The hallway beyond was deserted, unguarded, dark but for the single torch at its far end. The screaming continued, barely a pause for breath, a wordless howl. It was coming from the doorway at the hallway’s end. Footsteps thumped from behind, and he turned to see Oksa pounding toward them in the gloom, Ruumi a pace behind. The captain was fully dressed, still in her armour and furs, while the nearly-queen wore a long robe, belted carelessly around her waist.

Loveless came striding from the darkened doorway, moving quickly but with a certain satisfaction. ‘Sorry, boys, did we wake you?’ she said, noting the gathering crowd. Lemon and Whisper emerged behind her, looking a little more furtive.

‘What in hells is that noise?’ The screaming was like a blade scraped across Chel’s eyeballs.

Loveless ignored him, approaching Ruumi directly. The nearly-queen and Oksa filled the hallway, leaving very little room for the otherwise significant figure of Rennic to slip past them. He was dressed but still lacing his shirt with one hand as he peered around Oksa. ‘It’s done,’ Loveless said, pointedly ignoring Rennic’s appearance.

‘How done?’ Ruumi replied, as conversational as if she were asking after the health of a distant aunt.

‘Your path to the throne stands blissfully unimpeded.’ She winced as another bout of screaming began, echoing from the hallway’s rough stone and making Chel’s teeth throb. ‘Some of his night-time companions may be a little … scarred, but we thought precision was the order of the day.’

Chel could no longer contain himself. ‘You killed him? Borre?’ He rubbed at his thudding head. ‘After all that wine?’

Lemon shuffled past. ‘Aye, well, all a gambit, see? Classic ruse. We drink, they drink, they drink, we drink, everyone’s all pissed and mellow, couple of friendly wee stabs in the dark and job’s a good ’un.’

‘But you’re hammered! Your eyes won’t focus!’

‘Years of practice, wee bear,’ she said with a merry wave of her hand, then walked into the doorway and bounced off. ‘’Scuse me. Probably shouldn’t be hanging around, eh, folks? Discretion would call for a sharp exit.’

Chel’s head was sore and his vision was swimming. Still trembling, he looked back at Rennic. ‘Was this your plan? You said you were on top of it!’

‘On top of something, no doubt,’ Lemon chuckled drunkenly as she staggered into the quarters. ‘Someone give me a hand with the Nort, eh? She’s right cranky when she’s tired.’

Ruumi leaned into Oksa, whispering urgent words. The big Horvaun turned and vanished back into the fortress behind them. Already clatter and shouts echoed from elsewhere. The screaming was finally dying away, which in some ways was worse.

She ignored it, turning to Loveless, her face impassive, unreadable. ‘As the Clyde says, you must depart. You will, of course, be hunted for your crimes against my family …’ Her smile returned, fleeting but fierce. ‘… But not well.’