The woman with the golden lips is Rochant’s enemy, and he is my friend, so that means she is my enemy too. But the woman with the golden lips saved me and I promised to help her in return. But, I saved her from Crunch so maybe I’ve already helped her.

He shook his head, not sure what to do. He wanted to help Rochant and he certainly didn’t want the woman to get him, but he also wanted to help her, she had been so brave and strong, and without her he would be dead.

‘This is too hard!’ he said to Crowflies. ‘What do you think I should do?’

The Birdkin looked at him as if to say he shouldn’t even be here.

‘I know. I should have listened to you before, but I’m here now. Help me!’

Crowflies flew down to land in front of him, and Sa-at squatted next to it and held out his hand.

‘Sa-aat,’ it cawed softly, taking his hand in its beak, its proboscis pricking at the knuckle where his little finger used to be.

He felt the contact, and the connection between them, vibrant, strong, as a sudden wave of emotions and thoughts – not his own – juddered against the edge of his mind. Crowflies had a lot to say, and this time, Sa-at gave the Birdkin his full attention.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Satyendra didn’t seek out anyone else to say goodbye to as he’d told his mother, instead he began the last preparations for escape. He hadn’t stockpiled food, the old cook was too sharp for such things, but he had planned the best ways to obtain it in a hurry. For years he’d watched the guards, getting to know which ones were diligent, which were not, and the routes through the castle that were least used.

A side benefit of this was that he’d discovered the guards had their own stash of food in their supply room and, unlike the kitchens, there were times when it was left unobserved.

Times like tonight.

It was simple for him to swoop in and fill a sack with dried meat and fruit. He sucked on a crispy Lizardkin wing as he walked towards the abandoned courtyard, feeling an unusual sense of purpose. All of his life had been leading to this night, and now it was here, that planning was paying off.

He’d almost arrived at the courtyard when he realized someone was following him. Another boy. He recognized the feel of them before his eyes had matched the silhouette: Pik.

‘What do you want?’

The other boy shrugged, but didn’t look as deferent as Satyendra would have liked. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Things that are well beyond you.’

‘Like what? Maybe I could help.’