Karna heard the thundering sound of wheels, and spied a small barrel rolling into the midst of the approaching assassins. ‘Fire-oil!’ the woman cried. ‘Positions!’

Time slowed as the barrel collided with an abandoned cart. The impact of the detonation threw the approaching assassins into the air. Karna dived for cover, not knowing who had rolled the barrel and come to his aid. He was thrown against the wall again and heard a snap. My arm. Unheeding, he stumbled to his feet and scurried, half-bent, along the side of the shadowed street, gripping his broken arm.

‘Oi Lamb!’

He turned, stopping short. A horse-driven cart was turning in the street behind. Then it charged towards him. Crouched low behind the reins was a woman he knew. Karna stepped aside, a breath away from being ridden over, grasped one side of the cart and let the momentum swing him up behind the woman. Wind buffeted him as the cart rattled on. Twisting back, he saw shapes in pursuit, on horseback.

Kala handed him a crossbow with two quarrels affixed. ‘Borrowed it from your friends. Can you use it?’ Fortunately, he was ambidextrous. ‘I can manage.’ He took his time and shot an arrow that knocked a rider onto the cobbled stones behind his horse. He shot the second arrow at the assassin on the roof, who ducked, dropping his own crossbow in the process.

The street ahead was waterlogged. Kala wheeled right into an alley. The horses skidded before righting themselves and taking the slope ahead. Karna could finally see a town adjoining the harbour, a tangle of serpentine alleys and streets, lit like a forest of fireflies from a hundred alchemical lamps. The sound of galloping horses, hot in pursuit, did not allow them the luxury of considering their options.

‘Where are we going?’ Karna asked.

‘Chilika Fort.’

‘But we cannot ride at full speed through that!’

‘I know, damn you!’

The next few minutes marked the wildest ride Karna had ever taken. Kala’s skill was exhilarating. The cart glided through the tangles, knocking over stalls, barely managing to avoid innocent bystanders… but it was enough. A while later, Karna turned to look behind, then leaned close to say, ‘I think we’ve lost them, Kala.’

‘I’m glad you are still alive, my Lamb.’

‘Not for long. You…your hair is different.’

‘What do you mean, not for long?’

‘Erm…’ he felt dizzy. Words were tangling themselves in knots on his tongue. ‘I have…have…been poisoned.’

‘Did you dine with Prakar Mardin?’ Kala’s voice was alarmed.

So, it was her. Karna groaned. ‘No. It was…an arrow.’ Karna held onto the rocking cart. ‘I know what you did, Kala. You...’ he groaned, feeling obnoxiously weak. ‘You…killed Prakar Mardin.’

‘An incident I’m sure you can forget…as repayment for breaking my heart. Savvy?’

‘You…you...’ he fell against Kala’s shoulder.