‘Kill her now,’ snarled Burntskull. ‘She is the cause of Frostback’s estrangement. Your former daughter was correct about this insect being a witch; and now you have heard it from her own mouth.’
‘Or, I could help you,’ said Sable. ‘My powers are extensive. I can see anything that moves in Khatanax; I can tell you if danger approaches.’
Deathfang laughed. ‘I do not require your help, insect. Now that Sanguino can fly, you are able to leave. This shall be my final act of generosity towards you, and I shall do it out of respect for Blackrose. If you leave peacefully within the next few days, you will be unharmed.’
‘Why don’t we come to a deal?’
‘I have told you, you have nothing to offer me.’
‘What if we kill Grimsleep for you? I know that he is the main cause of your worries. He is strong, and his presence on the other side of the valley is the gravest threat to your authority in the Catacombs. If we destroy him, then will you allow us to stay?’
‘Now you are being ridiculous,’ said Deathfang. ‘For one thing, I could kill Grimsleep any time I choose, and secondly, Sanguino would be no match for him, even with you on his shoulders.’
‘You are wrong,’ said the dark red dragon. ‘I can, and shall, slay Grimsleep.’
‘You would kill your own father?’ said Ashfall, her eyes wide.
‘He is not my father,’ growled Sanguino. ‘He has cursed me, and I him. I long to meet him in combat.’
‘This is a nonsense,’ said Burntskull. ‘We have been more than fair with you.’
‘One moment,’ said Deathfang. ‘This amuses me. They clearly have no chance against Grimsleep, but I would enjoy watching them try.’ He turned to Sanguino and Sable. ‘Very well. You have a month. If you have slain Grimsleep within that time, I will allow you to stay. If you haven’t, then we will descend upon your tomb with a dozen dragons and tear you all limb from limb.’
‘We accept,’ said Sable. ‘Then, following Grimsleep’s death, we shall rescue Blackrose and depart this world forever. Anyone here who wishes to accompany us to Dragon Eyre to liberate your home world will be welcome to join us. We shall slay gods by the dozen, and lay the bodies of their soldiers in heaps. It will be a noble pursuit, filled with blood and ash, and when it is concluded, the gods will fear dragons as they did in the past.’
The chamber fell silent. Sable bowed her head to Deathfang, then Sanguino turned his heavy bulk, and they made their way to the tomb entrance. The dark red dragon said nothing as he launched himself into the air, but Sable knew he was troubled.
‘I’m sorry about that,’ she said, as they rose into the sky.
‘You should have told me what you were going to say, my rider. How am I to kill Grimsleep? He is greater in size than Blackrose. Not even Deathfang could defeat him on his own.’
‘I was thinking on my feet and I couldn’t figure out any other way to make them let us stay. Listen, you don’t have to fight him. We have another month. We can train hard, and then leave one night, quietly.’
‘I cannot. My honour is now bound to the words I spoke in there. I was telling the truth about my desire to kill Grimsleep; I loathe him, and now I have promised to face him. I cannot back down.’
Sable nodded. ‘Then we’re going to have to work out how to kill him.’
Chapter 5
Exhibition
A lea Tanton, Tordue, Western Khatanax – 21st Tuminch 5252
Belinda heard the roar of the crowd as soon as the air cleared. Arete slipped the Quadrant into her robes, as the four gods took in the cheers and applause of those sitting in the vast arena. Felice raised her hand and waved to the massed Blue Thumbs supporters who, in their home arena, were outnumbering the Deadskins supporters three to one. The blue-sashed crowd chanted Felice’s name and she gave a broad, but fake, smile. To her right was Arete, and then Belinda, and finally Latude, who had recently been appointed patron of the Deadskins despite still being a prisoner. His ankles were fastened with thick chains, and he looked miserable as he squinted in the bright sunshine. He would be going back to his prison cell under the Governor’s residence as soon as the games were finished, and part of Belinda’s role that day was to prevent him from escaping.
Arete gave a brief nod, and the four gods sat, the two Ascendants in the prime seats.
‘It’s nice to get out of Old Alea,’ said Arete, ‘and I’m looking forward to watching mortals hack each other to pieces.’ She glanced at Felice. ‘How long have you been the patron of the Blue Thumbs?’
‘About eighty years, your Grace.’
‘Ha! You must have seen a lot of blood spilled in that time.’
‘I have, your Grace, though the novelty has worn a little thin over the decades.’
‘We should have games like this on Implacatus. It would be something to watch, and it would keep the population under control.’
Latude snorted.
Arete gave him a withering glance. ‘Behave yourself, or I will flay the skin from your face.’
Belinda watched as a gate in the circular wall of the arena opened, and a troop of armed men ran out, all wearing differing types of armour. Each one of them had a blue sash tied over a shoulder, and the Blue Thumbs supporters erupted at the sight of them. At the opposite end of the arena, another gate was opened, and a stream of green-skinned men and women in rags were pushed out by guards with spears.
‘They’ve spiced up the executions, I see,’ said
