“Oh, tough guy, aren’t you?” said John, and Achilleus shrugged. “I was trying to talk to you and you whacked me.

If I’d’ve been ready for you, you wouldn’t be standing there now.”

“If you was any good you’d have been ready,” said Achilleus. “But you ain’t nothing.”

“All right, all right,” said David, raising his hands again. “That’s enough of that. We don’t need to start an argument. This isn’t about fighting each other; it’s about becoming allies.”

“This is boring,” Achilleus muttered. “It’s too much like politics.”

“All I’m asking for is a truce,” said David.

“There’s unfinished business,” said John darkly.

“What unfinished business?” said Jester.

“Me and him.” John pointed at Achilleus.

“You want another fight, I’m ready,” said Achilleus.

John spat on the carpet and shuffled over to Carl. The two of them had a quick quiet chat, which ended with Carl slapping John on the shoulder.

“We’re ready to make a deal,” he said.

“As long as you understand that we might not accept it,” said David. “As I see it, we have the upper hand. We have John prisoner, and—”

“You gonna listen to our deal or are you gonna blab, fancy boy?” said John.

“I’ll listen,” said David. “But it better be good.”

“It’s good,” said John. “It’s the best you’ll ever get.”

“Go on then.”

“It’s like this. We’ll do everything you say. We’ll help you grow food; we’ll join up with you if anyone attacks. All that you said. We’ll make a truce. On one condition.”

“Which is?”

“Him there.” John was pointing at Achilleus. “If he can beat me in a fair fight.”

“It’s a deal,” said Achilleus without any hesitation.

“Wait,” said Maxie. “That’s just stupid.”

“Yeah?” said Carl. “Well, it’s our deal. Take it or leave it.”

“What do you say, David?” asked John, his chin raised cockily.

“What if we lose?”

“If you lose you can forget any kind of truce, and if you want to start a war, that’s fine with us. We’ll be ready for you.”

“Wait a moment.”

David and Jester went over to Achilleus. It was their turn for a quiet chat.

“Can you beat him?” David asked.

Achilleus smiled. “No problem. I took him before. I can take him again. He’s all talk.”

“Are you sure? A lot rests on this.”

“You don’t think I can do it?”

“He can do it,” said Jester.

“All right.” David broke away from the huddle. “You’ve got a deal.”

“Wait a moment,” said Maxie, pushing between David and Jester. “We need to think about this.”

“I have thought about it,” said David. “It’s agreed.”

“Wait . . .” said Maxie, and Achilleus put his hand on her arm.