He nodded.
‘She was exhausted before she arrived,’ said Curth. ‘After Oureppan. More drained than she wanted to admit. And then I think she used every spark of power she had left to kill the first woe machine. No thought for herself. We are lucky to still have her.’
‘Well, keep me advised,’ said Gaunt. ‘Macaroth has expressed his concerns.’
‘Of course,’ Curth said. ‘Don’t you have a ridiculous parade to attend or something?’
‘Yes,’ Gaunt said. ‘But I heard he was awake at last.’
‘Earlier this morning,’ she said.
‘I wanted to see him first.’
‘Room at the far end,’ she said.
He looked at her. ‘Well,’ he said.
‘You saved my life, you know,’ Curth said. ‘In the undercroft. Not for the first time.’
‘You’ve saved mine, and more than once.’
‘It’s not a competition,’ she said. ‘Though if it was, I’d be winning.’
‘Your continued duty can never be repaid enough,’ Gaunt replied.
‘Is that a line from your speech?’
‘Yes,’ he admitted.
‘Bit rubbish,’ she said.
‘I felt that,’ he said.
Curth smiled. ‘I do what I do because it needs to be done,’ she said.
‘People keep saying that,’ said Gaunt.
‘Do they? Who?’
‘Just the people who matter most,’ he replied.
‘And there,’ she said, ‘I thought you just wanted me for my duty.’
They paused. He glanced around awkwardly.
‘So,’ he said.
‘Indeed,’ she replied.
‘I’ll go and–’
‘You should,’ she said.
He took off his cap, stepped forwards, and kissed her cheek. She stayed very still.
He stood back, and re-set his cap.
‘I’m going now,’ he said.
‘I see that.’
He turned.
She smiled slightly as he walked away.
Zweil was doing his rounds in a nearby ward as Gaunt strode past.
‘He looks busy,’ the old priest remarked to Blenner, who had agreed to accompany Zweil on the infirmary visit.
‘He does,’ said Blenner. ‘Good old Lord Ibram.’
‘Well, they all seem to be coping in here,’ said Zweil. ‘Let’s move along to the next ward, shall we?’
Blenner escorted him out into the hall, moving slowly so he didn’t leave the old, shuffling man behind.
‘They won’t let me bring the bird in,’ Zweil said.
‘So you said, father.’
‘I thought it might cheer people up. But oh no, they say it’s unsanitary. Just because it craps on the floor. I called it Quil, you know?’
‘Also information I already have at my disposal, father,’ said Blenner.
He stopped and turned to Zweil. They were alone in the pale green corridor.
‘Can I ask you something, father?’ Blenner said.
‘Depends on the area,’ replied Zweil with a frown. ‘I’m good on some topics. Like boats. Also, weaving, which I once liked to do. Other subjects, it’s more hit and miss, if I’m honest.’
‘Guilt?’
‘Oh, yes, my my. That’s priesting work. Out with it.’
‘It’s a–’ Blenner cleared his throat. ‘Purely hypothetical, of course. An ethical debate I was having.’
‘With?’ asked Zweil.
‘Sorry?’
‘Who was this ethical debate with?’
‘Oh, uhm… a friend.’
‘Ah yes,’ Zweil said, nodding sagely and tapping the side of his nose with a bony finger. ‘Know him well.’
‘So,’ said Blenner, ‘let’s say a man has done a… a questionable thing. A bad thing. He confesses, to seek absolution.’
‘That’d be the way to go,’ said Zweil, nodding along.
‘But his confessor dies,’ said Blenner. ‘Soon after. Does… does the absolution stand? Is the man still forgiven, or does the burden remain upon him?’
‘Hmmm,’ said Zweil, pondering. ‘That’s a knotty one. Bit of a murky area, philosophically speaking. Here’s what I’d tell this friend of yours, Vaynom. He’s probably all right. In the clear. His conscience all shiny and clean. Because he made confession of his sins, you see? But just to be on the safe side, you know, he should try to be the best fething person he can possibly be for the rest of his born days. See? Just to hedge his bets? In case the absolution didn’t take.’
‘I see,’ said Blenner.
‘Can he do that, do you think? This friend?’
‘I think he can try,’ said Blenner.
‘Good,’ said Zweil, and started to shuffle on his way again. ‘Because, tell him from me, guilt’s a little shit who will bite you on the fething arse and kill you stone dead. No doubt about it.’
Blenner nodded. He wiped his mouth on the back of his trembling hand.
‘Are you coming, Blenner?’ Zweil called. ‘They should have let me bring the bird instead of you, you know? The bird cheers people up. I’m teaching it tricks. You, you’re as much fun as a fart in a dreadnought.’
Merity Chass also saw Gaunt stride past. She was sitting at Fazekiel’s bedside.
‘Do you want to go and talk to him?’ Fazekiel asked.
‘He’s busy,’ said Merity. ‘There’ll be time later.’
Luna Fazekiel nodded. ‘Well, I appreciate the visit,’ she said, ‘but I’m no company. I’m very tired. At least it’s clean in here. Very clean. Very neat.’
She saw that Merity was still staring at the door.
‘Are you sure you don’t want to go and talk to him?’ Fazekiel asked. ‘He is your father.’
‘That’s a work in progress,’ said Merity.
‘You’re awake, then?’ said Gaunt. He took off his cap and sat down at the bedside.
‘Yes, that was a mistake,’ said Rawne. ‘It didn’t hurt when I was unconscious.’
‘I wanted to stop by,’ said Gaunt.
‘I’m honoured,’ said Rawne. He was bandaged from throat to groin, and drips fed into his arms. He looked anaemic, with dark circles around his eyes. ‘I suppose you want to quiz me about the report I gave to Hark this morning?’
‘I read it,’ said Gaunt. ‘Some interesting details. I presume you’re sure about the language used?’
‘I am.’
‘And it wasn’t a hallucination?’
‘Wish I could say it was,’ said Rawne.
‘It provides a lead,’ said Gaunt, ‘and sets up some interesting questions. Regarding the stones, I mean. As for Mabbon, we know more about him now he’s dead than we did when he was alive.’
‘He fought for me, that’s all I know,’ said Rawne. ‘For me and for Varl. Out of honour. Like a daemon.’
‘So I understand,’ said Gaunt.
‘No, literally like a daemon.’
Rawne lay back.
‘I hear it got interesting,’ he said. ‘Hark was filling me in. Close to the wire here, and with Pasha’s mob too.’
‘As close as it got with you,’ said Gaunt.
‘Hark says the battlefleet annihilated some island. Took out Sek’s flagship. Is the fether dead now?’
‘That’s the presumption,’ Gaunt replied. ‘His gambits failed. Except with Mabbon. The Sekkite host collapsed almost overnight. Those that survive are fleeing the system. Urdesh is won. This is a victory.’
‘So that’s what it feels like,’ said Rawne.
He looked at Gaunt.
‘Is it true what I heard? Kolea?’
Gaunt nodded.
‘And the lad Dalin, and–’
‘We lost a lot. It’s hard to take in.’
‘It always is,’ said Rawne.
Beltayn appeared at the doorway.
‘My lord,’ he said.