‘Regret is of no use,’ said Nanda, cold as ice. ‘And you cannot undo it. Two of our friends among the Shandral are dead, and by your hand. What have you to offer, in penance?’
‘I have already offered it,’ gasped Matthias. ‘She is banished. It will cost me my life.’
‘Banished?’ said Konrad. ‘What does that mean?’
‘It means the pact is fulfilled,’ said Nanda. ‘The debt paid, and the creature, whatever she was, is gone back into the spiritlands. Let us hope, forever. Were the lives, organs and souls of Rodion and Timof enough to settle your debt, Matthias?’
‘Theirs,’ he whispered. ‘And mine.’
Nanda turned away from him, and walked to the grimy window. Konrad, after a moment, followed her. Tasha and Alexander stood near the door, uncharacteristically silent, at least in Tasha’s case. Alex
