Doul closes his eyes again, his breathing slows, and he does not speak until he has something of value to say. "The opinion of others will not topple him. There are too many cowards and too much money. Crimes and evil are irrelevant if he has power or seems to have power."

"He must feel as if he is on unsteady ground, that he is forced to run, to keep pace, to make a mistake. Find something that makes his eyes roll like a panicked mare." What is that? He doesn't know yet. "If his men abandon him, he would react swiftly; but if they doubt him, that will feed into his fear. His need for power."

"True or not, he must hear rumour in the night. Casual words over wine that drift through the window and lead to madness. To panic."