They reached a tall, unplastered building with no windows and the smell of battle became stronger, overpowering. Xessa gagged and put her hand over her nose. Around and down they moved: a slope carved into the earth that led beneath the building and into gloom. A bamboo gate across the passageway, the tops of the poles sharpened into spear tips to prevent anyone climbing in – or out.

‘Special one from the High Feather – Eagle Pilos – himself,’ Elaq said and Xessa noted how he positioned himself so she could see his mouth. ‘She’s a fighter but to be trained in Melody style. Some important people want to watch her, so make sure she’s good. And she’s deaf.’

The scarred woman he was talking to cocked her head at Xessa. ‘Can’t fight when you’re deaf.’

‘This one can,’ Elaq said. ‘As long as she can see your lips, she understands. Won’t respond to anything else.’ The woman turned away and fiddled with the gate – it swung back and she stepped through, beckoning. Xessa looked at Elaq. ‘Pay attention. Fight well. Make your owner proud.’

Xessa wanted to spit in his face. She wanted to tear it off with her teeth and fingernails. Instead she carved her own into a mask and put her back to him, and strode through the gate into darkness. They wanted to take her and sharpen her and hone her until she could kill all she came across. Until she was lethal and unsurpassed.

In the gloom, Xessa smiled like a lord of the Underworld. Like a fucking Drowned, all teeth and malice and hunger. They wanted to make her a weapon? Then that’s exactly what she’d become.

EPILOGUE

The source, Singing City, Pechacan, Empire of Songs

I am the Great Octave, Chosen of Xac. I am the future and the future song. I am the Empire that will be.

I will be. The song, the Singer, the hope of all faithful. Through me will the world spirit awaken. Through me will Ixachipan be free of strife and hunger and disease. Through me will power and wealth and beauty be manifest.

I am the glory of the Pechaqueh restored. I am the glory of power reborn.

I am Enet and I am – I will be – the song.

And my song is good.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

So, 2020, eh? Bit of a year. And with that in mind, first and deepest heartfelt thanks go to the medical community the world over, and to all those who work behind the scenes to co-ordinate the global and governmental responses to the pandemic.

Songs of the Drowned is a project that started life as a rambling, slightly tipsy pitch to my husband in a quiet little pub in London in 2018. His enthusiastic response gave me the courage to work up a proper, this time sober, pitch to send off to my agent, and from there, well, it snowballed.