A woman gave a scream as the dock agent beside her fell to his knees, coughing, hands at his throat, face turning red. He crashed down, white foam dripping from his lips. Mati gave the sign. The third beggar climbed onto an empty crate. Strangely, his arm seemed to have grown back and he had on a clean cloak. Resourceful. ‘It’s a plague ship!’ he shouted. He paused for effect, then yelled, ‘Run!’

And, as if the Emperor himself had roared for the army to charge, the wharfside plunged into hysteria. Mati was nearly trampled as the crowd turned and ran. The pair of Kalingan Guards were no match for the mob. The men and women of Jade did not represent the best sailors, and now they did not even represent the best of humanity as they rushed away from the water, crying and screaming. Panic was far more potent than plague. Those that fell were trampled. Those in the way, tossed aside.

Mati felt someone shove her and lashed out with her hand, slapping the man away. Nevertheless, she was caught in the tide of fleeing humanity, like a leaf in a current, shoved, pushed, jostled and tangled. Her feet scarcely touched the ground as she was swept along with the crowd. A few guards ran out of harm’s way, up the stairs to the watchtower, no doubt to relay important instructions.

She felt one of the beggars grab her by the elbow and pull her to safety. He was the same one who had been pretending to be armless. They made their way to a warehouse that afforded them a vantage point. The clamour faded behind them. Mati was wheezing like a whale. She felt dizzy, her mouth dry as a desert. She saw the sea of men and women spread into rivulets beyond the alley as they rushed to the town, overturning the barricades. Those that stumbled were left behind, lying where they fell, crushed in the stampede.

‘You were right. We’re going to be rich,’ the beggar said, eyeing a box of coins that had been left behind, its contents spilled over the floor, forgotten. He looked at Mati sheepishly.

‘It’s all yours.’

‘You’re too kind, Mistress.’

There was the sudden sound of drums beating and bells sounding the alarm in the harbour.

‘What…what is that?’ the beggar stammered.

‘End game.’

‘Holy Teats of the Goddess!’ cried the beggar, blinking to clear his vision, but what he saw wasn’t an illusion.