‘I know things ended badly between us—’
‘There was no "between us",’ she interrupted. ‘We spent some time together and you lied to me to get me into your bed.’
‘It was your bed, actually,’ said Amirantha. ‘And I never lied. I just didn’t tell you the entire truth.’
‘A fine distinction, I’m sure, but we have other things about which to concern ourselves, don’t you agree?’ He nodded. ‘Why would you try to talk me out of coming along?’
‘You’re the most resourceful woman I know,’ said Amirantha, ‘but you have a decided knack to rush in without hesitation.’
‘I’m a Knight-Adamant,’ she reminded him.
‘A fact of which I am painfully aware, but you sometimes underestimate risks. Look, you never told me what happened before you got here, but I’ve seen you look better. You almost got yourself killed again, didn’t you?’
‘I appreciate your show of concern, but it’s too late.’ She spun on him and poked him hard in the chest with an armoured finger. He winced but stayed silent. ‘I was a whore, Amirantha, and no man showed me anything but contempt or lust until I met Brother Mathias. After that, it was bloodshed and mayhem, and I found a calling, but even then, men only looked at me with hate or with lust.
‘Then you came along with your damned charm and funny sayings, and made me feel as if someone could actually see beneath the surface . . .’ She took a breath as if to calm herself, and said, ‘I can face your demons, Amirantha. I can face a room full of armed cutthroats. I just can’t face your falsehoods.’ She took a step and then turned to say, ‘One thing, though. Darthea: you’ve done well in changing her looks. Though the goat’s hooves and horns did add a certain exotic quality to her.’
Without saying any more she turned and left the Warlock standing alone in the garden. Amirantha had always been willing to take advantage of the passing generosity of women when it suited him, for often they repaid his kindness with the only currency they possessed, their bodies. But when he was ninety years of age, he happened to chance upon a lover he had known in his youth; she had changed into an old and faded grandmother, content to sit in the shade and card wool while her daughters and their families worked hard on a farm. She didn’t recognize him as he asked for and was given a cup of water.
He had watched her, as she in turn watched over her granddaughters, and he had realized that he would probably still appear unchanged when her granddaughters were old and at the end of their lives; perhaps he would watch them watching their granddaughters.
At that moment, whatever spark of affection he still felt for humanity was damped. The only woman he had truly cared for after that encounter was Samantha, but only because she made Brandos happy.
His feelings for Brandos were still a mystery to the Warlock, perhaps because he saw him as the son he would never have. But now when they were together, people mistook the fighting man as his elder and Amirantha knew the day would come when his companion would either die in battle or have to quit the adventurous life to sit at home, next to Samantha as she carded wool, watching their grandchildren.
He took a deep breath. Sandreena was a confusion he had no answer for. There was something about her that troubled him deeply, something that made him desperately want her to forgive his cavalier behaviour years earlier. Shaking his head in irritation at himself, he turned to find Brandos and get something to eat.
*
Gulamendis knew his life was hanging by the barest thread as he spoke to the Regent Lord about Tomas’s pending arrival. It had been clear from the first moment that the Regent Lord and the attending members of the Meeting were ready to declare war on their cousins to the north. As most of the current council members had been hand-picked by the Regent to replace those who had fallen to the demons over the last thirty years, Gulamendis knew he would get no support arguing against any position the Regent Lord took.
Even Tandarae would only be able to offer subtle influence, to shade how things were presented, but he too risked being swept away by the Regent Lord’s unpredictable wrath. He was not yet the new Loremaster, first among the Lorekeepers, though it was rumoured the position would be his soon. Gulamendis knew that if it came to a choice between his ambition and supporting the Demon Master, Tandarae would happily light the fire around Gulamendis himself.
Slowly, step by step, Gulamendis recounted his journey: his frustration at not being able to locate the demon source, his ride up the Far Coast and his eventual discussion with the Queen and her Consort. He thought it best to omit his journey to Sorcerer’s Island until he knew he was going to survive what he had to say next.
‘The Queen is sending her Consort in two more days to greet you, my lord,’ said Gulamendis.