Chel nodded, wincing at the burning sensation in his legs. He’d not walked so many steps in a row for weeks, nor climbed anything more than his creaking pallet.

‘How did you get Tarfel to help? How did you even come to speak to him? How …’ He fell silent. There were too many questions, too many things he felt eluded him.

She sensed his mood, the tide of enquiries dammed by his silence. ‘Don’t fret, Bear. You know I can be persuasive. We can go into detail later, once we’re clear. If you want, that is …’

He nodded, waved her words away.

‘How long do we have?’

A scream rent the air, something awful and animal and in utter agony. It lasted far longer than Chel thought possible, its pitch and intensity shaking his bones, making his guts tremble.

Sab’s eyes were wide, her breath sharp.

‘Not long.’

Rennic was already at the window, peering into the courtyard below, but keeping as low as he could. Chel thumped down next to him as the next scream ripped across the citadel. It subsided into sobs, screeching, mewling, pleading.

‘Any chance they’re just skinning a goat down there?’

Rennic shook his head. His expression was grave-cold, his years wearing as heavy on his face as Chel had ever seen.

‘Dalim,’ he said.

Chel nodded, because he could think of nothing else to do. Then he said, ‘Palo will give them nothing. She’ll make fools of them all.’

Rennic took a long breath, steadying himself to stand.

‘I doubt it.’

***

At the door to the frozen battlement, their burning climb behind them, Tarfel stopped to wait. ‘The gatehouse is at the far end. Just stay out of sight until the confession ends, then go for the side door. I need to get back upstairs, before they notice I’m gone,’ he said. ‘We both do.’ He was looking at Sab.

Chel looked back in horror. ‘Get back? What are you talking about?’

The prince shrugged, apologetic. ‘I’m technically under house arrest, confined to chambers, you see. If your sister hadn’t got me out, I’d still be stuck there.’

‘But people saw you, you sent them to watch the confession!’

‘Indeed, indeed. My status is all a bit hush-hush, a bit need-to-know. Corvel’s not keen to explain why he’s imprisoned his own brother, you understand.’

‘And you’re going back?!’

‘Plausible deniability, Vedren. Best big bro never finds out I’ve been on a jaunt.’

‘And you?’ Chel turned to his sister. ‘Why would you stay here?’

‘Nobody knows about me,’ she said, jaw set in an expression he remembered from years before. ‘I can do more good here, working on the inside.’