Ah, Stella,' he said fondly when they had gone. 'What would I... do without you?' She said nothing in response, she never did, but as always he could read her. 'You ... think I am horrible. And so I am! But I have... been this way before. The cursed Arrow . . . affected me this way the first time.' He cleared his throat, then was taken by a fit of coughing that subsided only when it seemed something inside him was about to break. Again Stella felt the pull on her soul. 'Back then ... I had no one to help me. Now ... I have you.' He smiled, a skull-grin that made her sick to her stomach at the same time as it raised a strange pity in her breast.

'Dear Stella.'

He bowed his head and closed his eyes, exhausted by his speech and the racking coughs.

'You'll not have her any longer,' said a voice.

The head jerked up, the eyes sprang open, and beheld the eunuch standing beside his servant-girl, his love, his life ... Another hallucination. The man cannot talk. I have his tongue.

'You may have his tongue, but I have given his heart a voice,' said the eunuch, his tongueless mouth opening and closing as though he made the words. 'You are weak enough now that he can break free of your hold on him, and take the girl with him. It is time to live the life you chose for yourself without stealing from the lives of others.'

The Undying Man found his feet. 'You!' he screamed. 'You have taken both my hands. You cannot have my heart! Take the man, he is carrion; I ask you to leave me the girl!'

'The girl herself will decide,' said the voice.

Hal's voice? How can it be? I saw him die!

'Well, Stella? Will you come west with the man you rescued from death with your care, or will you remain with the one who claims to love you, yet feeds on you?' The eunuch's mouth closed, but his eyes still burned with a brightness beyond imagining.

Of course the choice was easy. There is no choice! she told herself. Yet the bond between her and the awful wreck of a man was as strong as ever, and some of it, she was horrified to realise, was of her own making. 'Queen of Bhrudwo!' the Destroyer cried, holding his outstretched arms to her, his stumps a mute testimony to his need. 'You will live forever!

Come and live with the only one who will never leave your side!'

'The Fire of Life burns within you,' the voice said in her mind. 'Take it and set flame to the cords that bind you. Then you will be free to choose. '

I didn't leave the eunuch when he needed me, she replied. Should I leave the Destroyer? He needs me too.

'That is your choice. But heed this: I testify to you that it is hard to withhold aid from those that need it, yet sometimes it is the only way they can be helped. Many times I could have assisted the Company on their journeys, but had I done so none of them would be fit for the responsibilities they now hold. Make your choice with haste: the Lords of Fear return. ' Leith told me about your views. He didn't like them and neither do I. Abandon those in need and call it a kindness? There are too many selfish people who would use that kind of thinking as an excuse for inaction.

'But not you, Stella, which is why for you that kind of thinking is possible. Please, take the Fire and burn your bondage away. Only seconds remain. '

She took one more look at each man, then made her decision.

The seven Lords of Fear entered the tent a few moments later to find the Lord of Bhrudwo on all fours, mouth wide open, screaming words of loss in a ragged, soul-wrenching voice. The servant-girl and the eunuch were gone. No trace of them could be found, no matter how hard the Maghdi Dasht searched - and they searched long, trying to escape the screams that continued for hours.

Never again did the eunuch speak with the voice of Leith's dead brother, and neither did Stella hear the mind-voice at any point on their long journey west. Kindness and pity the cripple and the eunuch found in great measure, and of even greater value was the unexpected gift of passage with a company of soldiers encountered a day east of Ehrenmal. They were bound for Instruere, they said, where the King of Faltha was soon to be crowned: a man of surpassing wisdom and courage, to whom all Sixteen Kingdoms had sworn fealty. There was some concern expressed over his links to the losian, against whom some of them had spent many years fighting, but others argued that the losian had proven their worth in the Great War.

'Is it truly over?' she asked them, and they laughed. 'Truly over? Yes! There are no enemies left in Faltha!' A great age of peace was coming, they told her, in which all Faltha would prosper. She joined in their laughter, and was delighted when they offered her and her silent companion passage on their river-boat from Ehrenmal to Vindicare. 'Got to be at Instruere when the new king is crowned!' they said.

'I'd like that,' she replied, and smiled.

Yet she saw the glances they gave her when they thought she wasn't looking, glances of pity, with none of the concupiscence she might have expected from soldiers. They appreciated her wit, but did not think of her as a woman. For a time she could not bear to look in a mirror, so ashamed was she of her marred beauty. He said I was beautiful, she reminded herself, but at times she could not remember which man had spoken the words, Leith or the Destroyer.

As winter wrapped its cold arms around the world they made their way across the plains of Straux, passing under the great Keep of Fealty, drawing ever closer to Instruere - and the moment she had begun to dread. Would her friends see her as a traitor, a servant of the enemy? What would they say to her? Was there any chance they might make a place for her at their side? Her heart ached with worry, and the eunuch could offer her no words of consolation.

Finally the day came when the soldiers marched through the Gates of Instruere, and bade her farewell with a laugh, their captain even issuing her an invitation to join them for a meal at their barracks. Stella smiled and thanked them, trying not to show how much they wounded her even as they helped her. She stood in the middle of the street and watched them march off, coming to herself only when they vanished from sight.

The streets were strangely deserted, the City oddly quiet. The only sound was a light shower of rain pattering on the cobbled street. Surely there was nothing wrong? Surely on their travels they would have heard news of anything untoward happening here? Taking the big man's hand, Stella began to walk slowly down the road. Someone would know where he could be found.

Her damaged leg cried out in pain; and, without having to be asked, her protector halted at a small market and begged a stout walking stick. Stella asked the stall-owner where the people had gone, and was told that the new King of Faltha was being crowned today, even as they spoke, and didn't everyone know that? And wasn't it unfair that there was room only for a thousand in the Hall of Meeting, otherwise he would have gone, but there was a great gathering outside the hall on the wide lawns, and what had happened to her leg? She thanked the man breathlessly, and redoubled her pace.

There it was: the hall, surrounded by thousands upon thousands of people. As they came up to the great building, she could hear the music - a lament, it sounded like, one fit to scour the soul to the very depths. Would she wait? Would there ever be a time when she could speak to those she had abandoned in her selfishness?

Do not wait, something whispered in the depths of her mind; you have atoned.

She entered the building, and walked slowly down the Corridor of Appellants towards the entrance to the Outer Chamber, her stick clicking on the marble floor.

The eunuch stood back a few paces from the wooden doors, smiling, his arms folded over his stomach. Go on, his eyes told her. Open the door. Go to your friends.

She put her hand to the door, and the music swelled into a thundering climax. At least no one will notice me, she thought, and pushed open the door.

A thousand heads turned towards her, but she saw only one. Stella smiled as the boy on the throne cried out, leaped forward and promptly tripped over his boots as the music came to an end. In perfect silence he picked himself up, descended the stairs and walked towards her.

'Stella,' said the newly-crowned King of Faltha in a choked voice. 'I knew you would come back.'

'Liar,' she said, and took his right hand.

GLOSSARY.

AS = Ancient Straux.

CT = Common Tongue.

D = Deruvian FA = Favonian FI = Firanese FM = First Men FN = Fenni.

JS = Jasweyan M = Mist MB = Middle Bhrudwan NM = Nemohaimian.

OB = Old Bhrudwan OD = Old Deruvian OF = Old Falthan OSV = Old Sna Vazthan.

OT = Old Treikan P = Pei-ran S = Sanusi SA = Saristrian.

ST = Straux SVZ = Sna Vazthan WZ = Widuz.

Achtal (Arck-tahl) aka the Acolyte: Personal name of the young Bhrudwan acolyte, a Lord of Fear [OB death dealer]

Adolina (A-doh-lee-nuh): A small town at the western end of Sivera Alenskja, the great gorge of the Aleinus River; first dwelling place in Faltha of the First Men [FM idyll]

Adrar, Pass of (Add-rar): Westernmost pass over Veridian Borders, seldom used by slavers seeking passage from Ghadir Massab to Bhrudwo [OB lion]

Adunlok (Ah-doon-lock): Fortress of the Widuz, built around a deep sinkhole just south of Cloventop [WZ down look]

Aldhras Mountains (Ell-drass): High mountains on the border between Faltha and Bhrudwo [FM old head]

Aleinus (Ar-lay-ee-niss): Great River of Faltha with headwaters in the Aldhras Mountains, then flows through central Faltha [FM barrier]

Aleinus Delta (Ar-lay-ee-niss): Wide area of swamp, forest and fen where the Aleinus River discharges into the Wodhaitic Sea [FM barrier]

Aleinus Gates (Ar-lay-ee-niss): Place where Aleinus River emerges from Vulture's Craw, surrounded by high cliffs [FM barrier]

Almucantaran Mountains (Ell-moo-kan-tah-ran): A dense knot of high mountains in eastern and southern Nemohaim [FM mountains of the dream]

Am'ainik (Arm-eye-nick): Southern and least populous province of Sna Vaztha [SVZ shoulder]

Amare, Plains of (Ah-mar-ay): Densely populated lowland to the west of Bewray in Nemohaim, site of many battles [NM wind]

Amasian, Sir (Ah-may-see-in): Seer of Fealty. One of the Knights of Fealty, given a vision by the Most High [FM majesty]

Andratan Island, keep (Ann-druh-tan): Island off the coast of Bhrudwo, home of the Destroyer [OB dead]

Appellants' Hall: Corridor in the Hall of Meeting where those seeking a ruling from the Council of Faltha gather to wait their turn Arkhimm, the (Ar-kim): The five members of the Company who set out to retrieve the Jugom Ark [FM five of the arrow]

Arkhos (Ar-coss): Leader of a clan in the Vale of Youth; later coming to mean an ambassador to the Council of Faltha [FM arrow-bearer]

Armatura, the (Ar-muh-too-ruh): Lofty and impenetrable mountain range separating Faltha from Bhrudwo, runs between the Gap and Dhauria along an ancient fault [FM armoured hills]

Arrow of Yoke: Alternative name and literal translation of the Jugom Ark Asgowan (Az-gouw-in): One of the Sixteen Kingdoms of Faltha, located north of Deuverre [FM horse country]

Aslama (Az-la-muh): Nemohaimian name for Rehu Archipelago, an extensive island chain to the north of Nemohaim and Deruys [NM spoiled islands]

Aslaman (Ass-la-muhn): Nemohaimian name for the inhabitants of Aslama [NM spoiled men]

Astraea (Az-tray-uh): Nemohaimian name for an old losian kingdom, home of the Pei-ra until they were driven out by Nemohaim [NM spoils of war]

Aurochs (Or-rocks): Legendary wild ox, found only on the inland moors of Firanes [FN urus]

Austrau (Orst-rouw): Eastern and less populous of the two provinces of Straux [FM east wheat field]

Axehaft aka Leader: The Warden of the Fodhram, from Fernthicket Badiyat (Bard-i-yat): Eastern province of the Sanusi [S scorpion sand]

Bandits' Cave: Limestone formation in Withwestwa Wood, formerly a base for robbers, now the abode of the Hermit Bannire (Bann-ire): Borderlands south of Treika, once inhabited by warring losian tribes [FM banner]

Barathea (Barr-uh-thee-uh): Deuverran town at the confluence of the Aleinus River and its largest tributary, the Branca River [FM house of God]

Basement, The: Remnant of Foilzie's burned tenement in Instruere, gathering place for the Ecclesia Belladonna: A young woman of the Vale of Neume, daughter of the Guardian of the Arrow; her name comes from the tradition of naming guardians after species of plants found in the Vale Bewray (Bee-ray): Arkhos of Saiwiz, entrusted with the Jugom Ark by the Council of Leaders. Founded Nemohaim and hid the Jugom Ark [FM to reveal involuntarily]; also capital city of Nemohaim Bhrudwo (Brood-woe): Continent covering the northeastern hemisphere, a federation of provinces ruled by the Destroyer [OB brown land]

B'ir Birkat (Buh-air Bear-cat): Vast province of Bhrudwo, located in the north-western interior, a land of desert and plateau [S golden lake]

Birinjh (Bear-arnge): Vast province of Bhrudwo, located in the north-western interior, a land of desert and plateau [OB tableland]

Bis (Biss): Village of Asgowan, situated on the pampas plains of central Faltha. The name is probably onomatopoeic for the sound of wind in the long pampas grass Branca (Bran-kuh): Large northern river draining Asgowan, Haurn and the far north borders; a tributary of the Alelnus [OF river]

Breidhan Moor (Bray-than): Westernmost highlands of inland Firanes, considered part of the Myrevidda [OF white lands]

Brown Army: Colloquial term for the Bhrudwan army which overran Faltha at the end of the Golden Age Brunhaven (Brohn-hay-vin): Coastal city and capital of Deruys, one of the Sixteen Kingdoms; home of the Raving King [FM last home]

Cachoeira (Cash-oh-ay-rah): Coast of south-western Faltha most vulnerable to pirate raids from Corrigia; leaving place of the Pei-ratin when they abandoned Astraea [NM storehouse]

Captain of the Guard: Leader of the Instruian Guard, answerable to the Council of Faltha; currrently under orders of the Arkhos of Nemohaim Cauldron, The: basin east of Aleinus Gates, part of Vulture's Craw. Named for its swirling winds Ceau (Say-ow) aka Bright-Eyes: Escaigrtian who helps rescue the Company, accompanies the Arkhimm southwards [ST abrupt]

Central Plains: Vast lowlands of central Faltha, a hundred and fifty leagues from north to south and three hundred from east to west Chalcis, Sir (Chall-sis): Chief knight of Fealty, an old but hale warrior-priest [FM cleansing vessel]

Children of the Mist: The losian who dwell in the land of the Mist, forced there by the First Men Claws of Adrar: Claw-shaped formations near the summit of the Pass of Adrar. Part of the large feature known as the Golden Lion Company, the: The group of northerners who came south attempting to warn Faltha of the coming Bhrudwan incursion Conal Greatheart (Conn-arl): man of Instruere who rose up against the rule of the Destroyer. Aided by a band of warriors (some historians say criminals) he drove the Destroyer from Instruere and set up the Knightly order of Fealty [FM spike]

Corrigia (Coh-rigg-ee-yah): Pirate-infested island off the coast of south-western Faltha. The pirates of Corrigia harass shipping and coast-dwellers in southern Nemohaim and western Vertensia [NM boat]

Cotyledon, Lake (Cott-ee-lee-din): Large lake on the Mossbank River [FD pennywort, sense of meaning from FD cup-shaped depression]

Council of Faltha: Ruling council of ambassadors from the Sixteen Kingdoms of Faltha, based in Instruere Cuantha, King (Koo-ann-thah): King of Favony, traitor to Faltha [FM antlered stag]

Culmea, the (Kull-me-ah): Hill country to the south-east of Bewray in Nemohaim, heavily populated [FM pasture]

Deorc (Dee-york): Lieutenant to the Destroyer, Keeper of Andratan [JS spearhead]

Deningen (Den-ing-in): coastal fishing village of central Deruys [D fish bucket]

Deruys (Dee-roys): One of the Sixteen Kingdoms of Faltha, a coastal land south of Straux [FM no regard]

Dessica (Dess-ih-cuh) aka Khersos, the Great Desert: Desert land extending over southern Faltha [FM to dry out]

Destroyer, the aka Undying Man, Lord of Bhrudwo, Lord of Andratan, Kannwar: Rebel against the Most High, cursed with immortality and now makes his home in Bhrudwo. Rules from his fortress of Andratan Deuverre (Doo-vair): One of the Sixteen Kingdoms of Faltha, located north of Straux in central Faltha; rich, densely populated farmland [FM twin rivers]

Dhaur Bitan (Dour Bit-arn) aka The Poisoning: Story of the fall of Kannwar and exile from the Vale, contained in the Domaz Skreud [FM death bite]

Dhauria (Dau-ree-yah) aka the Drowned Land: Names for the Vale of Youth after it was drowned by the sea [FM death estuary]

Diamant River (Die-ah-mant): Broad river draining the western flanks of the Aldhras Mountains, cutting a deep valley into their unexplored heart. Said to be a sacred valley [SVZ precious metal]

Docks, the: Warehouse and shipping district of Instruere, outside the main wall of the city Domaz Skreud (Doh-marz Scroyd): The Scroll which recounts the rise of the Destroyer and the fall of the Vale of Youth [FM doom scroll]

Dona Mihst (Doh-na Mist): City built on the site of the Rock of the Fountain in the Vale of Youth [FM misty down, later corrupted to dunamis, FM power]

Dorm River (Doh-nu): River draining the southern Wodranian Mountains, emptying into the Aleinus River [FM hillwater]

Druin (Drew-in): Youth of Loulea, large boy who bullies others and is keen on Stella [FI brown]

Dukhobor (Dook-oh-bore): Gathering place of the Haukl, a city supposedly never seen by mortal eyes [FM city of monsters]

East Bank Road: Road running through the eastern provinces of Redana'a and Piskasia, parallel to the main road to The Gap Ecclesia (E-kle-zyuh): Name given to the group who began meeting at Foilzie's basement [ST called out]

Ehrenmal (Air-en-mall): Town in western Favony on the north bank of the Aleinus River [FM bad blood]

Elders: Rulers of Escaigne, once high-ranking members of the Watchers Escaigne (Ess-kane): Hidden kingdom in rebellion against Instruere [FM entangled]; Escaignians are also known as Cachedwellers Faltha (Fal-thuh): Continent of north-western hemisphere, an alliance of sixteen independent kingdoms [CT contraction of Falthu/aite, itself a corruption of Withwestwa]

Falthan Patriots: Name given by Arkhos of Nemohaim to those who joined him in treason against Faltha Farr Storrsen (Far Store-sin): Elder son of Storr of Vinkullen, a thin, angular man [FI far]