‘As if I’d join a bandit crew,’ the General murmurs, but a smile pulls at the very corner of her mouth. ‘They’d treat me like a kid.’

‘You are a kid, Gabi.’

She looks at me, lost.

‘Where are you going?’

‘Out,’ I say softly. ‘To the Seekers.’

‘Aren’t they monsters?’

‘I don’t know. I only know that they have answers.’

After a long moment, her face crumples, tears catching at her breath. ‘Low—’

I shake my head to stop her, feeling tears gather hot in my own eyes. ‘It’s alright.’ When I trust my voice again, I take a breath. ‘I left a letter, for you all. But… Silas. Tell him I am sorry.’

‘He won’t understand.’

‘I know. But I have to do this. There was a price, and I chose.’

At the edge of my vision, I see movement; the woman with grey hair, waiting. I wipe my eyes, and turn to leave.

‘Traitor?’

‘What is it, General?’

‘I’m not a General, anymore.’

‘And I’m not a traitor.’

I meet her gaze. For an instant, she looks beyond me and her eyes widen. ‘May your thoughts be clear,’ she whispers.

I walk away into that singing night, out towards the Edge, towards the vast unknown.

And they walk with me.

Acknowledgements

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

HERE’S WHERE I can open a bottle and raise a glass high to all the people who have brought Ten Low to life:

George Sandison, not just for snatching this book out of the air and patiently cleaning it up, but for championing many a weird and wonderful work of speculative fiction.

Tasha Qureshi, for eagle-eyed editorial skills and for fearlessly stomping the gas on the manuscript. Egészségedre!

The whole team at Titan, for giving Ten and I a home.

Ed Wilson, for buying the first round.

Hélène Butler and Emily Hayward-Whitlock, for being on board from day one.

RJ Barker, for words of encouragement when they were needed.

Lavie Tidhar, for help and hard liquor.

My parents and family for all their support, and Dave, for being a fan.

My sister – as always – for riding shotgun and helping me navigate through the dark.

Nick, for being the best co-pilot I could ask for.

About the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

STARK HOLBORN IS a novelist, games writer, film reviewer, and the author of Nunslinger, Triggernometry and Ten Low. Stark lives in Bristol, UK.

Want more Ten Low?

To read an exclusive story, visit starkholborn.com/factus

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