Quest for Lost Heroes

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Beltzer could not sleep. He lay back in the flickering torchlight and closed his eyes, but all he could see were the faces of Finn, Maggrig and Okas. Rolling to his side, he opened his eyes. His axe was resting against the cave wall beside him and he looked at his reflection in the broad blades.

You look like your father, he told himself, remembering the grim-faced farmer and his constant, unrelenting battle against poverty. Up an hour before dawn, in bed at midnight, day in day out, engaged in a war he could never hope to win. The farmland was rocky, near barren, but somehow his father had fought the sterile environment, producing enough food to feed Beltzer and his five brothers. By the time Beltzer was fourteen three of the brothers had gone, run away in search of an easier life in the city. The other two had died with his mother during the Red Plague. Beltzer stayed on, working alongside the bitter old man until at last, while guiding the plough-horses, his father had clutched his chest and sagged to the ground. Beltzer had been felling trees in the high meadow and had seen him fall. He had dropped his axe and sprinted down to him, but when he arrived the old man was dead.

Beltzer could not remember one kind word from his father, and had seen him smile only once, when he was drunk one midwinter evening.

He had buried him in the thin soil and had walked from the farmhouse without a backward glance.

Of his brothers he heard nothing. It was as if they had never been.

His mother was a quiet woman, tough and hardy. She too had rarely smiled, but when he thought back he realised she had had little to smile about. He had been beside her when she died. Her face had lost its perennial weariness; she had been almost pretty then.

Beltzer sat up, feeling melancholy. Looking around, he saw Chareos asleep by the dying fire. He rose and took his axe, wanting to see the stars, feel the night wind on his face.

He missed Finn. That night on the gate-tower when the Nadir dragged the bowman from the walls Beltzer had leapt in among them, cleaving and killing. He was amazed to find Chareos and Maggrig beside him. Stooping, he had lifted Finn to his back and run for the gate.

Later, when Finn recovered consciousness, his gashed brow bandaged, Beltzer had gone to him.

'How do you feel?' he had asked.

'I'd be a damn sight better if you hadn't rapped my head against that door-post,' grumbled Finn.

By all the gods in Heaven, that was a time to be alive!

Beltzer felt the breeze on his face and strolled into the last tunnel.

He stopped in his tracks. .

There before him were scores of Nadir warriors, creeping in through the entrance. They had not seen him and quickly he stepped back into the shadows.

He thought of his friends, sleeping peacefully some thirty paces away. The Nadir would be upon them in seconds.

But if he stayed where he was, he could be safe. He could live. He had the gold he had buried near Finn's cabin; that would keep him for years.

Sweet Heaven, I don't want to die!

He stepped out to stand before the Nadir, the torchlight glinting on his red and silver beard, his axe shining crimson.

'Nadir!' he bellowed, the sound echoing through the tunnels. They drew their swords and charged. Never one to wait he lifted his axe, shouted a war-cry and ran to meet them. The blades sliced down and wounded warriors screamed in agony as the giant cut and clove them aside in the narrow tunnel. Swords pierced his flesh, but he felt no pain. A man loomed before him and Beltzer slammed the axe forward, the tips of the butterfly blades skewering his chest. The Nadir fell back. Beltzer staggered, but remained upright.

'Well, my boys," he said. 'You want to be on my mountain? You want to see the sky?'

A warrior drew his bow and let loose a shaft. Beltzer's axe came up and the arrow glanced from the blades, ripping the skin of Beltzer's temple. The Nadir charged once more, but in the narrow tunnel they could only come at him three abreast. He roared his anger and lifted the bloodied axe. Four more died, then another three, before they fell back again.

Back in the chamber Chareos had gathered his sword and was sprinting back towards the tunnels, Harokas and the others behind him.

Asta Khan stepped into his path. 'You can do nothing!' hissed the old man.

'He is my friend,' protested Chareos, reaching out to brush the shaman aside.

'I know!' whispered Asta. 'That is why he is dying for you: to give you a chance. Don't let him down now. It would break his spirit if you were to die also. Can't you understand that?'

Chareos groaned. He knew it was true, and the pain of that knowledge was too much.

'Follow me!' said Asta, moving off into the darkness. He took the questors to a second chamber, smaller than the first; there he knelt and raised his hands, palms outwards. No words were spoken, but the chamber grew cold, and colder still. Tanaki shivered and leaned in close to Kiall, who lifted his cloak around her shoulders. A deeper darkness formed before the old man and he rose. 'Follow,' he commanded. He stepped into the black doorway.

And disappeared. .

For a moment the questors stood rooted to the spot; then Harokas walked after Asta, followed by Chien and the trembling Oshi.

'Now you,' said Chareos to Kiall.

The younger man looked at Chareos, reading the intent in his eyes.

'No, Chareos. We will go through together — or back together.'

'I don't want you to die, boy!'

'Nor I you — but the shaman is right. Beltzer would not want you there. This is his victory — that we escape.'

Tears stung Chareos' eyes as he leapt through the doorway. Tanaki and Kiall followed.

The darkness closed around them.

In the tunnel Beltzer found his strength slowly fading. A dagger was jutting from his belly, and blood was pouring from a terrible wound in his upper left arm. The limb hung uselessly at his side and he knew the bone was smashed. Yet still he hefted the axe in his right hand, defying the warriors before him. The tunnel floor was slippery with blood, and the moans of the dying echoed around him.

Again they charged, forcing him back. A sword plunged into his side, breaking his ribs. His axe hammered back to smash a warrior from his feet. Blades licked out at his flesh, piercing him. He roared at the enemy and fell to his knees. They swarmed over him, but he surged up, scattering them. Blood was gushing from his throat and chest, and one eye was closed and bleeding.

The Nadir fell back again — but not in fear.

The giant was dying. No warrior needed to die now to clear the path. They stood, staring at the axeman, their dark eyes reflecting both hatred and respect.

'Had enough, have you?' croaked Beltzer, spitting blood from his mouth. 'You don't want old Beltzer's mountain? Come on? What are you afraid of? It's only. . death.'

He looked up at the men before him and realised he was on his knees, his axe fallen from his hands. He tried to reach for it but the floor rose up to meet him and he lay quietly for a second or two, trying to gather his strength. Then his arm stretched towards the axe. It was too far away.

But it meant so much. A Nadir warrior knelt beside him, took the axe and placed it in Beltzer's hand.

Beltzer looked up at the man.

'Watch for me on the mountain,' he said.

The man nodded. The last breath rattled from Beltzer's throat and the Nadir rose and loped off down the tunnel, leaving Beltzer with the eighteen men he had killed.

The shock of Beyond brought a scream from Kiall. It was as if black ink had been poured into his eyes, penetrating his skull, covering his brain and his soul with a dark, dark shroud. On the verge of panic he felt Tanaki's hand gripping his, warm and alive.

Then a golden light grew, emanating softly from the hands of Asta Khan, and Kiall saw that they stood on a narrow pathway of shining silver. The light did not penetrate far into the blackness around them, and it seemed to Kiall that they stood in a spherical cave whose walls pressed down with the weight of worlds.

'Do not stray from the path,' whispered Asta. 'This is a place of consummate evil. Those who stray. . die! No rescue. The only safe way is the Silver Path. Follow me.'

Asta moved carefully forward, Chien and Oshi following and behind them Harokas, Chareos, Kiall and Tanaki.

At first the journey was uneventful, but soon a sibilant whispering grew out of the darkness, closing in on them, and hundreds of shining eyes glinted from all around. The path was too narrow for Kiall to keep holding Tanaki's hand, but he kept glancing back to see her face, drawing strength from her presence.

To the right of the trail white wolves loped into view and sat staring at the travellers. They were monstrous beasts, as large as ponies.

Suddenly the creatures howled and hurled themselves forward and Kiall started to back away, but Tanaki grabbed his jerkin. 'Stay on the path,' she hissed. The beasts came closer — but stopped, fangs bared, inches from the Silver Pathway.

The party moved on into the endless dark. From close by came a scream, then the sound of laughter, manic and shrill. But they saw nothing. The rustle of wings came from above, but when Kiall looked up he saw only darkness.

Then there was silence for a while.

Chareos walked on, oblivious to his surroundings. Beltzer was dead. Maggrig and Finn were slain. His mind reeled back from the tragedies, seeking solace in memories of better times as he followed Harokas blindly, unthinking.

A voice sounded from the left of the path. 'Chareos, help me.' The Blademaster glanced to his left where Beltzer was staggering towards them, wounded but alive. As Chareos stepped from the path the skin peeled back from Beltzer's frame and a scaled creature leapt at the swordsman.

Chareos did not move.

Kiall dived at him, hooking an arm around his waist and hurling him from his feet. But the scaled beast moved with terrifying speed, twisting and looming over them. The small figure of Chien-tsu hurdled the fallen men, his silver sword slicing through the creature's neck. Harokas and Tanaki pulled Chareos back on to the path, Kiall scrambling after them, as Chien backed slowly to join them.

Asta stared down at Chareos and shook his head. These fools would never learn, he thought. Their judgements, their reason, were built on emotions: love, honour, duty, friendship. The Nadir also understood the value of all four, but viewed them differently. Instead of love of the individual, there was love of tribe. Honour and duty were not abstracts but realities, earned by serving the chosen leader. And friendship, forged in war, was the least of all. On the word of a khan one friend would cut the head from another. There would be regret, but not a moment's hesitation. No Nadir warrior would have stepped from the Silver Path. Asta walked on.

The darkness closed in around them, then Asta's voice sounded. 'Stand very still, and wait until you see the light once more. Then move swiftly, for I cannot hold the Gateway for long.'

Silence followed, broken only by the rustling of wings above and the stealthy padding of claws on the rocky ground beside the path. A shaft of dim grey light lit the scene, stretching, widening.

'Now!' yelled Asta and the little shaman ran through the opening. Chien, Oshi and Harokas ran after him. Chareos stumbled through, followed by Kiall. Tanaki ran forward, but her foot strayed from the path and instantly a hairy hand grabbed her ankle, tripping her. She rolled, drawing her sword and hacking at the limb. The hand slid away, but she saw the giant wolves bearing down on her. Bunching her legs beneath her, she hurled herself at the shrinking Gateway.

She hit the ground hard, rolled and came to her knees. The Gate had vanished, and she was kneeling on a ledge high above the city of Ulrickham.

Kiall helped her to her feet. 'I would not wish to walk that path again,' he said. Unable to speak, she merely nodded. Chareos was sitting by himself, staring down at the ground. He looked older, more weary than Kiall had ever seen him.

Kiall walked to him. 'He was a strong man. A good friend,' he said.

'He was a fool. We are all fools,' whispered Chareos. 'But I will see out the game.' He turned his gaze on the city. 'What do you think, Kiall? Shall we surround it and demand they release Ravenna?'

'Whatever you say, Chareos.'

Chareos rose and stretched his back. He smiled and clapped his hand to Kiall's shoulder. 'Life goes on, boy. Do not be too concerned for me.'

Asta Khan walked over to them, squatting to sit before Chareos. 'There is an underground river, below Ulrick-ham. The great Tenaka knew of it, and linked the city's sewers to it. He also strengthened the side tunnels so that there would be a means of escape if the city was surrounded.'

'Is it guarded?' Kiall asked.

'Not by men. It would not be much of a secret if all the soldiers in Ulrickham knew of its existence. No, the prisoners who laboured to strengthen the tunnels were slain.'

'But it is guarded by something,' said Chareos and Asta looked up, his dark eyes hooded.

'Yes, Blademaster. By something. The blood of the slain was used by me to weave a dark spell. I merged the tunnel with the Void.'

The Void?' queried Kiall.

'You have just passed through it,' Asta told him. 'Only below Ulrickham there is no Silver Path.'

'We must pass through it again? I couldn't!' said Tanaki.

'You can!' hissed Asta. 'It is not long — a mere twenty paces. I will lead you.'

'And once we are through?' asked Chareos. 'How do we reach Ravenna?'

Tanaki stepped forward. 'You cannot, Chareos. Asta knows this. No man could enter the Palace of Women — but I could.'

'No,' protested Kiall. 'No, I won't have that. It is. .'

Tanaki chuckled. 'Do not say too dangerous, Kiall. It is your only hope.'

'She is right,' said Asta, his eyes shining now. 'She is truly of the blood of the Great Tenaka.' Chien-tsu and Harokas joined the group, listening as Tanaki outlined her plan.

'The question is when,' said Chareos.

'The time is now,' declared Asta. 'The journey through the Void took many weeks, though it felt like hours. Ravenna is only a few days from giving birth.'

'Should we not wait until after the birth?' Harokas asked.

'No!' said Asta. 'Jungir will take the Queen and the heir around the kingdom. They will be surrounded by warriors, and there would be no way to approach them. No, it must be now. Tonight.'

Chien said nothing, but his eyes locked to the face of the shaman. There was much here that was not being said. He did not like Asta Khan, but this quest meant nothing to the Kiatze. He would aid the questors, and then demand his payment. He stood and moved back to Oshi. The old man's face was grey, his eyes wide and staring. The walk through the Void had terrified him.

'Sleep for a while, Oshi,' said Chien, but the old man shook his head.

'I would dream of that place, and I would never wake.'

Nodding, Chien took a sharp knife from the sheath in his sleeve. 'Then be so kind as to make yourself useful. Shave me.'

The little servant smiled. 'Yes, lord.'

The sun sank beyond the distant, mist-shrouded horizon and Chareos stood alone, staring down at the city below, where the first lanterns of evening had been lit. He thought of his boyhood, and the dream of Attalis that one day Chareos would return to the lands of the Drenai and find the hidden Armour of Bronze.

'You will be a great leader, my boy. I know. I can see it in you.'

How little you knew me, thought Chareos. You saw me through the eyes of hope. A great leader? I have brought my greatest friends on a quest of death, and they lie unburied and far from home.

And what did we achieve, he wondered? How has the world been changed by their deaths?

'It is not over yet,' whispered a voice in his mind.

'Okas?' he said aloud. But there was no response, and he wondered if he had imagined the old man's voice in the whispering of the dusk breeze. He shivered.

Beltzer had saved them all, standing alone in the dark of the mountain. Chareos smiled, and a weight lifted from him. He looked up at the sky. 'You were a cantankerous, foul-smelling, evil-minded whoreson, Beltzer. But you never let down a friend. May the Source take you. May you drink your fill in the Hall of Heroes.'

He turned away and saw Harokas standing close by, half hidden in the shadows. The assassin stepped forward.

'I am sorry, Chareos, I did not mean to eavesdrop on your farewell.'

The swordsman shrugged. 'It does not matter. What did you want?'

'You intend to go into the city?'

'Yes.'

Harokas nodded. 'It strikes me that we shall have a serious problem if you succeed. We have no horses. Even if you bring the woman out — how will we get away?'

'The wizard will think of something,' said Chareos uneasily.

'Yes, I'm sure,' answered Harokas, dropping his voice, 'but he is playing his own game — and I don't like to think what it might be. But every time I have heard of Nadir shamen it is to do with death and human sacrifice. Is that why he wants the woman, do you think?'

When Chareos said nothing Harokas nodded, understanding the silence. 'Yes, I thought you were worried about that. Look, I will not come with you. I will walk down into the city and buy ponies. I am not known there, and we are not yet at war with the Nadir. Once I have bought them I will ride south, then turn and meet you beyond that bluff, near the stand of poplar.'

Chareos looked deeply into the man's eyes. 'Will you betray us, Harokas? Will you sell us for Nadir gold?'

The assassin's face darkened, but he bit back an angry response. Instead he said, 'I say this for your ears only, Blademaster; I love Tanaki. I would die for her. You understand me? I would sell you in an instant, but not her. Never her.'

'I believe you,' said Chareos. 'We will meet as you say.'

Harokas eased past the Blademaster and climbed down the ridge. Chareos watched him, but the dark-garbed figure was soon lost among the shadows.

Tar be it from me to criticise a leader's decision,' said Chien-tsu, bowing low, 'but I do not believe he is to be trusted.'

'You move silently, ambassador.'

'Sometimes it is better so to do. Will we truly meet him at the place you agreed?'

'No. To get there he must pass the trail to the south. We will wait there.'

'Excellent. It may be, Chareos, that I will not be accompanying you. If that proves to be true, would you be so kind as to look after my servant, Oshi? See him safely to a port. I will leave him coin to pay his passage to Kiatze.'

'You intend to kill Jungir Khan? Alone?'

'Such is my intention. The barbarian mistreated the daughter of my Emperor. Quite rightly she took her own life. Now, I must take his. It is a question of harmony and balance.'

Chareos looked down at the small warrior, noting the steadiness of his gaze and the proud, stern set of his features.

'It seems to me, ambassador, that the life of a man like Jungir Khan would not compensate for the loss of Chien-tsu.'

'A graceful compliment,' said the Kiatze, surprised. He bowed low. 'And yet the deed must be done. I will journey with you into the bowels of the earth, and I will wait until the woman is rescued. After that, I shall seek out the Khan.'

Asta Khan led the questors down to the edge of a fissure, a jagged tear in the land's surface. Kiall leaned over and gazed down into the inky depths.

This is the entrance,' said Asta. 'Now we climb.' The old man nimbly dropped to his haunches and slithered over the edge. Kiall shook his head and looked to Chareos.

The Blademaster unbuckled his sword-belt and hung it over his shoulders before bellying down and following the shaman.

'Wait here, Oshi,' said Chien-tsu. 'And if I do not return, take note of the man Chareos. Serve him as you would me. You understand?'

'Yes, lord,' answered the servant miserably.

Tanaki and Kiall were the last to begin the dark climb. The hand- and foot-holds were good, and the descent less perilous than first appeared. Asta Khan reached the lowest level, raised his arms, and a soft yellow light glowed on the walls of the cavern.

'A heavily pregnant woman will not be able to make that climb,' said Chareos.

'Nor will she need to,' Asta told him. 'I have made preparations.' Moving to the wall, he reached down behind a jutting rock and lifted a coil of hemp rope. 'When we have her, we will climb back to the surface and then haul her up.'

Draping the rope over the rock, he set off across the dimly glowing cavern. The others followed him through a honeycomb of tunnels until, after about half an hour, they reached a point where the glowing light did not penetrate.

Asta pointed to the forbidding wall of darkness. 'You all know what is beyond this point: it is the Void. I shall pass through, with the woman Tanaki and the warrior Chien-tsu. You, Chareos, and your friend, will remain here.'

'What purpose will that serve?' asked Chareos.

'If we are pursued, you will cover our retreat. Many of them will be killed in the Void, but others might get through. Also, much could go wrong for us beyond this barrier. You will be able to hear us — and give us aid if necessary.'

'You said there was no Silver Pathway,' said Kiall. 'How then will you cross safely?'

'I am not without power, child,' snapped Asta. 'But all life is perilously fragile. A man cannot live without danger, no matter how much he may desire it.' He turned to Chien and Tanaki. 'Draw your swords and be ready to use them.'

Kiall touched Tanaki's arm. 'Be careful,' he said, knowing the words were ludicrous but unable to find others. She smiled, leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

'Now stand close to me,' ordered Asta, 'placing your hands on my shoulders.' Chien stood on the shaman's left, Tanaki on his right. Slowly they moved into the darkness.

Once inside, a circle of fire leapt around them like a wall. The heat was incredible and the light burned at their eyes.

'I can hold this for moments only,' said Asta. 'Be ready!' He began to run, the others loping alongside him. The circle of fire remained constantly with them, no matter their speed.

From beyond the silent flames came the sounds of padding feet, talons on stone and the chilling cries of hunting beasts. Still Asta ran on, seemingly tireless.

The flames grew thinner and Tanaki began to see shapeless forms beyond the fire, keeping pace with them. When she glanced at Chien his dark eyes met her gaze and he gave a tight smile.

A scaled arm lashed at the flames. The skin shrivelled and a ghastly scream sounded.

'Almost there!' called Asta.

Suddenly the fire flared — and died.

Asta screamed. A huge creature swooped down from above them, its leather wings knocking him from his feet. Tanaki plunged a sword into the beast's belly and pulled Asta to his feet; he tore clear of her grasp and sprinted away.

A scaled monster leapt from the darkness. Chien's sword flashed out and down and the beast fell writhing to the ground.

'As you value your lives, RUN!' came the voice of Asta. Risking a glance back, Chien saw giant white wolves bearing down on them. The small warrior took to his heels. He saw Asta vanish ahead of him, followed by Tanaki. For a moment Chien experienced panic, feeling the hot breath of a beast upon his neck.

A great weight landed on his back and he fell and rolled. As the wolf beast scrambled up, twisting to attack, Chien's sword slashed through its throat. The pack howled and charged. Chien spun on his heel and flung himself forward through the opening — falling to his knees before Tanaki and the shaman.

Tanaki offered a hand and Chien accepted it, pulling himself to his feet. He glanced back. 'How is it the creatures do not follow us?' he asked.

'They cannot pass through. Think of it as a lake,' said Asta. 'We can dive through the surface, but the fish cannot leave; that is their world. It is possible to make a Gateway for them, but the power needed is great and would require many hundreds of souls.'

T would not wish to sound defeatist, shaman,' said Chien, 'but upon our return I cannot see the woman Ravenna sprinting away from those wolves. It would be a great pity to rescue her, only to see her die in the Void.'

'She will not die there,' said Asta. 'But my power is finite and I gave you all I could spare. With her I will hold the circle. Now let us move on.'

The tunnel widened, and for the first time it was possible to see the works of men here — the walls smoothed, reinforced with timbers. There was a stairway carved into the rock and Asta mounted it, moving up to squat beneath a low ceiling. He signalled for silence and called Chien and Tanaki to him.

'Above us,' he whispered, 'is the throne room. It is now almost midnight. There should be no one there. Are you ready, Princess?'

'Yes.'

'If the throne room is not empty — we are doomed,' said Asta, for once seeming nervous and unsure.

Chien chuckled softly. 'No life is without peril, shaman,' he reminded him. Asta muttered an obscene curse and lifted the flagstone above his head. It creaked and juddered. Chien helped him with the weight and they twisted the stone to lay it alongside the opening. Tanaki levered herself up into the darkness of the throne room and Chien followed her.

'I will wait here,' said Asta.

Tanaki ran to the main doors, pressing her ear to the crack. Chien moved alongside.

'There should be no guards in the corridor,' Tanaki said. The Khan's sleeping quarters are on the other side of the palace. But the women's quarters will have sentries on the outside and eunuch swordsmen within.'

Chien nodded. 'I will come with you — and wait.'

She eased open the door and stepped into the torch-lit corridor. All was silent. Keeping to the shadows they moved on, cutting left through a narrow doorway and out into a side street. Tanaki led the warrior through the deserted streets until at last they came to a broad square beyond which was a high wall; three sentries patrolled the outside of the wall.

'How will you get in?' whispered Chien.

Tanaki smiled. 'Distract the guards,' she said. Removing her sword-belt but keeping a curved dagger, she waited until the sentries had passed and then ran to the wall, crouching in the shadows.

Digging into the pocket of his breeches, Chien came up with four golden coins. Tucking them into his belt he waited for the sentries, took a deep breath and then began to sing. He staggered out into the open, belched, half fell and then ambled on towards the men.

'Good evening, my brothers,' he said.

'What are you doing here, fool?' asked one of the sentries, moving forward and touching the point of his spear to Chien's chest.

'Fool?' repeated Chien, giggling and swaying sideways. 'You think I am a fool? Not me, brothers. I. .' he looked left and right, as if fearing to be overheard. 'I have discovered the Great Secret. I learned it from a shaman. And never will I be poor again. Fool? No brothers, I am celebrating riches beyond your dreams.'

'Riches?' said another. 'What nonsense is this? Be off with you!'

Chien glanced over the man's shoulders. Tanaki had begun to climb the wall behind them.

'Nonsense? You don't believe me.' He waved his hand. 'Give me a copper coin and I will prove it to you. I will turn it into gold before your eyes. Then we'll see. Oh, yes. We'll see.'

The men chuckled. One of them laid his spear on the ground and fished into the pocket of his jerkin. He handed Chien a rough stamped copper coin bearing the head of Tenaka Khan.

Chien rolled the coin in his fingers and flicked it into the air. He caught it deftly and held up his fist, then he began to chant. The words were in an obscure Kiatze dialect.

'Get on with it,' said one of the sentries, losing patience.

'It is done,' said Chien. 'Here is your coin.' He opened his hand, and the gleam of gold was caught by the moonlight. The man took it, his mouth dropping open.

'Do one for me,' said the second sentry.

Tanaki was almost at the top of the wall.

'Why is it always you first?' retorted the third. 'Do mine!'

'I will do them both together,' Chien told them. He accepted their coins, and repeated his chant.

Tanaki clambered over the wall. 'There!' said Chien, handing them the gold coins.

'More! Do us more,' urged the first.

'Tomorrow, when I have rested,' promised Chien. 'Where shall we meet?'

'You know the Clay Pony, behind the Wolves' barracks?'

'Of course,' said Chien. 'But it must be only you. I could not do this for everyone; it would exhaust me. Just you three.'

'Yes, yes, just us. Be there at noon, yes?'

'Oh yes,' agreed Chien. 'I will be there. And now I am for bed. And you should be at your duties.'

He walked away, back into the shadows.

The Princess was inside, and that was a victory.

But getting out would not be so simple, he knew.