‘We always had the same ideas, me and him. Same view of things, same inclinations. We worked pretty well, had an understanding. Until now, at least.’ He poked at Spider with the end of his staff, and the man slid sideways, flopping to the bloody stone. He was quite dead, eyes bulging from his sockets, livid purple tongue protruding from his open mouth. Rennic had strangled him.

‘Of course,’ the non-beggar went on, ‘I was the thinker of the two of us. Look what he brought along to do the job.’ He reached down and scooped up an ugly looking crossbow of dark wood from the floor, twanged the string. ‘God knows what he thought he’d achieve with this. Wouldn’t have made a dent in that steel tub.’ He tossed the crossbow away. ‘No, I was the thinker. That’s why I brought this.’

Rennic reached down again, and Chel’s innards lurched.

‘Kosh’s crossbow – what are you planning to do with that? Rennic? Rennic?’

Rennic ignored him. He pushed himself up from the table, leaving the staff propped, and began a slow walk toward the window arches at the edge of Chel’s vision, the crossbow over one shoulder.

‘He was my brother, you know that? Different mothers, of course, I’d never have tolerated the prick otherwise. But we both got our father’s nose. Grew up together, joined up together. Suppose it’s fitting it end like this.’

‘End? Like what? Rennic!’ The guards’ footsteps were getting louder behind him, their panting filling the winding stair.

‘Don’t you ever get tired of asking questions all the time, sand-flower? It’s exhausting. Here’s one for you instead: I lied before, Rennic isn’t my real name; you know what it means?’

‘No, I don’t. Rennic, open the door. The guards are coming. Rennic!’

‘Nor do I,’ he said, and knelt before the arches. He rested the crossbow on the window-ledge, then laid out six bolts alongside it. He began to load it.

‘Rennic! Rennic stop!’ Chel was ripping at the door again, slamming himself against it, hammering at the hinges. ‘Rennic!’

The guards reached the stairway’s end and found their comrade. Their shouts and cries were suddenly deafening in the tower’s confines. Their eyes fell on Chel at the hallway’s end. Swords were drawn.

Chel saw their intent. ‘Fuck,’ he said. He kicked once more at the door to no avail, then his eyes fell on the window.

Tried that too—

The climbing figure.