with ice crystals. It nudged Thiede affectionately with its head.
‘You sound sceptical, and I understand that,’ Thiede said. He laughed. ‘I like these creatures. In appearance, they are an ancient and primitive form of transport, and yet in reality the most sophisticated and advanced. It is like a joke, yes? Years back, we dreamed of silver ships to sail the universe, but this…’ He patted the horse again. ‘It is a fine joke.’
‘My sides are splitting,’ Seel said coldly. ‘Shall we go?’
Colt and Stringer’s house really was too small to contain such a massive presence as Thiede. Seel had to smile at Stringer’s horrified expression as Thiede ducked beneath the doorway and strode into the kitchen. It was as if an angel had come to earth.
‘Guests for dinner,’ Colt said darkly.
‘Please be at ease,’ Thiede said, squeezing himself into chair at the head of the table: Colt’s place. He would be totally aware that ordinary hara could never be at ease in his presence. ‘Something smells good. Travelling always makes me hungry.’
You are enjoying this so much, Seel thought. He sat down and said to Stringer, ‘Any chance you could break open a few bottles of wine?’ He looked at Thiede. ‘Stringer makes the best wine. He can make it out of anything.’
Stringer nodded distractedly and left the room.
‘So?’ Seel said.
Colt remained standing, arms folded. His expression was that of utter disapproval, but certainly not fear.
You have your guards, but I have mine, Seel thought, a bolt of pure affection for Colt shooting through his heart.
‘So,’ Thiede said, spreading his fingers against the tabletop. He wore two huge rings, set with glittering stones. ‘Do you believe in destiny?’
‘Maybe,’ Seel answered.
Thiede cast him a wry look. ‘Perhaps not the best start,’ he said. ‘Very well. I am sorry you have had to go through some rather unpleasant experiences, and more than sorry that Orien lost his life. I did not intend for that to happen.’
‘What did you intend?’ Seel snapped.
‘The first part,’ Thiede answered. ‘You found Pellaz for me. You helped incept him.’
‘Orien did that,’ Seel said. ‘I wouldn’t have become involved if I’d suspected any of what might follow.’
Thiede paused and smiled. ‘Don’t delude yourself, Seel. You did suspect. You were quite prepared to go through with it then and you’d no doubt do the same again. What irks you is that you do not know its purpose. You are a proud har and you resent being kept in the dark. I am here to enlighten you.’
Seel shifted uncomfortably on his seat. Stringer had returned with opened bottles of wine and now dispensed the drinks around the table. Thiede took a sip and nodded in approval. ‘Tasty.’
‘Enlighten me,’ Seel said. ‘What was Pell’s purpose and how did it go wrong?’
‘It didn’t,’ Thiede said.
‘What?’
‘Cal went entirely wrong, but that was out of my control.’
‘Pell is dead. What was the point?’
‘He is dead yet he lives,’ Thiede said and took another sip of wine.
Seel just stared at him, trying to absorb the words. After a while he said, ‘Go on.’
‘It will take some time, but eventually Pellaz will rise again, reborn and perfect. It is my intention to make him a divine king of Wraeththu.’
Seel laughed nervously. ‘OK, fine.’
Thiede made a tutting sound. ‘Again, the scepticism. Look inside your own trousers, my dear, and tell me the impossible can’t happen.’
‘You can do this? Raise a person from the dead?’
‘Not exactly. And no, I’m not here to reanimate Orien’s corpse, although even if I could you’ve left little for me to work with.’
‘It’s a disgusting thought. Absolutely wrong.’
‘I agree. What I’m doing with Pellaz is recreating him, his essence, his being, his energy, but with the personality intact.’
‘How? How is that possible?’
‘I’m not about to reveal my working secrets to you,’ Thiede said, grinning.
‘But if you can’t bring Orien back, how can you bring Pell back? His body was burned too.’
‘Well, let’s see,’ Thiede said carefully. ‘I was, shall we say, prepared for Pellaz’s death. Orien’s, on the other hand, took me by surprise.’
‘I find it difficult to accept or believe,’ Seel said. ‘You must appreciate that. How do you do it?’
‘I am able to, that is all,’ Thiede said. ‘I am not like you, Seel, nor any other har.’
‘Why? What are you? I wonder whether you are Wraeththu at all.’
‘Let’s just say I am different, more Wraeththu than most. I am what your children will become. And before we get sidetracked into a discussion about procreation, yes, you will have heirs, Seel.