It had leached into the walls, stretching azure filaments between the stones. Slowly, level by level, the Stormcasts were sanctifying this place. It made his flesh crawl, but there was no way out that did not bring with it the risk of his own destruction. They would be ready for it. Indeed, some, like Ramus, probably wanted him to try.

*You make enemies the way a gambler creates debt.*
‘No one asked you, Megara. And you weren’t exactly beloved, yourself.’ The Mistress of Doomcrag had built her tiny fiefdom on the blood of its former ruler – literally, in some cases. He flexed his hand. Megara had been possessed of a fierce spirit, an unquenchable thirst for mystic knowledge…

*Flatterer*, the memory of her whispered. He felt her cool hand stroke his cheek, as she had so often done in life. He banished the memory with a twitch of his head. Megara was dead. Had been dead for centuries. Truly dead.

*While we are remembered, can we be truly said to die?*

 ‘How very philosophical of you, Tarsem. I shall keep that in mind.’ Mannfred sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the cot. He ran his hands over his head, trying to silence the ghosts that murmured in his head. ‘Of course, if you keep bothering me, I’m never going to escape. I will be executed, and then we’ll all be well and truly dead.’

*Past time, probably.* Vitalian laughed. Mannfred could almost imagine him, leaning against the wall, arms crossed. *To outlive one’s legend… not healthy, that.*

‘My fame is eternal. So long as Shyish exists, the name of Mannfred von Carstein will be remembered. There’s even a kingdom named after me.’

*Didn’t you name it?*

‘That’s not the point.’ Mannfred jabbed a finger at the phantom Vitalian. ‘I have outlived nothing.’

*Save those of us who called you friend*, Vitalian said.
*Or lover*, Megara murmured.
*Or brother*, Tarsem whispered.

Mannfred lurched to his feet, fangs bared. ‘More fool you, then, for ever thinking those things. I am who I am. I am who I have always been. Whatever comes, I am always true to myself.’