Chapter Seven
Konrad swallowed, did his best to gather his thoughts, too aware of Nanda’s white, frightened face across from him. She had scooted as far back on her pallet-bed as she could get and sat plastered to the wall, as though she’d gladly fall through it given half the chance.
He’d like to do that, too.
‘Master,’ he said aloud — no sense now in concealment, Nanda might as well hear what he had to say.
And whatever response he was given.
‘A malefic has manifested,’ Konrad said.
Yes, said The Malykt.
Nothing else.
Konrad licked dry lips. ‘It is— beyond our knowledge, Master. What might we do against this foul creature?’
Nothing.
‘N-nothing?’
It is a duty belonging to My Sister. Why do you trouble Me with so inconsequential an occurrence?
‘Inconse—’ Konrad stopped, and swa
