The soldiers crowded round, muttering and cursing in their strange language.
Corlo faced Seren, his expression strangely taut. ‘Any suggestions, Acquitor?’
‘What?’
The mage said something in their native tongue to Iron Bars, who scowled and replied, ‘That’s enough, all of you. In Letherii. Since when was rudeness in the creed of the Crimson Guard? Acquitor, this is the Hold of Darkness-’
‘There is no Hold of Darkness.’
‘Well, I’m trying to say it in a way that makes sense to you.’
‘All right.’
Corlo said, ‘But, you see, Acquitor, it shouldn’t be.’
She simply looked at him in the gloom.
The mage rubbed the back of his neck, and she saw the hand come away glistening with sweat. ‘These are Tiste Edur, right? Not Tiste Andii. The Hold of Darkness, that’s Tiste Andii. The Edur, they were from the, uh, Hold of Shadow. So, it was natural, you see, to expect that the warren would be Kurald Emurlahn. But it isn’t. It’s Kurald Galain, only it’s breached. Over-run. Thick with spirits – Tiste Andii spirits-’
‘They’re not here,’ she said. ‘I’ve seen them. Those spirits. They’re not here.’
‘They are, Acquitor. I’m just keeping them away. For now…’
‘But it’s proving difficult.’
The mage nodded reluctantly.
‘And you’re lost.’
Another nod.
She tried to think, cut through the numbness – which seemed to be the only thing keeping away the pain of her battered flesh. ‘You said the spirits are not Edur.’
‘That’s right. Tiste Andii.’
‘What is the relationship between the two? Are they allied?’
Corlo’s eyes narrowed. ‘Allied?’
‘Those wraiths,’ Iron Bars said.
The mage’s gaze darted to his commander, then back again to Seren Pedac. ‘Those wraiths are bound. Compelled to fight alongside the Edur. Are they Andii spirits? Hood’s breath, this is starting to make sense. What else would they be? Not Edur spirits, since no binding magic would be needed, would it?’
Iron Bars stepped in front of Seren. ‘What are you suggesting?’