Reluctantly, and with a sigh, Tanalvah sat again, though all she wanted was to be alone.
‘Did the message say anything about the others, Quinn?’ Karr asked. ‘Reeth, Serrah, Kutch…?’
‘No, nothing at all.’
‘Let’s hope that’s a case of no news being good news,’ Goyter observed.
‘Keep up your guard!’
‘That’s easy for you to say.’ Kutch backed off and lowered his sword. ‘You’re used to this, I’m not.’
‘All right,’ Caldason conceded, ‘we’ll take a break.’
They were on deck, and wandered over to sit on a couple of barrels. The weather had grown noticeably colder the further north they travelled, and the ocean wind had a stinging edge.
‘I’m sweating,’ Kutch complained, wiping a sleeve across his forehead.
‘I’d expect you to be. Combat’s a strenuous activity, particularly if you’re not used to it. Your arms and legs should be aching, too.’
‘You bet they are. I don’t think I’ll ever make a fighter, Reeth.’
‘No, you won’t.’
‘Oh.’
‘But we’re not trying to turn you into a master swordsman. We just need to teach you some basic self-defence techniques.’
‘I still reckon my best contribution’s going to be with magic.’
‘You’ll find that hard with a blade in your guts.’
‘Er, true.’
‘It’s up to you. But I’d feel better knowing you had some skills to protect yourself with.’
‘I want to learn, Reeth. It’s just…well, to be honest, the thought of facing somebody with a sword for real
