“The ceremonies are starting soon. You must deliver the sacrifices.”

“Why not bring him along for sacrifice?”

The brigade murmured in agreement.

“Because he’s a Tiįxorn.”

No subtitle showed for that word. Just <EXPLETIVE>.

“Tiįxorn!” the slur echoed in hushed horror.

The boy went on: “Th’Mighty Cymotherian would never host in such spoilt blood. He is better slaughtered beyond the sanctuary. Otherwise, we risk defilement.”

The brigade simmered with irresolute whispers.

“So be it.” The leader shrugged, and the boy was handed the whip. “But you may not kill him. Put him in the dungeons. I will cut out his jaw after the ceremony.”

The masked boy bowed. “As you command.”

Deflated by the utter civility of it all, the brigade resumed their slow trek, and the cart rumbled off. Kane tried to catch Ursula’s eye, but she had turned away. And now Kane was trapped. The boy was much bigger than he was. Stronger. He looked down at Kane with mild distaste.

“Come on. Let’s go,” he said in English, walking off. Kane trotted after him like a dog unsure of being walked. He looked for an opportunity to escape, but the whip was secure around his wrist. The boy was less hostile now, almost disinterested as he lead them through a network of walkways, into a hollowed-out stalagmite, and up a staircase of smoothly carved steps.

“Where are we going?” Kane wheezed as they reached a landing.

“Not barbarian jail, that’s for sure.”

“Who are you?”

“A barbarian.”

“You don’t sound like a barbarian.”

“Well, I am.”

Kane tried to recall the word that he’d been called. “What’s a tiich…tiixoo…”

“Tiįxorn. I think it means you lay with other men. The other boys were saying it, so I tried it out. Whatever it means, it worked.”

“You outed me?”

The boy gave the whip a yank. “I saved your life.”

“Are they actually going to cut out my jaw?”

“Ew. No.”

The passage reached the tip of the stalagmite, and a sturdy bridge lead them over a dizzying drop toward a half-moon tunnel carved into the cavern’s wall.

“But you said—”

The boy rounded on Kane, rocking the bridge dangerously. “I said what I had to say to get you out of there. Otherwise Ursula would have had to break character, and the reverie is much too fresh for that. It only manifested an hour ago. Now be quiet and hold on to me.”

Kane held on as they advanced through a network of tunnels similar to the passage he had first appeared in. He smelled smoke, and elsewhere water dripped. It was more level here, and Kane could walk upright. He was about to start asking more questions when the boy beat him to it.

“Do you still want to run?”