“What, you don’t care about killing a helpless kid?” Petronio made his voice frail and whiny, his whole body language that of a terrified child, as he slowly slid into a kneeling position. The man was behind him still, near enough for Petronio to smell his breath with its strange scent of mint.

“One less Dendran, as far as I’m concerned. Now get on with it. You’ve got thirty seconds.”

He made one last effort to keep the conversation going, every word wavering. “I didn’t see anything, honestly.” Petronio could have kicked himself as he had a sudden brain wave. This man wasn’t his enemy! It was all a misunderstanding. He simply had to prove it. “I’m on your side! I’ve been working for Lady Fenestra.” Petronio heard a shocked gasp in response.

“Don’t you dare say that name out loud!” The man sounded panicked for a second, ready to do anything.

“But —”

“But nothing. If you were on our side, why were you spying on us?” Brutal logic.

Petronio had no answer. Curiosity wouldn’t be a good answer. He crouched on the wood, feeling the rough surface on his knees. This was ridiculous. He really was on their side. But mentioning the Mawish envoy had the opposite effect than he’d intended. Big mistake. There was only one way out now.

“You little rat,” the soldier blustered. “What corner did you scurry from? You’ve heard too much. You need your mouth shut permanently, as I topple your overweight body off this stupid branch. Now pray!” This soldier was used to commanding his inferiors, and this bit of scum was running out of time.

Petronio bowed his head and began mouthing the words he’d learned in kirk. “Lay me down in sweet glades. Though I walk through the woods of the dead, thou art with me, thy stick and thy staff to comfort me….” The words were by rote, but every part of Petronio’s body was tensed up, ready for action. He heard a grating click and figured out that the man’s weapon was ready. Then Petronio sensed him leaning closer and closer, intent on doing the job.

Now! Petronio’s left leg kicked out like a horse’s and made instant contact with the man’s shin. There was a satisfying crunching sound as the shin shattered and the soldier collapsed on the ground, screaming, with his foot at an unnatural angle, white bone exposed to the air. At the same moment, Petronio heard a sound like a soft swoosh of feathers and felt an intense stinging pain in his ear. No time to think. He leapt up, wondering if Diana had answered his prayers after all. As he jumped over the man to head for the stairs, an arm shot up and grabbed his leg.

“You little —”