‘Kazuki!’ exclaimed Yori, almost dropping the remains of his shakujō. ‘He’s here?’

Jack nodded. ‘Kazuki was the ninja with the katana. I’ll explain later. We have to find Akiko first. She’s wounded and up against a kunoichi.’

With Yori protecting Jess, and Signor Horatio supporting Rose, Jack led the way along the darkened corridor. He kept his sword on guard as they approached the staircase. The acrid stench of smoke tinged the air and an eerie silence had fallen over the manor house. There were no sounds of a struggle, no clash of swords, just the distant crackle of the fire. Jack began to fear the worst for Akiko. As they descended the stairs, he could see into the Gallery of Arms. Sir Toby’s headless body lay spread-eagled on the floor – but Kazuki was nowhere to be seen, a drying pool of blood the only evidence of the wound Jack had inflicted upon his rival. Jack’s sword had run deep … but not deep enough to be fatal?

‘I’ll go first,’ Jack whispered, cautiously heading down the final flight of steps into the hallway. The others waited on the middle landing for the all-clear. As his foot touched the fifth step from the bottom, the wood creaked loudly in the smoke-filled silence. Jack looked sharply around, praying he hadn’t alerted anyone. But neither Kazuki nor the kunoichi appeared. He breathed a sigh of relief. Then a blade shot up through a narrow gap in the staircase, its steel tip spearing straight between his legs. Jack dived and rolled across the floor, the blade catching the cloth of his Harlequin suit and tearing a hole in his trousers … but thankfully nothing else.

Flipping back to his feet, Jack spun towards the staircase, katana at the ready. As the mystery blade disappeared, the step was flung open, and Jack charged at the figure emerging from the priest hole. He brought his sword slicing down to end the deadly ambush …

‘NO!’ cried Akiko, her face pale and fresh blood staining her kimono. Only at the very last second did Jack manage to halt his attack, his katana stopping a hair’s breadth from her neck. Akiko let out an unsteady breath. ‘That was close … too close.’

‘You can say that again!’ replied Jack, lowering his sword and inspecting his torn trousers.

‘I thought you were … the –’ Akiko suddenly collapsed into Jack’s arms, her battle with the female ninja having taken its toll. She still had the golden kanzashi buried in her shoulder blade. With great care, Jack removed the debilitating hairpin and almost immediately Akiko revived a little.

‘That kunoichi’s around somewhere …’ she groaned. ‘I had to hide … I couldn’t fight … not with that in my back …’

‘Don’t worry,’ said Jack, supporting her full weight. ‘We’re all getting out of here.’