It occurred to him that if he bled on the roots, their deal would be complete, and the oak would release his friends directly into the hands of the Red Brothers.

I should have listened to Crowflies and waited. Why didn’t I listen?

Eyesore took a step forward, guiding Crunch to do the same. There was no way he could fight them, no way to evade them. He couldn’t even climb the tree. It had made its allegiance quite clear.

The only thing he had left was his wits. If he could think of something clever to say, he might be able to stall them or slow them down. Could he threaten them with something? Offer them something? He took a breath, knowing he was done for but that his friends might still be saved. He just needed to think of some way to tempt them away from the tree. But no ideas came and one look at the hate in Eyesore’s glare was enough to crush any words in his throat.

The two brothers took another step forward. One more and they would be able to grab him and then it would all be over. He held up his hands, his mouth opening but no words coming out.

‘You’ve gone quiet,’ said Crunch. ‘We’ll change that, won’t we, Eyesore?’

The other brother nodded and clapped his hands, making the thick ropes of flesh-hair swing back and forth.

‘We’ll make a scream from every bit of you. No need to fight over who gets first chunk this time.’ He gave Sa-at a vertical smile. ‘We’ve already agreed to split you down the middle.’

Though there was nowhere for him to go, Sa-at couldn’t help but try and back away, the bark pressing painfully into his spine.

‘Does he look scared?’

Eyesore clapped his hands again.

‘He should be. We’ll grind his feet to paste and eat them slow, and then vomit them up and make him eat them. We’ll grind his legs to paste and eat them slow, then vomit them up and make him eat them. We’ll grind his hips to paste and eat them slow, then vomit then up and—’

‘Yes, yes,’ interrupted a voice from behind them. ‘I think we get the idea.’

Sa-at didn’t recognize it but was struck by how calm it was, as if she were talking to someone she knew.

‘What’s this? What’s this?’ roared Crunch, turning one ear towards the newcomer. ‘Sounds like a human has come to join the feast.’

‘Sounds can be deceiving, I’m afraid,’ replied the woman. ‘To be honest, I was planning on slipping away, but having just heard your … speech? Yes, I’ll be generous and call it that, I feel compelled to stay and stop you.’

Crunch laughed at that. ‘You are too small to stop us.’

‘I’ve come to make a deal.’