‘You’ve got the ambush you hoped for, or a trap, at least,’ Sig growled at Cullen as she shrugged her shield from her back onto her arm. They formed a loose circle, Sig and Cullen with shields raised, acolytes all around them, Ferals prowling at the periphery.

‘Aye.’ Cullen grinned. ‘And it’s one that’s busy stabbing them in the arse!’ He lunged forwards adder-fast, axe singing, crunching into the forehead of an acolyte. ‘Or the head,’ he amended. ‘Though for the life of me I do not know how they can stand this,’ Cullen cried, rubbing the bristles of his shaved head. ‘It’s so cold! And it’s sure as eggs not going to help me with the ladies back in Dun Seren!’

Drem felt a laugh bubbling up within him, even with death a heartbeat away.

I like my new family.

He wasn’t too hopeful on how long they’d get to spend in each other’s company, though. They’d managed to stay alive this long because of Sig’s ferocity and perpetual movement, and Cullen’s position upon the huge table, where he’d been able to elude and leap and dance over every lunge and stab at him. Now, however, they were encircled by a crowd of their enemies.

I think we’re going to die here.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE: BLEDA

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

BLEDA

Bleda stared into what had once been Israfil’s chamber, now more akin to a battlefield. Ben-Elim fought Ben-Elim, White-Wings fought one against the other, and in the midst of it, weaving through them all, he’d watched in horror as Riv had hurled herself at Kol. He’d nocked an arrow and aimed, but bodies were swirling around the chamber like twigs in a hurricane.

In stupefaction he’d watched as Riv’s mam and sister leaped into the fray, her mam reaching Riv first, stepping in front of Riv to protect her from a furious Kol. As she fell dead beside her daughter Bleda moved, as if released from a spell. He strode towards the maelstrom, but then a hand grabbed his arm.

‘Stay,’ Old Ellac said to him, half a dozen more of Bleda’s honour guard were behind the old warrior. Something had alerted Ellac to Bleda’s stealthy exit of their chambers as he’d set out after Riv, and Bleda had not minded their company. Something about this stormy night had felt sinister and laced with malice.