He heard the crying before he reached the entrance; a mixture of high pitched wails, soft sniffing, terrified pleading.

He rounded into the crypt and let his eyes adjust, the torches ensconced on the damp walls offering very little light. The Zybar were already wrangling the girls, dragging them, carrying them over their shoulders - some no older than eight namedays perhaps - towards the darkest part of the crypt. The boys who dared to fight them, to protect the smaller ones, were hit, hard. Two small bodies lay crumpled by a tall stone etched with long-forgotten names.

'I'd advise you not to take another step, dog.' Theodan said, levelling his stare on the largest Zybar. A tribe leader he'd seen at the war council meetings but who's name he could not recall. Smaller than Theodan himself, he towered over the other Zybar of his tribe. The leader not by birthright or by the will of his God, but because in this too the Zybar were very much like animals, gravitating towards those who could best them in battle.

'We are merely taking what is ours, Leoth. This is not your business.'

'Yours?' Theodan frowned. 'Azura's riches are to be divided equally amongst her conquerors.

'They are spoils, not riches.'

'Children are not spoils.'

'They are children of Azura; Azura is Zybar's spoil.' One of the smaller ones said, bravely. Fool.

'Unhand them. Now,' Theodan warned. He issued a look to Draden and Saryn, commanding them silently to move to where the other Zybar crowded the group of children.

The leader smirked. 'You do not command me, Leoth,' he said. 'I am a tribe leader. I take my orders from my King.'

'Your king orders you to rape and murder children?'

'My king orders me to cleanse Azura of its filth.'

Theodan flashed his teeth. 'I see only one type of filth here, and it stinks of Zybar. Unhand her - she is a child. They are all children.'

The Zybar thought about a reply, Theodan could hear his slow, useless mind moving with consideration, but he said nothing. The eyes of the young girl were wide with terror, her face streaked with tears and dirt. When the leader chose to ignore him and took a step forward, Theodan's blacksword was out of its harness quickly, whispering through the air to stop just at the base of the Zybar's throat. The other Zybar moved to retaliate but Theodan's men were quicker.

Draden crouched and kicked the legs out from one which brought him to the floor, he stepped forward and pressed his foot down on his throat whilst he pulled out his own backsword and brought it to the other's neck. Saryn had his arm wrapped around his mutt's throat so that he had begun to gasp for air. The remaining Zybar, too far away for any of them to reach where they were, grabbed the nearest child, a small boy with large golden eyes that reminded Theodan of Cassine's, and held a blood-stained dagger below his little throat.

'This is your idea of an alliance Leoth?' The leader asked.

'You would jeopardise this brokerage in order to ravage and murder a group of innocent children?' Theodan fired back.

'Innocent? They are children of Azura. Children grow into men, men turn into soldiers. And you, have no cause for this.'

Theodan took a moment to consider his reply. 'My cause is clear. None of you will leave this crypt with your lives if you do not unhand these children,' he said calmly. 'Your bodies will be buried here with the long-dead of Azura and no one will mourn for you. Not your men, nor you women, nor your king. Oh, you doubt my word?' Theodan said, stepping closer. He could hear the quiet, pitiful cries of the young girl, he could sense the eyes of Azura's ghosts too. 'Many men die in war, Zybar. Many men leave for battle and never return. Their bodies never to be returned home to rest. Think yourself superior, warrior? Had you been so sure that death would not beat you in this war?' he drew his eyes up and down the Zybar, inspecting him. 'For I see nothing superior about you; I see death written in the lines of your wasted skin. Already I can taste your flesh on my tongue. It would be repulsive I am certain, but I would thank the dark God for the gift of it all the same.'

The Zybar had begun to shake with rage, mouth twisted in a disdainful snarl, ice blue eyes shimmering with hatred. Theodan prayed he would attack, prayed that he would make his foolish move of pride and that Theodan could do as he longed to do. Tear open his flesh and have the warmth of the Zybar's blood course down his throat.

'The king will hear of this,' the Zybar spat.

'He will. Tonight at the war council I shall address this situation myself, worry not.' Theodan said. 'Now let the child loose.'

'There are fewer than twenty children here, hundreds more have died in this war, what do these few matter to you?' Amid his anger, the Zybar looked genuinely confused.

'No children have died by my hand, and no children will die by any hand in my presence.'

'Children have no place in war.'

'Then there is something we agree on. Now, release these children, I will not ask you again.'

The dog still looked like he may ignore the order, like he may take his chances with his sword. He even glanced around at his men, then Theodan's men, before he brought his eyes back to him. He let out a small growl before pushing the girl forward so that she was thrown to the ground with a small cry of pain mixed with relief.

Theodan did not lower his sword. Nor did he take his eyes from the Zybar. 'Draden, strip these men of their weapons. Saryn, lead the children up to the courtyard. Ensure they have some bread and water.' As his soldier began to guide the children out, the Zybar's eyes moved to issue a silent command to the one still holding a dagger to the boy's throat. He let him go before spitting at the back of the boys head.

When the children had been evacuated, Theodan ordered the four Zybar across the crypt, against a wall, before asking Draden to check on the two small unmoving bodies on the opposite side.

Draden gave him a regretful shake of his head, before lifting both of them up in his arms to carry them out of the crypt. Theodan turned his attention back on the leader, his mouth slowly pulling back to reveal his teeth.

'If you slay us here, weaponless and defenceless, you are no honourable soldier.' The leader spat at him.

'And what would you know of honour, dog?' He said, stepping forward. 'Was the murder of two weaponless and defenceless children a show of your honour?' he asked.

'Those children are our enemy, Leoth!' he spat. 'Perhaps our king needs to know where your true allegiances lie! For they are not with Zybar.'

Theodan tilted his head back and took a deep breath as he met the wide eye of the Zybar.

'My allegiance is to Leoth. My allegiance is to the honour of war, and, unlike you, I still have some honour left.'

He may have slain a noble and brave prince who did not deserve to meet his death, but he had honour. He had to believe that. How many lives would he save if he took the lives of these mongrel scum? How many children would be spared? He had let Prahan live when he had wanted to send him to the darkness. He had not done it out of honour, but because Cassine had wished it so. He would feel no regret over killing these four dogs. Dogs who would defile children and go home to their families with bags of gold stolen from a land they destroyed. A land you helped them destroy.

In fact, killing them would not be enough. It would be quick and easy because killing was a skill he had honed well. His sword was fast and true and he could remove their heads before they were aware he had struck.

'No. I will not slay you here, weaponless and defenceless,' Theodan advised. 'I am not yet without honour.' The solution had formed slowly in his mind, but had spread through it like forest fire. Theodan smiled slowly. 'Draden, does the door of this crypt lock from the outside?'

He could hear the satisfaction in Draden's voice when he spoke. 'It does, Commander.'

          ***

He arrived back in the camp later than planned. Away from the crypt, Theodan realised that he had saddled himself a problem he wasn't quite sure how to deal with. Draden and Saryn had looked at him for guidance on what to do with the children, and Theodan had no answers. In fact, he resented that Draden had even brought the matter to his attention. For if he had left the Zybar dogs to their devices, then as Theodan saw it, the problem would not exist.

If he took the children back to the camp, then they would likely befall the same fate they were about to befall before Draden had happened upon them. If he took them to a house for unwanted children then it would likely be raided as Torrik's forces moved further across the realm, again resulting in the same outcome. If they could somehow find refuge in another realm this would resolve the matter, but Calate was far and Theodan could not send them off alone to be ultimately caught on the road and routed back to the camp. But neither could he himself accompany a cartload of children to the eastern border of Azura without some explanation.

The simplest solution, of course, was to put them all to the sword. Quick easy deaths which were more than the Zybar would have afforded them. But as he watched them at the Goddess's fountain, trembling with fear as they drank, the older ones caring for the smaller ones, he realised that he was unable to do that either.

What in the gods had happened to him?

Had this hot land made him soft? Unable to end the lives of three pitiless Zybar on the request of a slave, unable to mete out punishment to the same disobedient slave, and now, incapable of carrying out mercy killings? He had never had a problem with killing. Mercifully or otherwise. If he could no longer kill then what was he capable of? What did it leave him with? What did it make of him? These were all questions he was of no mind to answer in this state. He was tired and hungry and his mind dwelled still on the vision by the fountain.

In the end, he had ordered them put into a wagon and brought back to the Leoth camp under Saryn's protection. If anyone should ask, then Theodan had claimed them for they were to be taken back to Leoth to work in the mines or weapon forges. Small hands made for accurate and detailed work. It would buy him some time to find an alternative solution.

As he unsaddled Nux and led her through the Leoth camp, he was met by Jhaan, who took the reign from him and whispered greeting to Theodan's Varveh. Nux was fond of Jhaan. In that she tolerated his touch more than any other Leoth who was not Theodan himself. As the young steward came around to his side, he let his mind return to Cassine. And he wondered, not for the first time this day, how much the night at the post done for her ire. How much did she hate him?

'Has the king summoned me?' Theodan asked instead.

'He has commander,' Jhaan nodded. 'The war council gathers presently.'

Theodan stifled a groan. He had hoped his late coming would have been cause enough for his absence. To give him time to consider a solution to his problem. They walked in silence towards the king's enclosure. It irritated him that Jhaan would not offer the information about Cassine. That he would make him ask about her himself.

'Where is she?' He said finally.

'The slave?'

Theodan shot Jhaan a hard look. 'Yes, the slave.'

Jhaan did not look at him. He kept his eyes ahead, purposefully. 'She is at your quarter's commander.' He heard the note of reluctance in Jhaan's voice. It was enough to make Theodan stop walking. He turned on the young Leoth.

'What is it you do not say?'

'Commander?'

The look that came into Jhaans eyes caused Theodan's heartbeat to quicken. The steward looked... afraid. Gods. Had the beating had caused her some serious harm? If his punishment had harmed her then he could not... She was a small thing. Smaller than Iaria. And he had left her there unguarded. No Leoth would dare hurt another man's slave, but if she had cried for help during the night and no one had come... Theodan swallowed.

'Is she... well?' he asked Jhaan, his voice low.

Jhaan's eyes widened. 'Oh, yes, she is well commander. I gave her the salve as you advised. She accepted it with grace.' He smiled.

Confusingly, it caused Theodan's blood to heat a little more.

'Then what?' Theodan snapped. Jhaan's shoulders dropped and he hung his head. Suddenly Theodan understood. Cassine had done something. Something he would have to punish her for. Again. 'What contains you - speak,' he commanded.

He met Theodan's eye, his 'She left the camp today.'

Theodan closed his eyes and sighed. 'She tried to escape.' He had suspected she would try to run from him. The collar would only allow him to keep her close when they were home in Leoth. It had no power here.

'No,' Jhaan replied, shaking his head. 'She left the Leoth camp to enter the slave clearing, commander.'

'And you followed her as I bid you?'

'I did.'

'And she tried to run when you attempted to bring her back?'

'No, commander,' he said. 'I followed her as you bid. But she came back of her own accord.'

'Hmm. Walk with me to the kings quarters. Tell me all.'

***

'And where is the child now?' Theodan asked.

'Cassine took her back to the slave camp, commander, and then returned to your quarters to complete her duties and await your return.'

Theodan shot a look at his man. Cassine? What right did he have to use her name as such? As though he knew her. As though they were allies.

'But not before having you feed it.'

'Commander, you bid me bring her what she requested within reason,' Jhaan explained reasonably.

'And yet the food was for the child, not her,' he snapped. 'Did my orders also include the requirement for you to feed any stray or waif that she brings with her?'

Jhaan swallowed. 'They did not.'

'And tell me Jhaan, are we in the habit of feeding starving Azurian children?'

The steward dropped his eyes. 'No, commander. I thought only that you would not mind sparing the bread - the child had not eaten and Cassine asked if w—.'

'This is a war camp!' Theodan shouted. 'Not a house for unwanted children!'

Jhaan cowered, seeming to shrink down as he stared at the sand. Nix whinnied softly, twisting her head left and right in discomfort as Theodan's fury filled the air.

'Yes, commander,' Jhaan said sincerely. 'It will not happen again. The food will be my own - I forfeit my eve's meal. I accept whatever punishment you decide fit for my actions.'

Theodan said nothing in return but continued to glower at his page. 'Does she suspect you knew the food was for the child?' he asked after a moment after his mind had silenced some.

He shook his head. 'I am certain she did not commander.'

Theodan took a deep breath. He had not wanted to consider this possibility, but he could not understand for what other reason Cassine would risk her own safety, and his wrath, to feed just one Azurian child.

'Was the child of her image?' Theodan asked finally. 'Is it possible the child is her own?'

Jhaan glanced up, his eyes wide with concern, realisation, as though he had just this moment considered it himself. He thought on it a moment before he shook his head. 'No.' He shook his head again, more forcefully this time.

'How can you be certain?'

Jhaan thought hard. 'I cannot. But. Well, it is only that... Well if the child was her own commander, then she would not have been able to take it back. Surely she would not have abandoned it in there in a Zybar slave camp? No mother could leave their own child to such a fate.'

***

Theodan was admitted to the King's enclosure with an impassive look from the sentry who stepped aside to let him pass. He ducked into the tent and was struck immediately by the smell of roasting meat and the seasoned stench of men and ale. The kings quarters were crowded already and he had to push his way past several groups of intoxicated Zybar to the main chamber where the King gave audience to his war council.

The king was not yet in attendance, but somehow Draden was already seated. He was sat next to Elyon, Theodan's second in command. They both sipped on large flasks of Leoth wine and talked with their heads close together, seemingly both amused and relaxed. Theodan strode across the chamber to take his council seat beside the two men. Without the king's presence, the room was disorderly and loud, Zybar tribe heads, unchecked by the eyes of the king, regaled each other with what horrors they had wrought forth upon Azura this day.

It was hot. The large spit in the middle gave off enough heat to rival the sun's glare, the meat spitting at hissing into the burning coals below by the efforts of four young boys who turned the large bovine carcass slowly. They wiped the sweat from their wet brows, their faces twisted with exertion and their eyes empty and focussed on the turning spit.

'His grace need not have waited for my entrance,' Theodan sighed, taking the skin of wine Elyon offered him on his approach.

'He heard you were busy nursing some Azurian children. He'll be here to congratulate you on motherhood presently. Tell me, Theo, are your breasts tender? I hear these first hours are hardest on the teat.' Elyon smiled, trying hard to contain his laughter. Draden shrugged hopelessly when Theodan threw him a look.

'Your humour is as appealing as that cremated carcass Elyon,' Theodan pretended to yawn. 'And Draden, your mouth is as wide as the gaping hole that it used to shit from.'

Elyon sighed. 'Don't blame Draden, Theo. It wasn't he who revealed your secret desire to start a family. He's loyal. I merely have my ways.' He shrugged, sipping his wine as an amused smile played at the side of his mouth. 'So have you picked out a mate to help with all of these children of yours? You know Vala is betrothed now? You have heard the happy news?' Elyon threw him a sideways smile. His rival had always enjoyed seeing him in discomfort, enjoyed uncovering a weakness that he could exploit to his own amusement. Theodan would likely hate him for it if Elyon were not the most honourable male he knew.

'Word has reached me - I toast to their eternal happiness.' Theodan raised the skin of wine he'd just snatched back from Elyon.

On cue, the Zybar horns rang out to announce the entry of the king and his heirs. The Zybar tribe masters who were seated took to their feet, and Elyon did too, hitting Theodan's thigh to urge him to his feet. Reluctantly, Theodan stood, just as the king and his family entered from the front of the chamber. The king entered first, followed his son, and behind him his daughter.

Sitting first, the king took his seat at the very front of the raised podium, lowering himself into the large wooden chair draped with furs and silk. His son sat down on the seat to his left, before his daughter took her seat, waiting until her brother and father were seated before taking her place to the back of the podium.

'Zybar and Leoth,' the guard heralded. 'You are in the presence of Torrik Aldenhaarn, King of all Zybar and Conqueror of Azura. Zhoron Aldenhaarn, son and first heir of Zybar, and Dura Aldenhaarn, daughter and second heir of Zybar.'

In unison, the Zybar tribe leaders placed their closed fist in the centre of their chests and pledged their loyalty to their king and his heirs. 'With you, for you, for Zybar!' They chanted.

'Be seated all,' the king said, casting his small eyes around the room. 'Council, today has brought us much glory. The rivers run red with the blood of our enemies and the temples overflow with tears of their Goddess whore.' His voice boomed around the chamber. The king was a large man; wide and round, and with a voice that seemed to echo through his body before it left his mouth. The Zybar heir stared up at his father, eyes wide with respect, his head nodding in agreement as his jewelled fists clenched tight with emotion.

His daughter, a somewhat pretty, flaxen-haired thing, looked proud and tired. Sitting with her back straight staring straight ahead she seemed to see nothing. There was an emptiness about her, a hopelessness that hung about her shoulders like a cloak. Theodan had killed her betrothed; the man Torrik said had broken her innocent heart when he'd married his 'Calate cünt'. Had she stared at the lifeless body of Galyn of Ethis and felt avenged?

Theodan doubted it.

She was of Zybar heritage true, but there was a fragility about the Zybar princess. As though she may shatter to pieces if touched by anyone. Since Theodan had not known the princess before this war began, he was not able to say whether Galyn's rejection or death had caused it. Or whether this war had caused it. Torrik, of course, had everyone believe this war was about his only daughter's heart, shattered by broken promises and a heartless suitor, but no one truly believed this. All knew this war was about his empire. An empire Theodan was certain Leoth would pay for helping to expand.

Not for the first time since this war began, Theodan wondered how quickly he could cross the wide chamber and remove the king's head from his shoulders. Many would live if he did it, and Ethis would be peaceful once more for it.

'Tribe Leader Zalthu,' The king boomed. 'You were in the northern provinces today? Did you encounter much resistance?'

The tribe leader stood, his strong chest marked with thick dark painted. 'We did not, Your Grace. Azura is crushed. This war is won.'

The king smiled, pleased. 'We toast to your faith in Zybar,' he raised his cup which a girl had just filled on his order. 'But we cannot take our victory for granted. We have yet to find Galyn's whore. She could be yet raising her brother to her cause. Calate could yet come to Azura's aid. Azura's mountain and coastal tribes could yet be rallying as we speak,' his mood darkened. Zalthu sat.

'Commander,' the king said, turning his attention to Theodan. 'The Leoth coalition with Zybar has served us well. What think you of Azura's sea and mountain men, are they a threat to our army?'

Elyon and Draden turned to him, eyes alight with a warning. These meetings rarely went without Theodan's disdain for the Zybar spilling from his tongue by way of thinly veiled insinuations and sharply delivered opinion. The truth was, he rather enjoyed his verbal battles with the king. They were the main reason he attended these accursed meetings.

Tonight would be no different. Though he had another purpose, he would not miss the opportunity to irritate the Zybar ruler. He swallowed his wine as he looked the king in the eye.

'To your army, King Torrik, yes - the mountain and coastal tribes of Azura most certainly pose a threat,' He said calmly. Beside him, he heard Elyon curse quietly. 'Their leaders are fierce; their men trained on Leoth with our greatest battle masters. They harness skills that should concern most all who face them in battle. Skills, that unfortunately your grace, your armies do not possess.' Theodan drank slowly, ignoring the low grumbles of the Zybar leaders seated around him. The king smiled slowly. He was not pleased, that was clear. Theodan smiled back.

'Then why have they not come?' The king asked. 'Why do they stay hidden while their lands are destroyed and their people reclaimed? What worthy skills are these, Commander? Cowardice?' Sniggers and mutters of agreement rose up around him. 'We are not afraid of these craven barbarians!'

Theodan held his smile, relaxing nicely into the effects of the Leoth wine. 'Then you will have no need of our assistance when they finally leave their coasts and their mountains to face you.' He raised his wine. 'For they will come - on this you have my word.'

'Then what are they waiting for!?' He shot back. 'Why do they not come already? This war is all but won!'

'There could be many reasons, your grace...' Theodan replied calmly. 'But I can assure you of one thing: these tribes are warriors, and they act as such - they do not sit around enjoying discourse on battles not yet won.'

'And are you not a warrior? Is that not why you are here? To consult on how to lead my armies victory? To assist my armies to think as these barbarians think?'

Theodan leaned back in his chair and gave the king a look of consideration. 'It was my understanding, your grace, that we were here because our realms have chosen to work together to avenge your daughter's most cherished honour,' he glanced briefly at the Zybar Princess who started slightly at the mention. Her eyes met Theodan's briefly, a shimmer of light passing over them before they glazed over and she moved them back to some point in the centre of the chamber. 'To unify our realms in a pact stronger than that which was broken so easily by Azura.'

The king's eyes blazed and his mouth twitched tightly, tightening with annoyance. He tossed back the last of his ale and nodded, eyes locked on Theodan's.

'And we are glad of your support in this most necessary of times. Leoth's allegiance will not be forgotten,' he said grudgingly, before moving his attention around the chamber to another tribe leader.

'Think you will ever be able to hold that tongue?' Elyon whispered.

'If he insists I attend these farcical parades, then he will suffer the consequences,' Theodan shrugged.

Draden and Elyon shook their heads, amused, as the Zybar congratulated themselves on the destruction of the eastern temples and the burning of some northern villages Theodan had never and would never set foot in.

He consumed the last of Elyon's wine and let his thoughts drift to Cassine and her transgression with the child from the Zybar camp. He considered again how to punish her. He wondered whether to send for Iaria again and ensure that this time she watched his barbarism. He also considered breaking his own word by having her carry out the duties he'd asked of Iaria last night.  Save for the whip. He wanted the female a troubling amount.

But, and this was the crux of Theodan's aggravation, he wanted the female to want him in return.

Soon the king called forth any matters that needed resolution; these included a count of the dead and wounded of each tribe, reward and/or compensation so claimed by any tribe over the other, and the settlement of any dispute over spoils which the tribes were unable to settle amongst themselves. Theodan made sure he was the last to speak.

'I have one point of resolution, your grace,' Theodan said, standing. He stood not out of respect, but because he knew there would be discord about what he was about to say and he would be better placed to control the direction of it from his full height. Elyon and Draden sat forward in their chairs, surprised and curious.

The king's head turned toward him. 'Ahhhh. Leoth's first resolution since the council began. I admit I'm intrigued, commander.'

'And as our first resolution, I hope it will not be too much trouble for the council to agree to our terms.'

'This is a Leothine resolution or your own?' The king asked.

Theodan gave the king a look of amusement. 'I speak on behalf of my realm, Your Grace, as you are aware.'

The king cast his eyes to Elyon who behind him rose to their feet.

'The Commander speaks for Leoth, Your Grace.' Elyon confirmed.

The king nodded. 'Then speak, warrior.'

Theodan nodded his thanks and stepped forth. 'Council, Leoth has reconsidered its position on Azura's spoils.' He told the chamber.

'Is that so?' The king replied, tense. 'And this reconsideration is....?'

'Leoth puts forth the resolution to claim every child of Azura. Forthwith we forfeit all other Azurians as spoils - but we claim every child as our own.'

The king said nothing. The chamber said nothing. Theodan's request rang out in the space for long moments where no other voice made a sound in reposte. The king's mouth widened into a grin and before long he had begun to laugh quietly. He looked around the chamber, as though to check every Zybar converged there had heard the same thing he had. Then, because he was not certain they had, he looked back at Theodan.

'Leoth claims every child of Azura as their own?' The King repeated. 'Every last one?'

Theodan smiled wolfishly at the king. 'Any brought to the camp, any found during the raids. They are not to be beaten or defiled; they are to be treated as claimed spoils. We request an order from the king that they are to be brought to the Leoth camp where they will then be shipped back to the Isle.'

He laughed again. 'And will you eat them or breed with them when you get them there?' The King asked, amusement and puzzlement dancing across his beady eyes. 'These Azurian boys are feminine at a young age... And I suppose they all taste alike when you put them in your mouth...'

The growl was low in his throat and he took a threatening step forward. Immediately he felt Elyon place a hand on his shoulder. Do not be a fool, it said.

'Is the resolution passed or no?' Theodan asked tightly through his teeth.

The king took a deep breath. 'You know the rules, commander. We require a second from the chamber.' The king sounded bored now for the second was merely a formality. Draden and Elyon would back him of course.

'Second,' Elyon said first.

'Third,' said Draden.

The king slammed his cup down on the arm of his chair. 'And against?'

The crowd broke out in riotous noise, each leader stepping forward to demand the king dismiss the motion.

It mattered not, for the resolution was all but passed the instant he'd raised it. For each Leoth vote held the same value as four Zybar votes, and unfortunately for the Zybar tribes, there were two empty chairs in the chamber. One chair belonged to the recently slain Zugar, whose heir apparent was not present to vote on behalf of his tribe. The other belonged to the missing and presumed slain Yar; who was at this very moment trying to claw his way through the stone door of a temple crypt.

Theodan waited for the second slam of the king's cup before he smiled at him, bowing his head slightly in recognition of the motion.

Then, with Elyon and Draden following silently behind him, he strode directly from the chamber.