‘When did you leave the kitchens?’
‘About an hour ago. Yu Yu’s sword was not shining, so we crept up the stairs and along to the banquet hall. We saw nothing – save that there was ice upon the walls of the outer corridor. Then we made our way to the lawns here. We found what you see, most of the servants and guests had fled. There are more down on the beach – about forty.’
‘You went there – through the palace?’ asked Waylander.
‘Yes, sir.’
‘That took courage, Emrin. Did you see any sign of the mist?’
‘No, sir. But I didn’t stop to investigate. I ran back through the banquet hall and out on to the terrace. I didn’t stop running until I reached the beach.’
‘How many of Matze Chai’s servants are among the missing?’
‘Ten, sir, according to the captain of his guard.’
‘Fetch him.’
Emrin bowed, then turned and moved back through the crowd. Waylander saw Keeva sitting close to the trees. The page-boy was asleep, his blond head resting against her shoulder.
Moments later Emrin led the Chiatze captain to Way-lander. The man bowed deeply to both Waylander and Kysumu.
‘Tell me of the attack,’ said Waylander.
The man glanced at Kysumu and spoke rapidly in Chiatze. The Rajnee turned to Waylander. ‘The captain regrets that his command of the Kydor language is not sufficient to describe in detail the events. He asks if you would permit me to translate for him.’
‘You may tell me in your own tongue,’ said Waylander in excellent Chiatze.
The captain bowed even more deeply. ‘I am Liu, noble sir. It is my honour to be captain of Matze Chai’s troops. It is also my great shame that I could not reach my master in his time of peril. I was sleeping, noble sir, when a scream awoke me. I rose, pulled on my robe, and opened the door to seek out the cause of the cry. At first I could see nothing, but I felt the cold immediately. I knew what it was, sir, for it attacked our camp. I buckled on my breastplate, took up my sword and tried to reach the suite of my master. But the mist was already there, filling the corridor. It came for me – and I ran, noble sir. I heard other doors opening behind me, and I heard … I heard …” He fell silent. ‘I heard people being killed,’ he said. ‘I did not look back. I could not have saved them.’
Waylander thanked the man then undipped the crossbow from his belt and loaded two bolts. Without a word to the others he walked towards the double doors. Emrin swore softly then followed, sword in hand. Waylander paused in the doorway and looked back at Emrin. ‘Do not follow me. You are needed here,’ he said. ‘Send ten wagons to the old ruins, and ensure there are plenty of bandages and a good amount of fresh water. The Duke’s men have also suffered losses against the demons.’
Waylander pushed open the doors and walked into the darkness beyond. Kysumu strolled after him.
For almost an hour the Grey Man stalked the deserted corridors, pushing open doors, striding down stairwells, through halls and storage areas. He made no attempt to move stealthily, and it seemed to Kysumu that his companion was disappointed that they found no monsters. His anger, though controlled, was apparent in every movement.
Finally they reached the Long Kitchens. The body of Omri lay in a pool of congealing blood alongside that of the bodyguard Naren. The Grey Man knelt beside the old retainer. ‘You deserved better than this,’ he said. Omri’s face was frozen in a mask of terror, and his eyes were wide open. For a little while the Grey Man remained beside the body, then he rose. ‘He was a frightened man,’ he told Kysumu. ‘He abhorred violence. It terrified him. But he was a deep well when it came to kindness and compassion. You’d have to ride far to find any who would speak ill of him.’
‘Such men are rare,’ observed Kysumu. ‘You valued him. That is good.’
‘Of course I valued him. There would be no civilization without men like Omri. They care, and in caring they create all that is good. It was Omri who urged me to allow Mendyr Syn to create his hospital here. Before that Omri was raising funds for two schools in Carlis. He spent his life working for the good of others. And this was his reward – to be ripped apart by some mindless beast.’