Page 134 of The Bone Season

‘Yes.’

‘Fortunate that he is here, else I would be forced to punish your insolence.’

A Reph with enormous muscles to spare had come to see what the fuss was about. He had the features of a Sargas, with golden hair down to his waist. Kath looked as if she might faint; I couldn’t blame her.

Kraz Sargas had seen us, too. He approached at a slow pace, adjusting his long gloves. The performers made way for him, giving him a wide berth.

‘Arcturus,’ he said in a rumbling voice. ‘What seems to be the problem?’

‘Our tenants have come to blows,’ Warden said. ‘We should resolve the matter in private, Kraz.’

‘Here is as good a place as any.’ Kraz cocked his head. ‘What have you done, 62?’

‘She set fire to the Rookery,’ one of the performers shouted. ‘She’s burned us out of house and home, like they don’t take enough from us!’

‘It wasn’t just her,’ Julian said. ‘There were two others. They attacked 1 and 40.’

‘The famous 40.’ Kraz looked at me. ‘Since this disagreement is between our tenants, perhaps we should have them fight it out, Arcturus. I believe their kind used to force animals to do battle for their amusement. We could make a new sport out of it – human baiting.’

Warden moved in front of me. I had never seen more fear in the performers’ eyes.

‘I beg you, blood-heir. It wasn’t my idea.’ Kath turned to him, desperate. ‘It was 16 and 17. They told me the Warden hadn’t punished 40.’

‘Allow me to be sure I understand,’ Kraz said, his tone almost polite. ‘You questioned the blood-consort’s decision – his authority, by extension?’

‘She attacked Suhail,’ she said weakly. ‘Why should she have a red tunic?’

‘It is not your place to have thoughts, 62.’ His eyes were a pale yellow, making him look wolfish. ‘I gave you a second chance, but a third would be indulgence. Stand up.’

Shaking, Kath did as she was told.

Kraz gave her a soulless look. A moment later, he raised a massive hand and struck her, hard enough that she was dead before she hit the ground.

Gasps and cries went up at once. Some perverse instinct made me step closer to Warden. His gaze snapped to me. I wanted to kick myself.

‘There. The matter is resolved.’ Kraz clasped his gloved hands in front of him. ‘I trust you are satisfied with this outcome, Arcturus.’

‘Nashira may not be,’ Warden said. ‘A decade of training has just gone to waste.’

‘A disobedient human is a purposeless one. Surely you would agree.’

Warden replied with a small nod, but I saw the tightening in his jaw.

Kath lay still on the cobblestones. Ten years of toil and suffering in this hell, and her keeper had cracked her skull without a second thought.

‘Slovens and cravens,’ Suhail roared at us. ‘Come and extinguish this fire!’ The shaken performers hastened to obey, leaving their possessions by the steps. ‘If I find out this was your doing, you will pay for it, 40!’

‘Come,’ Warden said, softly enough that only I could hear. ‘Let us not tempt his ire.’

‘Wait.’ I went to Julian, breathing in his ear: ‘I broke the lock on the Old Library. Hide Liss in there until the dust settles. Keep her alive, Jules.’

‘I will.’ Julian grasped my elbow. ‘Go on, before Suhail makes a scene.’

Liss made a faint sound. Her aura was already starting to flicker. I pressed her cold hand one more time before I followed Warden.

TOURIST TRAP

26 August 2057

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