Jonas slipped in and out of sleep for the rest of the day.

Newly drugged, he slept deeply for a time, growing suddenly restless before waking with a start.

Llew went to him, smoothed his hair, and tried to soothe him with words and shushes.

‘Rhaena says this is normal for people who’ve . . .’ She couldn’t say it. She licked her lips, but she still couldn’t say it.

Llew hoped she was doing as good a job at being there for him as he had been for her, offering a hand to hold, a calming word, and more oblivion. Rhaena recommended frequent doses of this last to give his leg a strong start in its healing process. As eager as Llew was to accelerate it, they couldn’t do that here, and Jonas needed to be as healthy as possible for travel.

Llew spent the hours alone sorting and tidying the clutter of the room. While she had never considered her childhood lacking while her parents were around, she had never been surrounded by so much stuff. She shifted piles of books against a wall, satisfying herself that they would be less likely to topple. Blankets she folded and piled along an edge of the table. Funny, really, how these domestic tendencies set in. She hadn’t lived in a real house for years, hadn’t had to do much laundry, certainly didn’t need to fold and store. Then again, she hadn’t needed to fill her time in a single room before, either.

Elka or Rhaena called in occasionally during the day to check on Jonas, empty the chamber pot, bring a meal – toast, fruit and small cakes for Llew, soup for Jonas, which he managed to keep down. The consensus was that he was doing well. They had removed his infection and avoided introducing another. Jonas tried solid food in the evening, which also stayed down, and managed to remain awake for over an hour without the laudanum. His face pinched a few times, but he didn’t give voice to any pains. The sooner he could do without the drug, the sooner they could move on. And it seemed he was keen to do so.

As the days wore on, he refused the laudanum to help him sleep, and instead he and Llew discussed their plans to get out of Turhmos. They would stop in at Merrid and Ard’s if it were safe to do so. Visiting the lovely couple would give them a chance to catch up on news, and it would also break the journey up, making it seem less daunting. Llew couldn’t wait to experience another Merrid hug.

The approach to the Presidential Palace was quite different to the last time. Braph had hired a steam carriage this time and, rather than being accompanied by his brother and the Syaenuk he’d traded for Orinia, he had his son Orin, nephew Joelin, the babe recently birthed by Orinia, and Maura his house maid to help with the younger children. Orinia remained at home. Best not to risk the state reclaiming her, especially after her daughter’s escape. The babe they could have, but Orinia would not be taken again.

Orin stepped from the carriage and walked with a confident bearing fitting a boy whose very being carried immense power. Joelin cried and kept trying to sit, or lie, but Maura kept a firm grip on him with one hand while she carried the now-crying babe in the other. Braph would not miss them.

Spring sun flared off the rounded, bulbous red roof and gave the white walls a golden warmth. Few guards stood atop the walls surrounding the estate; and those that did either chatted or stood at ease. This time there was no Immortal hells-bent on ridding the world of Aenuks. This time, Braph’s approach was unthreatened and not openly unwelcome. He had an appointment, after all. Colonel Salmon – Salmen – was not at the gate. Another man stepped forward.

‘Braph Vastergaard?’

‘The very one.’ Clasping his hands behind his back Braph gave a very proper nod. ‘And my son. Kadesh wishes to meet him.’

‘Yes.’ The guard gave a stiff nod in return. ‘President Carlile is eager for you both to present yourselves.’ He scowled and his gaze flicked between the rest of Braph’s entourage.

‘The Aenuk, possibly Syaenuk, babe.’ Braph nodded to Maura and flicked his head towards the guard.

Tears trickled from the woman’s eyes, but she stepped forward and held the babe for the guard to receive. The guard took the child gingerly and swiftly passed it to another guard. That guard opened the gate enough for him to slip through and let it close behind him.

A sob burst from Maura.

‘I told you not to get attached,’ Braph murmured to the woman, then turned back to the guard while holding out a hand to take Joelin’s. ‘And I have brought the president a gift. My nephew.’ The toddler lay on his back crying intermittently, between taking an interest in the goings on and checking to be sure someone was paying attention.

The guard – showing no sign of joining the dots between Braph and Joelin – appeared doubtful of the president’s interest.

Maura stooped and hefted the child to standing and brought his hand up for Braph to grasp. All the while, Maura murmured reassuring platitudes to the child that Braph suspected were as much directed at herself. Braph closed his gloved flesh hand around Joelin’s wrist, and the toddler collapsed, trying to fall to the ground again. Having little patience for such behavior, Braph lifted Joelin by the wrist and swung him so he sat on Braph’s hip. The child continued to scream. Braph tolerated it only in his knowing he would be free of it soon. Though, with a thought and a dash of power, he temporarily deafened that one ear. Much better.

Orin curled a lip at the toddler.

Braph looked over his shoulder at Maura. Tears wet cheeks and she cupped her chin in her hands.

‘You may go,’ Braph said. One of Maura’s hands left her chin, as if she were going to reach out to Joelin, but she pulled it back and turned to go. Braph had sent the steam carriage away. She would have plenty of time to get to grips with reality on the walk home.

He turned back to the guard, who had still not opened the gate.

‘Believe me,’ Braph said. ‘The president will like it.’

The guard lifted an eyebrow.

‘I have an appointment,’ Braph reiterated.

The guard gave him a long look, then opened the gate wide enough for Braph and the children to make their way through single file. ‘Go to the main entrance and the house guard will show you the way.’

Braph waved a dismissive hand over his shoulder as he sauntered up the path. He knew where Kadesh’s – President Kadeshbarnea Carlile’s – office was. He needed no guide. Still, he supposed letting people do their jobs was the polite thing to do, and if there was one thing that distinguished men of status from riffraff it was their tolerance for insufferable propriety. And so, Braph allowed the self-important house guard to lead the way and announce their arrival.

Mercifully, Joelin was too fascinated by his surroundings to continue his tantrum.

As previously, a guard stood to either side of the door inside the room, their backs to the wall.

‘Mister Vastergaard.’ Kadesh stood from behind his elegant desk and came forward with a proffered hand. Then, before they were even within hand-grasping reach, continued with a laugh, ‘Now that’s something to get used to. Such a Quaven name. How odd to utter it inside Turhmos without an ounce of disdain.’

Braph stretched his lips in a false smile as their hands touched; Braph’s metal and gloved, the president’s flesh and bare. While Kadesh chose not to comment on lack of propriety, he grasped Braph’s elbow with his other hand. And while Braph allowed his eyes to flare with his outrage, his smile didn’t falter, and he suffered the other man’s show of dominance without retaliation. This wasn’t the time.

‘You brought your son, and—?’ Kadesh looked from one child to the other.

Braph let Joelin slide to the floor. The toddler stood, looking about the room from beneath a suspicious brow.

Braph guided Orin to stand directly in front of him and placed his hands on the boy’s shoulders. ‘This is my son, Orin. And that—’ He waved his gloved, mechanical hand at Joelin. ‘—is my nephew.’

‘Your nephew? So his father is—?’

Braph nodded. ‘He is the son of Jonas and a Syakaran woman. He is one hundred per cent Syakaran, guaranteed. You are welcome to him, for what purpose I have little care. But if Turhmos decides against keeping their own pet Syakaran, I suspect he would be worth something to Quaver. Well, for a little while longer.’

‘And your brother.’ Kadesh stated flatly.

‘Powerless, as you are aware. He is of no threat to you.’

‘Still, he must want the child back.’

Braph shrugged dismissively. Whether he wanted the child or not had no bearing on whether Jonas could get him back.

Kadesh pondered Joelin, who stood with a dark scowl on his face. His resemblance to his father in that moment was absolute.

‘He should come into his full Syakaran strength and speed in his later childhood, gaining both incrementally from around seven,’ Braph said. ‘By the time he reaches his adolescence you will want to have assured his loyalty.’

Doubt twitched Kadesh’s features. Subduing and keeping Aenuks was a lesser challenge. Turhmos might have several years to develop security measures to keep a Syakaran under control, but Braph still considered behavioral measures more effective when you were physically under-powered. He’d learnt much observing Aris’s control over Jonas over the years.

‘Raise the boy as your own, and in a few years, you’ll have a super talented soldier. A bodyguard, deeply loyal to you alone.’

There it was. Kadesh now looked upon Joelin with a hunger to harness that power for himself.

‘I accept.’ Kadesh signaled one of the guards, who stepped forward to remove the toddler from the room.

As soon as his feet left the ground Joelin began to wail. The noise reverberated around the hallways as he disappeared. Braph would not miss that.

Kadesh returned his attention to Braph. ‘A fine gift, indeed,’ he said, his expression guarded. ‘You have been busy. Now I see why it took so long to reply to my invitation.’

Braph shrugged. His main reason had been to simply show that he could. Petty, perhaps. But if he kept it to himself, no one need know.

‘And you did give me my show.’ Kadesh stepped back waving his hands wide to encapsulate the spectacular showdown featuring The Great Syakaran of Quaver versus Turhmos’s best. ‘I must thank you for that.’ Kadesh failed to make his smile genuine, but Braph forgave him. He appreciated Kadesh was trying and accepted he was no adept at false rapport himself. It hardly seemed fair to expect it in others.

While the invitation to this meeting had been cordial, Braph had little doubt Kadesh didn’t know what box to put Braph in: friend, foe, or nuisance. Braph had lived in Turhmos for many years without calling attention to himself, but somehow word of Orinia’s existence had leaked and they’d come for her. He had managed to keep developing his designs without her, thriving on the relative anonymity he found in this country, but when Turhmos believed he was keeping knowledge from them, they took his arm with his magic device on it. While Braph was certainly miffed at that, it wasn’t exactly easy to uplift his entire household and all his contraptions within. He would rather develop a professional relationship than be at war with the country in which he had chosen to live. Besides, his new hand was officially better than his old, and he would never have considered constructing it if it hadn’t been for the swift strike of Colonel Salmen’s cleaver.

‘Unfortunately,’ Kadesh continued, ‘I cannot gage what impact, if any, there might be on the upcoming election. The people are confused, and, at this time, I am unable to offer clarity. Luckily for me, neither can my opponents. And now everyone is aware the Syakaran was powerless.’

‘Men still died at his hands.’

‘Yes.’ Kadesh glanced away, his first sign of uncertainty – weakness. ‘There is that. But I’m afraid that doesn’t exactly provide our people a show of strength.’

‘But their bravery was unrivalled.’

‘Hmm.’ Kadesh didn’t sound convinced.

‘Has anyone inquired as to how my brother came to lose his powers?’

‘The overarching conjecture is settling into the belief that the Immortal became such by stealing the powers from the Syakaran.’ Kadesh waved a hand dismissively. ‘Doesn’t make sense, but I suppose the theory appeases the little people. Still—’ he peered at Braph. ‘That does leave the question of exactly how did this Aris— It was him, wasn’t it? The officer from Quaver? How did he come to obtain Immortal powers? I’m quite certain we would have known about it if he’d possessed them more than a couple of months ago.’

‘In that, Mr President, you may find that your little people were onto something. It seems he was already Immortal but lived the last nine hundred years powerless after some mishap.’

‘Like the ‘mishap’ that befell Jonas?’

Braph shook his head. ‘No, I believe something more natural than that.’

‘And how did he get them back?’

Braph chuckled. ‘You’re learning. I like that.’

Kadesh glowered at him. Braph smiled. Out of the two Turhmos presidents Braph had dealt with, Kadesh was growing to be his favorite despite their history. What was a hand between professionals, after all?

‘To re-obtain them he killed the unborn Immortal child of Jonas and Llewella.’

‘The what? Of Jo— the Syakaran?’

Braph nodded.

‘And my Syaenuk girl?’

Braph nodded again.

Kadesh snared. ‘That brother of yours spreads himself around, doesn’t he?’ Kadesh folded his arms and brought a finger up to tap his now pursed lips. ‘That explains why Gaemil of Brurun was asking after the Syaenuk. Jonas, I could understand, since the weakening of Quaver’s forces is going to have Brurun questioning if neutrality is still their best defense.’ A smile played across Kadesh’s features and melted away again. ‘But their questions after the girl had me perplexed. Now I wonder if there was some personal element beyond diplomacy.’ He looked to Braph.

‘I can confirm the Syaenuk had ingratiated herself with Lord Tovias’s future bride. I believe they refer to themselves as “best friends”.’

Kadesh’s eyes narrowed. ‘Brurun wouldn’t have anything to do with—’. He waved vaguely at the floor, beneath which lay Turhmos’s remaining Aenuk barrack, from where Llewella had managed to escape during Jonas’s display fight.

Braph shook his head. ‘I don’t believe so. You may be surprised how resourceful Llewella can be in her own right. She eluded my efforts to locate her for some years.’

‘You and our Syaenuk. Jonas and the Syaenuk girl. None of the histories remember the time of the Immortals fondly.’ His attention strayed to Orin and his eyes narrowed. ‘So, tell me, what did happen out there?’

Braph sensed Orin’s mood darken but didn’t spare the child a moment. It was true. Humans loathed most that which they feared.

Braph spread his hands in a shrug. ‘I killed the Immortal, for which everyone, Quavens and Turhmosians alike, is very welcome.’

‘Yes.’ Kadesh’s gaze remained on Orin. ‘But, what—’ He waggled his fingers at Orin, perhaps referencing the visible transfer of magic from Aris’s corpse to Orin, via the Syakaran knife Braph had inserted into the old Immortal. ‘—happened?’

Braph returned his hands to Orin’s shoulders.

‘You have two hands,’ Kadesh blurted.

‘Indeed.’ Braph raised his right hand, turning it palm up and down. ‘As is a man’s right.’ He tugged at each fingertip of his glove, loosening it, before pinching the tip of the middle finger and sliding his new, metal hand free and flexing the fingers. As much as it was his own design and his own handiwork it still titillated him to see the metal digits move as if they were his own. He supposed they were. And with each day that passed they became more so.

As expected, Kadesh seemed as fascinated as repulsed by the sight. The remaining guard shifted behind Braph, but he didn’t deign to spare a glance at him.

‘Through hardship a man proves his mettle. Isn’t that what they say, mister President?’

‘Well . . . Yes. I believe you have. That’s fine work. Fine work, indeed. And does it, ah— Does it do your magic?’

‘It does.’ Braph raised his sleeve, revealing the connections between his arm and the device. He twisted his arm to display the deep violet, almost black crystal locked in place.

‘Right. Right. Yes. That is rather dandy, isn’t it?’ Consciously or not, Kadesh rocked back.

‘Indeed.’ Dandy.

Kadesh was fixated on the metal hand, which Braph rested back on Orin’s shoulder. The boy lifted his chin slightly, no doubt proud of the part he’d played in constructing the hand.

‘Yes. Of course.’ Kadesh pulled his eyes from the hand and met Braph’s gaze. ‘One of the reasons you are here; I need to know: Where is Jonas now? Clearly, he’s not with you.’

‘Unfortunately, I don’t have an exact location for you. But I can tell you he is still within Turhmos’s borders, and not only is he powerless, he is now also crippled after the fight. He has sought medical treatment, which one of your doctors with experience in amputations has provided.’

‘That’s . . . specific.’

Braph smirked and waggled his metal hand between them.

‘Is my Syaenuk with him?’ Kadesh asked.

‘I don’t know,’ Braph conceded. ‘But I can find out, and I can tell you where they are likely to run for refuge – together, or as a meeting place.’

‘That farm you spent time at?’

Braph nodded, impressed with Kadesh’s perception.

‘You’re confident they’re not there already?’

‘Quite confident. My guess is they are within a day or two’s ride from Duffirk, if not still within the city itself. They can’t have gone far, not with the injury it appears Jonas was suffering. And now he’ll need time to heal from a surgery. But, they know how to break the Aenuk-Karan barrier to heal him, though I doubt they would do so without first getting to an Ajnai tree, of which there are several at said farm.’ Braph smirked again, well aware of the value of the knowledge he imparted.

‘Ajnais? They still exist?’

‘Oh, yes. My understanding is Llewella located one on her way out of Turhmos last time. Unfortunately, Aris cut it down, but it provided seeds and the things sprout incredibly fast.’

‘And there are some at the farm outside Hinden?’

Braph nodded.

‘I will have to visit this farm.’

‘Yes. Imagine what your Aenuks could do with an Ajnai in every town, or a forest of them near the Quaven border. You’d never lose a soldier again.’

Kadesh nodded to himself. ‘You’ve given me much to work with, and I thank you. Now, I still wish to understand the events in the arena more fully, because I suspect my public would appreciate some leadership on the matter, hmm?’ He smiled like it was something of a joke, but Braph read the uncertainty in his eyes. With an election fast approaching, Kadesh would be growing desperate to keep his seat. ‘So, please, do tell me about this young man.’ He indicated Orin.

‘First and foremost, he is my son.’ Braph gave Orin a comradely shake. Orin looked up at him with a smile. Perfect. Well aware of his use of repetition, Braph was angling to unequivocally assert his paternal rights.

‘Right.’ Kadesh licked his lips and considered Orin, then Braph. ‘And he was Immortal before all the—’ He wiggled the fingers of both hands at Orin. ‘Magic, I suppose you would call it?’

‘Oh, yes. Karan plus Syaenuk . . .’ Braph brought his hands together in a dramatic clap plus finger-wiggling flourish. ‘And now, not only is he the first Immortal to be born in over nine hundred years, he is also the first to have absorbed the powers of another Immortal in the same time frame.’ Braph couldn’t help himself, he smirked and angled his metal hand to show off the crystal made from Orin’s blood again.

Kadesh’s eyes narrowed as his gaze returned to Orin, his jaw chewing over his thoughts. ‘His mother is our Syaenuk.’

‘Who was under my care when she fell pregnant and delivered the child, before Turhmos even knew she existed. Turhmos has no claim to him.’ Braph annunciated this final sentence clearly. ‘Besides, I wouldn’t recommend trying to control an Immortal. Much better to—’ Coerce, manipulate. ‘—be their friend. Family. And, as we know, a mere Syaenuk girl, without parental protection, escaped your warren.’

Orin glowed with his thoughts about being someone who no one else could control. It suited Braph for him to believe that, for now. Kadesh, however scowled at the reminder of Llewella’s escape from beneath this very fortress.

‘During the spectacle you arranged.’ Kadesh spoke lightheartedly, almost jocular, keeping any hint of accusation from his expression and tone.

‘Come now.’ Braph smiled. ‘You gave me the Syaenuk I wanted, and I am quite sated with her love. And as for desiring a source of power—’ Braph raised one hand to, yet again, present Orin as Exhibit A. ‘My son cannot make use of his full powers, yet. But I can. I have no interest in Llewella. I can assure you, I did not aid her escape.’

‘Fine. You have your son, and your woman. And you’ve given me quite the gift of intelligence today, as well as a Syakaran son. I am, it would seem, in your debt.’

Braph chuckled. ‘I can also assure you, I have no designs on your leadership.’

‘And Quaver’s?’

Braph did laugh this time. ‘Gods, no. I have no time to meddle in the lives of others. Except, perhaps, that of my brother.’ He conceded. ‘In fact, if I am expected to make a demand in exchange for my assistance, that would be my one request; that my brother’s life be spared. He is powerless, there is little to be gained in killing him. And if anyone is to kill him, I would prefer it to be me.’

‘You wish to kill your brother.’

‘In a fair fight.’ Which was growing less and less likely.

Kadesh’s grunt suggested he had come to the same conclusion. ‘You’ve said my Syaenuk knows how to heal him. What chance does she have of returning him to full strength?’

‘Very little. My own experiments suggest the micro-organism must be obliterated within the host’s body before a lasting recovery can be achieved. I managed it when I was partially weakened, taking myself nearly to death, but with the wherewithal to remain fully in control. By now, Jonas will be on a downward spiral, growing weaker and weaker until he doesn’t even have the energy to eat, or breathe. And Llewella has no idea what she must do. He’s as good as dead.’ Braph’s sorrow at the thought reared again. He really had to get over that. His fair fight – the unequivocal proof of which Vastergaard brother was superior – would never happen.

Braph left the meeting a little while later satisfied that he was a free man, with a woman to love and a son . . . if not to be proud of then at least to provide a delicious power. His brother was dying, and with him Braph’s life-long vision of brains beating brawn, and he was simply going to have to live with that. Sucking in a breath, he infused his body with a taste of power from the crystal. He could live with that.