‘That was impolite of me.’ My eyes went to the iron door of the cell and I felt a brief surge of relief to see that it was locked. The internal bolt was pushed well into the iron fixtures welded into the bars. Jillard caught up with me in front of the cell and saw the man inside. ‘Who are you?’ he demanded. ‘You don’t recognise me? But of course not – I was wearing my ceremonial garb when I came to see you. No matter. In my heart I am a man like you. Or no, perhaps not like you. Perhaps more like Falcio.’ ‘You know me?’ I asked. ‘How could I not? You killed two of my brethren and no one has ever done that before. You’re a legend to us, Falcio: a story told over and over, like a waterfall pounding away at the rock beneath it.’ Hearing the Dashini say my name was just terrifying enough that I felt the need to cover my reaction with false bravado. ‘Let me know when you’ve finished erecting my statue, will you? Perhaps it could be a little taller?’ The man in the cell laughed.
