the Wizard Wars the Stepsons came scouring through the streets, all grim in
their armor and on their tall horses; back in Sanctuary again and determined to
set things into their own concept of order.
Make the house presentable, Ischade had sent word through Haught; and told her
the house had to host the chiefest of these devils, including Tempus, who was an
Ilsigi’s direst enemy: an Ilsigi hostess had to entertain these awful men,
with what end to the business Moria could not foresee.
A door had opened downstairs. It closed again. She lay between terror and
another thought-for Haught came to her now and again. Haught came wherever he
liked and sometimes that was to her bed. It was Haught who had made her
beautiful, it was Haught who cared for her and made her imprisoned life worth
living.
It was Haught who had prised a knife from her fingers and prevented her from
suicide a half a year ago, then kissed those fingers and made gentle love to
her. It was Haught who stole a little of the Mistress’s magic for her and cast a
glamor on her that had never yet gone away. Perhaps the Mistress tacitly
approved. But the Mistress had never laid eyes on her new self; and that might
happen tomorrow night-
That would happen. Oh, if there were a way to make herself invisible she would
do it. If that were Haught-it must be Haught, coming up the stairs so quietly.
A shiver came over her. She remembered the thing which had been in bed with her.
She remembered the cold in the air and the steps which used to come and go in