Smiling down on the broken form of Anomander Rake, Sandalath slowly drew her dagger. But he doesn’t have the sword. He hasn’t done what he vowed to do. How can I kill him now?
Look at him, though! This … thing. Against mighty Draconus? Impossible. I suspected it, back on the island. That broken window, the body lying on the cobbles. How few his followers then, how pathetic his lack of control .
A new voice spoke. ‘Orfantal will die if you do not release Silanah.’
Sandalath looked up. Her eyes widened. A ghost stood before her, where Anomander – in that bold, deceitful moment of bluster – had been a moment earlier. A woman, young, and she knew her – no, I do not. I will not. I refuse. How can my thoughts summon?
Silanah? Who was speaking of her? Was it me?
To the ghost standing before her, she growled, ‘I do not know you.’
Smiling, the ghost said, ‘But you do. You knew me all too well, as I recall. I am Phaed. My brother,’ and she gestured down to Anomander, ‘is of such honour that he would rather give you your end, here and now, than hurt you further. Nor will he threaten you with what he cannot do in any case – no matter what the cost – to his people, to those doomed humans upon the First Shore.’
‘I only want my son,’ Sandalath whispered. ‘He took him, and I want him back!’
‘This is not Anomander Rake,’ Phaed said. ‘This is his son. How can you not remember, Sandalath Drukorlat? Upon the islands, across the vast seas – you took us in, as if we were your children. Now Nimander is here, begging you to release Silanah – to end the destruction of Kharkanas.’
Sandalath sneered. ‘I can taste lies – they fill this room. Ten thousand lies built this keep, stone by stone. Remember what Gallan said? “At the roots of every great empire you will find ten thousand lies.” But he was not blind then, was he? I never trusted you, Phaed.’
‘But you trusted Nimander.’
She blinked. Nimander? ‘You are right – he does not lie. What a damned fool, just like his father, and see where it has got us.’
‘Your son Orfantal will die, Sandalath Drukorlat, unless you release Silanah.’
‘Orfantal! Bring him to me.’
‘I will, once you relinquish the throne and all the power it grants you. Once you free Silanah from your will.’