‘It’s rare we can speak.’

‘It is.’

‘I just wanted to tell you…’

‘Yes?’

‘I know the king.’

‘What an unexpected twist.’

‘And I believe he would be more than happy to have received a message like that.’

‘How would you know?’

‘He’s … I believe the message might help him with some ordeals he’s facing.’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘Do you have the slightest of ideas why the Warchief of Velardhar would send such a message?’

‘He’s Warchief no longer. And the words are not his in a strict sense.’

‘But?’

‘One of our … why do you care?’

‘Curiosity only.’

‘It’s one of our Seers who told him.’

‘Seers. They’re Reborn.’

‘That they are.’

‘I see.’

‘Did…’

‘Yes? Ask me anything, Chief, and I will try to answer as best as I could.’

‘Did the king tell you about that duel? I mean… you know about it?’

‘I do. What’s more, I remember.’

‘You remem… yes. Of course.’

‘I’ve seen it. I’m old enough, you know. What is it you wanted to ask?’

‘Did y… Did the king cheat?’

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‘That’s an uneasy question.’

‘One you haven’t answered right away.’

‘He did not used conventional weapons only.’

‘That’s a long way of saying yes.’

‘They say he is Reborn. It might have been evident to him at that time to use his Gift to defeat the man. To end the war. I can tell you he grew much. I don’t think he would use his power again in a duel like that. I hope he wouldn’t.’

‘Do you remember the name of my chief?’

‘I do.’

‘He does, too. I mean, not yours. The king’s. Obviously.’

‘Obviously.’

‘Did you know he tried to fight against the rumours? That he was defeated because of the faelin. He wanted people to believe it was only between the two of … them.’

‘I’m speechless.’

‘You’d better be.’

‘Why did you ask if he had cheated?’

‘I needed to know.’

‘I know what you think of him now. I only hope your concept of him may change with time. He … was young. Hot-blooded, quick-tempered. And vain, above all.’

‘You know, I’ve heard some of my cousins describing me as “one stubborn frostbitten bitch”. I sort of believe it is true. The king must leave a damn good impression on me if he’d like me to respect him.’

‘Even so. Would you take hope from an old man?’

‘You’re not old. Younger than my chief, in fact.’

‘Oh yes. Is he … family to you?’

‘He’s my uncle.’

‘I can tell you this, Mjelgralah of the Snowdogs. When the king came home from that battle in the North, he suffered. Not for days, not for weeks. Years passed, and even now, glimpses of a scene return in his sleep. A tall, broad-shouldered man with auburn hair and beard, muscles jerking on his naked upper body. Only that this man is lying in the snow, brown eyes full of terror, screaming in excruciating pain as he’s gripping the maimed chunk of his right, the fingers of his lost arm still holding the war hammer.’

‘I—’

‘That wasn’t the first time the king wounded someone, nor the last. Many souls he had sent to Soramarr. And yet … to see such a fierce warrior on the ground, pleading, terrified, quivering like a dog … that can change people. It changed him. Tremendously.’

‘I …’

‘You don’t have to say anything. I only wanted you to know this.’

‘I thank you, then. It was … insightful.’

‘Once you’re Warchief, remember, my beautiful chief; do not give an order you yourself would not carry out.’

‘That was why y… the king proposed the duel? For he could not continue to see the mayhem he caused?’

‘The mayhem he was ordered to cause. Yes.’

‘I will guard these words of yours.’

‘I hope they’ll guide you to a better path than what … I … walked.’

‘Thank you. Thank you ... Sallan.’

‘Now then. I think Amrith could benefit from an alliance with Velardhar.’

‘I’m all ears.’