‘Would that be sufficient, if we blew it up?’ asked Bartiman.

Eleanora nodded, counting hurriedly on her fingers.

‘All well and good, but we’ve only got pistols, and I couldn’t guarantee even my piece would pierce through the hull of that tank,’ growled Borik.

Eleanora rummaged in a pocket and produced a pair of compact devices that looked to Aelyn like banded metal eggs, each flat on one side and with several cogs and wires visible through gaps in its surface.

‘One of these would affix to the Kazlag and Gephryn third type brimspark fuel bowser and detonate with sufficient force to rupture the tank,’ she said. ‘They have lodestone clamp mechanisms here, look. That will attach it. And each has a timer for remote operation.’

‘You took bombs to the feast with you?’ exclaimed Captain Morthan, aghast.

‘They’re the best ones I’ve made,’ said Eleanora, as though explaining something simple to a child.

‘That’s hardly a comfort!’ said Morthan.

‘Not the time,’ said Bartiman as they heard another groan and a crash. Screams echoed from the direction of the palace. Footsteps slapped on cobbles, and from above them they heard bowstrings hiss.

‘Eleanora, show Borik how those bombs work, then you, Romilla and Bartiman go back to the Drake’s Crown and get the rest of our gear,’ said Aelyn. ‘We can’t keep fighting the infected with daggers. Borik, Olt – we’re going to affix one of the bombs to the fuel tank and get it into the path of that fungal… thing.’

‘Why not both?’ asked Borik.

‘Save one just in case the first doesn’t work,’ said Aelyn.

‘I’ve got to run around with a pair of bombs in my arse pocket?’ asked Borik dubiously. ‘Are you mad? No!’

‘It’s that or let this whole city get buried by that… thing,’ said Romilla. ‘Even you’re not that heartless, Borik.’

The duardin muttered something about her being surprised but he slipped the device into a pocket on his leather undersuit all the same.

‘We’ll help you,’ said Captain Morthan, shooting Eleanora one last hard look. ‘Then you and your people are to rally on Fountains Square and join the muster. They’ll have use for warriors of your unusual talents.’

‘We’re charging you extra for this,’ said Borik.

‘Considering the situation, escaping with your lives should be payment enough, don’t you think?’ replied Captain Morthan, scowling.

Eleanora went over the workings of the bomb with Borik. As she did so, and while Captain Morthan issued quick orders to her watchmen, Aelyn slid up to the end of the tunnel and peered back into the square. What she saw made her heart lurch in her chest.