The Crippled God

to react, to make sense of the nightmare world into which they had just stumbled, before a pike plunged into them, or a sword lashed down. And so they died, there on that threshold, fouling those who came after them.
    She had no idea how many of her people were left, and a vision that had come upon her a century ago, maybe longer, of Yedan Derrygstanding alone before the breach, the very last to fall, now returned to her, not as some dreadful imagining, but as prophetic truth.
    And all because I would not kneel to the Shore .
    There was no dragon challenging the breach. If one came, she now would not hesitate. She would fling herself down, trusting in Yedan to kill the damned thing, trusting in the power of her own blood to claim that dying creature, hold it fast, grasp hold of its blood and lift it, higher, yet higher, to make a wall, to seal this gate.
    Why did I wait? Why did I resist?
    Why did I believe my freedom was worth anything? Why did I imagine that I had the right to choose my destiny? Or choose to deny it?
    Only the defeated kneel. Only slaves, the ones who surrender their lives – into the hands of others .
    But now … I would do it. To save my people, this pitiful remnant. Come to me now, my child-witches. See me kneel. Bleed me out. I am ready .
    A Liosan fell to her sword, on to his knees before her, as if mocking her sudden desire, and over his head she saw her brother – saw him turn, saw him find her. Their gazes locked.
    Yan Tovis loosed a sob, and then nodded.
    Yedan Deryyg threw out his arms to the sides. Roared, ‘Back! Ten paces!’
    And hail welcome to the dragon .
    She watched Spinnock Durav enter the throne room yet again, and wondered at the absence of his smile. That face did not welcome solemn regard, wore it like an ill-fitting mask. Made it lined where it should be smooth, made the eyes flinch when he looked up to meet the gaze of the one seated on this throne.
    He smelled of burnt wood, as if he had dragged the death of a forest behind him, and now the smoke swirled round his legs, his kneeling form, like serpents only she could see.
    ‘Highness,’ he said.
    ‘Speak to me,’ said a strained, half-broken voice, ‘on the disposition of my legions.’
    ‘Certain leaders among us,’ Spinnock replied, eyes lowering to fix on the dais, or perhaps a pair of booted feet, ‘are in their souls unleashed. ’Tis the scent upon this wind—’
    ‘If the fire draws closer, the city will burn.’
    ‘Against that conflagration, Highness, only you can stand, for it is by your will – we see that now. We see your grief, though we do not yet understand its meaning. What pact have you made with Silanah? Why does she lay waste to all the land? Why does she drive ever closer to proud Kharkanas?’
    ‘Proud?’ The word was a sneer. ‘I am now one ghost among many, and it is only ghosts who belong here. If we are to be forgotten, the city must fall. If we are to be forgiven, the city must swallow our crimes. If we are to be dust, the city must be ash. That is how to end this.’
    ‘We have journeyed long, Highness. From the Outer Marches, on a hundred hidden paths only a thief would remember. And then the violence took our leaders. The blood of Eleint .’
    ‘Cursed blood!’
    ‘Highness?’
    ‘No! It poisoned me once – you know that, Spinnock Durav! You were there!’
    He bowed his head still further. ‘I saw what was done, yes. I saw what you sought to hide away.’
    ‘I did not ask them to come back. I didn’t!’
    He lifted his gaze, tilted his head. ‘I sense … this is important. Highness. Who did you not ask to come back? ’
    Hard, cold hands closed on her face. She felt them like her own, felt the long fingers like prison bars, smelled the wax of melted candles. ‘Can’t you hear it?’
    ‘Hear what, Highness?’
    ‘Their screams. The dying! Can’t you hear it? ’
    ‘Highness, there is a distant roar. Lightfall—’
    ‘ Lightfall! ’ Her eyes widened but she could not speak, could not think.
    ‘What is happening?’ he demanded.
    What is happening? Everything is happening! ‘Are they in disarray? Your troops?’
    He shook his head. ‘No, Highness. They wait on Blind Gallan’s Road.’
    Blind Gallan’s Road? There was no such road. Not then. Not when Spinnock Durav came to kneel before his lord. I have lost my mind . A sudden whimper, and she shrank back in the throne. ‘Take off that mask, Spinnock Durav. You were never so old.’
    ‘Who did you ask