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‘Then, shall we stand in Urusander’s way?’
‘Gripp Galas, where is your wife?’
‘At her western keep, milord, where she gathers the highborn. She vows they will stand with you. And with the Hust Legion—’
‘Hold little faith in the Hust,’ Anomander said. ‘Convicts have no reason for loyalty. Were I among them, I would frame a curse for the moment of our need, and for every howl of my sword I would show defiance, until the iron itself shatters. No, old friend, if they are to have an instant, united in their congress, it shall burn with such refusal as to sear our souls.’
‘Then, milord, we face a grave battle.’
They stood, unspeaking. Overhead, the stars cast down their unblinking regard.
‘Dracons Keep is a burned ruin,’ Anomander said. ‘Destroyed by magic, at my invitation. Gripp, has this newfound sorcery touched you?’
‘No, milord, and I am thankful for that.’
‘I fear I must one day search it out and claim it for myself. Yet another shield, another skin of armour.’
‘But not yet.’
Anomander shrugged. ‘Neither propensity nor proclivity finds me, alas.’
‘One would think, milord, as a benison befitting the First Son of Darkness, some sorcerous power would be incumbent.’
‘When the title proves less a gift than a curse, I am well relieved that nothing attends it.’
‘How will we face it? On the field of battle, when Hunn Raal unleashes his magical arts?’
Anomander glanced across at him. ‘An Azathanai accompanies me. In singular purpose, bound by vow, he has yet to reward me or my patience.’
A suspicion whispered through Gripp Galas then, and he frowned. ‘What befell Dracons Keep?’
Anomander drew breath as if to make retort, only to instead return his gaze to the stars, and release a long, weary sigh. ‘Then I will see my first invitation to him as yet another weight of burden upon the High Mason, and his efforts that followed. That said, he did indeed warn me: his magic is anything but subtle, when unleashed in fullest fury.’
‘For that reason alone, milord, I am glad to know nothing of the taint.’
‘Forbearance mitigates the Azathanai, and with good reason, as you say. But then, by my cajoling, I saw his power awakened.’ He paused, and then continued, ‘If such a thing is within Hunn Raal’s reach, then I fear that in the meeting of our two armies we shall fall like wheat before the scythe.’
‘Yet the Azathanai chooses to stand at your side, milord. Bound by vow, you said.’
‘He offers me an end to this civil war.’
‘By wise words, milord, or wilful destruction?’
‘It is my thought that he is undecided.’
The chill of the night had reached Gripp’s bones now. Shivering, he drew his cloak tighter about his shoulders. ‘You keep him within sword’s reach, then.’
‘Gripp Galas, you shall not attend this battle.’
‘Milord—’
‘Must I command you again?’
‘My wife will be there, commanding her Houseblades.’
‘Convince her otherwise.’
At a loss for words, Gripp said nothing.
