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Baby stills for a moment. Up on the viewing platform the Solwen go quiet. Behind Baby, Tobi can see Harok lying on the ground, his body bloody.

It has worked, but Tobi knows this sound will likely only hold Baby for a moment of curiosity while she is in this state.

He makes the most of his moment, soothing Baby once more with his hands, before turning, lifting the sword again and hacking at the gate. Tobi may have no skills with a blade, but this does not require skill. Behind him he feels the air move as Baby rises up on her back legs behind him. She growls. Fire ignites across his bare back as her claws slash him, but another bar on the gate breaks beneath Demonica’s blade. The hole is big enough now.

Tobi races through and Baby follows him.

He looks back and calls, “Irgorye,” over his shoulder. But he doesn’t have time to see if Harok takes his chance to escape too.

Tobi runs through a short tunnel to a second gate. He hacks through it using the sword, more confident with Demonica than ever, holding it in a steady two-handed grip. It splinters and he races through the hole. Jagged wood tears him and Baby is at his heels, roaring for blood.

He emerges into the courtyard. All around him Solwen scatter and scream at the sight of Baby at his back. He dives aside and lets her hurtle into the crowds. She rips and snarls her way through them, but Tobi feels sure she will not kill if she is not trapped. She is heading for the forest and freedom.

She will be safe if she can get away. He knows escape will not be so easy for him and Harok.

Tobi doubles back into the tunnel and meets Harok stumbling after him. Tobi grabs him by the hand. His left arm is torn and bloody. But he grabs hold of Tobi’s hand with the other, slumping. Tobi takes Harok’s weight with a gasp.

They emerge from the pit into the dark courtyard. There is no sign of Baby, which Tobi thinks can only be a good thing. She is gone into the night. He prays she is in the forest, satisfying her hunger on rabbits and birds. He staggers forward. They need to run too. They need to try. But Harok can barely stand. His left arm is ruined. His chest is torn by massive claw marks. The blood on his body glitters in the moonlight.

“Come on, come on,” Tobi says, urgently. He looks towards the stables. If he can just get Harok to his horse. “We need to go. Let’s get Embox and go.”

But the stables seem so far away. And Harok is a dead weight. How can Tobi possibly get him onto a horse in this state?

Harok falls. Landing heavily on the ground. “Do it now, Suskara,” he says, words slurred. “You have the blade. Do it now.”

But Tobi can’t. If he couldn’t do it in Harok’s bedchamber he is sure he cannot plunge a sword into Harok’s chest while he lies in the dirt.

Guards are rushing in from the dark, all around them.

“Then go,” Harok snarls. “Run, Suskara. If you cannot do it, you need to run. Now. Leave me.”

And he could. If he was lucky now he could make it. He could speed across the courtyard and into the zhilvar. The watchtower is unmanned. The gates to the forest are still open. Urynwud no longer needs to defend itself from the Exceli. Tobi could run. He might make it.

But he does not run. He shakes his head. “I will not kill you and I will not leave you, Irgorye,” he says. “We will find another way. I saved Baby and I will save you.”

“You will run,” Harok growls. His voice deep, issuing an order.

But it’s too late. The guards are on them. Hands are on Tobi, pulling him away from Harok. Demonica is snatched from his hands. It feels strange to have it taken from him. But he cannot fight. There are too many. He is wrenched up, held by three guards. They leave Harok where he is, lying bloody on the stones of the courtyard.

Tobi is dragged over to Lymok, swaggering forward, looking smugly pleased with himself, “Nice try,” he drawls. A guard hands Demonica back to him, He puts it awkwardly into the scabbard on his belt.

Tobi looks around. The Solwen are in a thick crowd, surrounding them. Tobi squirms in the grip of the guards who hold him, but it makes little difference.

Harok is marched over, slumping in the arms of his own guards like he’s drunk.

But Harok is still alive, Tobi tells himself. Harok lives and Baby has escaped. But they are still in the hands of Lymok. And Harok’s demon must be closer than ever.

33

TOBI

Lymok steps close to Tobi and puts a hand on his waist. “It seems you are a rebellious kushir. I did not know you had this in you. You were always so sweetly submissive to your old Irgorye.” He smiles. “But I know exactly what you need.” He turns to Harok, who is panting from pain, “You know what comes next, foul cousin. The Trial of the Trees. And I am not a cruel man. You will not suffer it alone. To reward him for giving us such entertainment, your kushir will be with you at the sacrifice stone.”

“No!” The guards holding Harok have to fight to restrain him as he struggles. “No, Lymok, you dog. Give him abieum, you die screaming.”

“I doubt that, Harok,” Lymok says smoothly, “Let us go.”

They are marched by torchlight into the dark zhilvar. To where the sacrifice stone stands. Harok is barely on his feet, being dragged most of the way. He is positioned with his back to the stone and the chains around his wrists are dragged up and attached to the ring at the stone’s top. Harok screams as his weakened shoulder is pulled up into position, but Tobi notices he already seems to be healing from the wounds Baby gave him. Harok's ability to recover from injury seems stronger than ever.