A fist came in, crunched against her cheek and she stumbled against Skulduggery’s legs.

“How long?” he asked.

She kicked out, brought her elbow to the hinge of the villager’s jaw. “Just another few moments.”

“I feel I have to ask,” Skulduggery said as a woman with earrings made from other people’s ears brought Valkyrie down, “do you have anything resembling an actual plan here, or are you making it up as you go along?”

“We have a plan,” Myosotis said after a headbutt. “But we’re also making most of it up.”

“Best of both worlds,” Valkyrie grunted, shoving the woman off her. She got up, turned, something swung into her face and the world exploded with light. She was aware of her body falling backwards, but couldn’t feel the impact as she hit the ground. She was barely able to crack open one eye, but when she did she saw Owain standing above her, holding that club.

“You think you can invade our home?” he snarled. “Attack my people?”

“Owain,” Skulduggery said, “we’re not here to invade. We came looking for a friend—”

“Quiet!” Owain roared. He looked around. He was the only villager left standing. “This is what you’ve done. We are a peaceful village, but you come and ruin it all.”

Valkyrie heard the scepticism in Skulduggery’s voice. “No offence, Owain, but you’re a village of cannibals. That’s not, strictly speaking, peaceful.”

“We will pull you apart, skeleton,” Owain sneered. He looked down at Valkyrie. “And you,” he said, “are dinner.”

Owain raised the club in both hands, ready to bring it down on Valkyrie’s head, and then a voice said from behind, “Hey! Forget about me?”

He turned and Myosotis hit him, slugged him right across the jaw and his knees wobbled. He swung wildly and she caught his arm and cracked his elbow. He howled in pain and dropped the club, but Myosotis grabbed it before it touched the ground and smashed it into the side of his head. Owain staggered and gurgled and fell down and didn’t get up.

Myosotis helped Valkyrie to her feet, and then searched through Owain’s clothes. She found the key to the shackles and freed Skulduggery. He jumped from the frame and looked around.

“You didn’t leave any for me,” he said.

“Sorry,” Valkyrie said, before groaning in pain.

“You can kick him if you want,” Myosotis said, nodding down at Owain.

“He’s already unconscious,” Skulduggery sulked. “It’s not fun if they’re already unconscious. Wait – what about the Beast? We’ve still got to fight that, don’t we?”

“Uh,” Valkyrie said, “no. And we’re not calling it the Beast any more.”

“We’re naming it Fluffy,” said Myosotis.

Skulduggery tilted his head. “You named the terrifying monster Fluffy?”