'You crippled worm! I should cut your fucking throat right now!' Her knee jabbed painfully into his stomach, cold metal tickled gently at the skin on his neck, her blue eyes glared into his, flickering back and forth, glistening hard as the stones in the box under his back. My death could be moments away. Easily. He remembered watching her choke the life out of Eider. With as little care as I might squash an ant, and I, poor cripple, just as helpless as one. Perhaps he should have been gibbering with fear, but all he could think was: when was the last time I had a woman on top of me?

He snorted with laughter. 'Don't you know me at all?' he blubbered, half chuckling, half sobbing, eyes watering with a sickening mixture of pain and amusement. 'Superior Glokta, pleased to meet you! I don't care a good shit what you do, and you know it. Threats? You'll have to do a sight better than that, you ginger whore!'

Her eyes bulged with fury. Her shoulder came forwards, her elbow went back, ready to apply the greatest possible pressure. Enough to cut my neck through to my twisted spine, I don't doubt.

Glokta felt his lips curl back in a sickly grin, wet with spit. Now.

He heard Vitari's breath snorting behind her mask. Do it.

He felt the blade press against his neck, a chill touch, so sharp that he could hardly feel it. I'm ready.

Then she let out a long hiss, lifted the blade high and rammed it into the wood beside his head. She stood up and turned away from him. Glokta closed his eyes and breathed for a moment. Still alive. There was an odd feeling in his throat. Relief, or disappointment? Hard to tell the difference.

'Please.' It was said so softly that he thought he might have imagined it. Vitari was standing with her back to him, head bent over, fists clenched and trembling.

'What?'

'Please.' She did say it. And it hurts her to do it, you can tell.

'Please, eh? You think there's any place here for please? Why the hell should I save you, really? You came here to spy for Sult. You've done nothing but get in my way ever since you got here! It's hard to think of anyone I trust less, and I don't trust anyone!'