The Slough girl sat there, her sword rising and falling, rising and falling rhythmically. Malik recognized her as one of Josa’s gang that had tormented him back in the day when he’d been Tyler’s bitch. He sneaked in closer, never taking his eye off that deadly, flashing steel, up and down, up and down, blood flying off the blade. He timed his move, leapt in, grabbed her forearm and easily pulled her from the saddle. She really hadn’t been expecting this and went stage-diving into the pack of adults. He left her there, floundering about on the ground as the adults pawed and groped at her.

The Maidenhead rider had seen what was happening and slid out of his saddle, elbowing his way towards the fallen girl. Well, that was brave at least and Malik left him to it. The Ascot Assassin was also coming over to help, cutting a path through the sickos.

The three of them had their hands full and now was Malik’s chance. He needed to get an advantage. He wanted a horse. He wriggled clear of the grown-ups and ran into the centre of the arena, getting Golden Boy’s attention. Golden Boy gave a happy whoop as he closed in for the kill.

Malik had observed how Golden Boy’s skills had been getting sloppy as he’d grown more and more angry.

He was still armed, though, and on horseback. This was no time for Malik to get sloppy as well. He’d wanted to show these kids how to fight, not how to die.

Golden Boy was coming fast, his sword up, leaning forward slightly, his face red with fury, teeth bared like a grown-up. Malik stayed still, tensed, letting the boy pick his target and line of attack. As Golden Boy got close enough, he took a swing. Malik was ready. He quickly dodged round to the other side of the horse and, as it went past, he grabbed Golden Boy’s boot and boosted it upwards, spilling the already overbalanced boy, made heavy by his black and gold armour, out of his saddle. He tumbled to the ground in a tangle of limbs. Malik hurried to keep up with the horse, slowed it by pulling at the flapping reins, then easily swung up on to its back. Roy and Waggers and Tomasz and the other survivalists back on the farm all those months ago had taught him how to ride.

To ride and hunt.