‘There must be, Cotillion. They exist. They always do.’
‘Will you all die in the name of love?’ The question seemed torn from something inside him.
‘If die we must, what better reason?’
He studied her for a dozen heartbeats, and then said, ‘I have been considering … amends.’
‘Amends? I don’t understand.’
‘Our youth,’ he murmured, as if he had not heard her, ‘the brightness of the sun. She chose to leave him. Because, I fear, of me, of what I did to her. It was wrong. All of it, so terribly wrong . Love … I’d forgotten.’
The shadows deepened, and a moment later she was alone in her tent. She? Cotillion, listen to my prayer. For all your fears, love is not something you can forget. But you can turn your back on it. Do not do that . A god had sought her out. A god suffering desperate need. But she couldn’t give him what he desired – perhaps, she saw now, he’d been wise in rejecting what she’d offered. The first time, it was anger for love. But I saw no anger left in him .
Always an even exchange. If I opened my love to him … whatever he had left inside himself, he didn’t want to give it to me . And that, she now comprehended, had been an act of mercy.
The things said and the things not said. In the space in between, a thousand worlds. A thousand worlds .
The Perish escort of two armoured, helmed and taciturn soldiers halted. The one on the left pointed and said to Bottle, ‘There, marine, you will find your comrades. They have gathered at the summons of their captain.’ To Masan Gilani and Ruthan Gudd, the soldier continued, ‘The Adjunct’s command tent lies elsewhere, but as we have come to the edge of the Bonehunter encampment, I expect you will have little difficulty in finding your own way.’
‘Much as we will miss your company,’ Ruthan Gudd said, ‘I am sure you are correct. Thank you for guiding us this far, sirs.’
The figures – Bottle wasn’t even sure if they were men or women, and the voice of the one who’d spoken gave no hint whatsoever – bowed, and then turned about to retrace their routes.
Bottle faced his companions. ‘We part here, then. Masan, I expect I’ll see you soon enough. Captain.’ He saluted smartly.
The man scowled in reply. Gesturing to Masan, he set off for the heart of the camp.
Bottle faced the direction the guard had indicated. What’s Sort got to say to them, then? Guess I’m about to find out .