Death and the others travelled on foot to the edge of the woods. They could see glow of the Sentinels over the wall, most were blue.

  A large field of mud separated the trees from the Northern wall. Horse tracks trailed close to stone in a pair.

  “Bianca and Billid came this way,” Death guessed. “With the horse and wagon in Hell, we can climb this wall without worry. The merlons of the battlement are higher than I, they will be useful in hiding from the view of the Sentinels.”

  “We won’t need to hide,” Beion said. “None of them are close enough to see us. We’d be ants, our features unobservable.”

  “I’ve got white hair,” Snow sighed. “That’ll stick out.”

  “And I’m a demon with pink skin. Those pesky towers won’t be able to notice us. That’s what the cambion who once served Stroke wrote on the map of Keep Blacksteel.”

  “Was this cambion intending to betray Stroke?” Death asked. “I find it odd that they’d map it and give tips.”

  “It was for if they took them prisoner. They were loyal, but not stupid. When I knew which part of the dungeon you were in, I found it easy to come to your aid when I heard your call.”

  “Are you certain it won’t recognise us,” Vera squeaked. “I have a bounty on me in this city. I don’t want those flames to recognise me and light my ass on fire.”

  “I’m more worried about how we plan to climb this wall,” said Beion. “There’s not much to climb on.”

  Death summoned his chain and threw it towards the top. The links wrapped around a merlon. He gave it a tug to test its sturdiness then leaned back, straightening the chain. “Climb it,” he demanded. “Be fast. We need to assassinate Godwin fast.”

  “Don’t you think Bianca will be annoyed if we kill the king?” Snow asked. “Her and Billid seemed nice.”

  “I need a weapon worthy of conquering nations. I want one of the God Arms. Climb.”

  Vera was frightened by heights and desperately tried to converse with Death rather than climb. He growled at her, making her go first. She travelled slow like a sloth, moving inches at a time; Snow was second, climbing up with ease; Beion decided to boast his balance, walking up the slope as if it were a tightrope, but quickly climbed it normally after the rain made the metal too slippery.

  “How are you gonna get up, idiot!” Vera yelled. “You’re not expecting us to go alone, are you?”

  Death grabbed the chain and wrapped it around his arm, pressing his feet vertically against the wall like a floor. He pulled himself up the whole length.

  “Word of advice, don’t use any kind of magic or gifts near the Sentinels,” Beion advised. “They can sense it. Once they find you, they can restrict your usage of it.”

  “Any magic?” Death asked.

  “Likely.”

  They got a few stares from hooded walkers as they climbed down Death’s chain to get into the streets.

  “What the fuck are you lookin’ at?” Vera shouted at them. “I’ll knock your teeth out!”

  Her shouting earned the group privacy.

  This part of the city seems barren compared to the rest. The lack of a Sentinel must’ve made the civilians flock to one like a moth would a flame. The Sentinels are their safety.

  As usual, Death was correct. The houses had smashed windows and broken doors. The houses offered protection to the storm, and they housed many.

  “These people are part of the routine,” Beion said. “These folk aren’t homeless. They’re likely sewer cleaners, ratcatchers, any that do the dirtier jobs that leaves them smelling of death and pushed away by their wives and children until they get their time off.”

  “You know this how?” Vera asked.

  “Take a guess, darling. Stroke’s cambion told us many of this city’s inner workings.”

  Death found a home that wasn’t lit by candles on the inside. He explored it with Snow on his arm, who wiped the dust off every painting they came across.

  “The person who lived here had a family,” Snow said. “Wonder what happened to this place.”

  “Ew, that kid is ugly,” Vera hissed. “And that mother. What are they wearing? Looks old.”

  “Do you ever miss your house?” Snow asked her.

  “The shack by the lake? That weren’t fuckin’ mine. I just moved in because no one was there. I think that dead guy is still on the bed. I bet someone else lives there now.”

  Death grabbed their heads and turned it to the window. A lone tower stood destroyed, reduced to rubble, a destroyed Sentinel.

  “Woah,” Vera said. “I didn’t know Vatanil had a dead Sentinel.”

  “How would it get like that if they’re as powerful as you claim they are?” Death scoffed. “A deterrent. It must be.”

  “Or someone powerful,” Beion added. “The darling fox told me that you recognised Scarce Vallane. He was around during the time of the Sentinels. Maybe it was you who did it, mighty conqueror.”

  “I’d remember something like that.”

  “People who forget their memories typically don’t remember, my darling Death. One can ponder and wonder, but there’s no note in history as to why it’s destroyed. I’m shocked Vera didn’t know.”

  “I didn’t live this far north,” she said. “I thought the Sentinels were invincible.”

  “Clearly not,” said Snow. “Is this the thing we’re looking for? Found a rusted hatch… feels stiff.”

  Death failed to open it even with his strength. He grabbed Vera by her arm and used her as a hammer, smashing her into it and breaking the wood. She fell to the bottom, coughing up blood, which Death quickly healed by giving her some drained power.

  “Fuck you,” she wheezed. “Why’d you pick me for that?”

  “Be proud, fox,” he said. “I judged that out of the three, you had the strongest body and bones.”

  Her expression changed to a confused happiness, and she forgot she was used as a weapon immediately after being helped up.

  “You’re getting used to us,” Snow whispered. “Healing our wounds without us asking. You like us.”

  Death ignored her. Many others travelled through the tunnels to avoid the storm above, which made Beion covered his horns and face with a black cloth.

  “Keep Blacksteel should be around the next turn if I’ve mapped the city correctly,” Beion said. “Oh—”

  The passage was blocked by a gate made from black steel. Snow went to summon Firedick. “I’ll break through! Stand back!”

  “Don’t!” Beion yelled. He pointed to the ceiling. “The Sentinels will sense the magic. They’ll feel how foreign it is, and they’ll send people down here.”

  “They can sense it underground? It’s only my sword.”

  “Don’t underestimate the Sentinels.”

  Death rolled his eyes and smashed the lock with his godsteel dagger. “Perhaps I should’ve done this alone,” he said. “If I didn’t need the demon to portal us out, I would’ve.”

  “Be nice to Bei-bei,” Vera snickered. “He’s the cutest demon in Hell. We’re lucky to have him on our side.”

  They walked some more and climbed the first ladder they found. Snow climbed first, struggling to push open the hatch. It had been closed for so many decades that grass had grown over it in a thick layer. She broke through eventually, finding an empty courtyard and even more locked gates.

  “This is so cool!” she yelled. “We can shout as loud as we want! People can’t hear us over the storm. WOOO!”

  “Quiet!” Beion said. “The Sentinels can hear some parts of the castle. I know this. Look, you can see the flames of one over there.” It turned from blue to red. “It heard you. Speak in whispers and it will assume you were a cocky servant. Don’t give it reason to alert the Valans… pray even harder that it wasn’t a Valan listening to begin with.”

  Vera explored too. She found many curiosities—a tiny stone with a dove carved on was what she found first; then she found a deep line in one of the stone slabs, surrounded by a dark stain that the rain never washed away; the third thing she found made her giggle as she picked it up.

  “Look what I found!” Vera whispered in excitement. She tapped Snow on the shoulder. “C’mon, look!”

  Snow contained her own scream as the demon held his laughter. Vera shoved the arm of a skeleton into her face.

  “Who just loses an arm in a courtyard and leaves it?” Vera asked. “This place feels weird. Bei-bei, where are we?”

  “I don’t know. Every hallway is gated; there were many gated places on the layout I saw.”

  “Can’t you tell by the position of the towers above us?” Death asked. “I need a direction, demon. Don’t be useless.”

  “I have an idea!” Snow said. “We could fuck in the courtyard! Think about it, there’s no sentinels, no one will come in. How many people can say they’ve fucked in a king’s castle without them having any idea of it?”

  “No,” Death grunted. Beion didn’t seem opposed to the idea. “I want to kill Godwin. We are here to kill Godwin, not for you to pester me with your lust like always. Demon. Direction. Now. Or must I use the fox to break through all these gates until I find his personal chambers?”

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  “Give him a direction,” Vera said desperately. “I don’t care if he heals me after, it fuckin’ hurts. Quick, Bei-bei, where would the king’s chambers be?”

  Beion pointed quickly at one of the gates.

  “You are sure it’s that one?” Death said. “If you’ve guessed at random then you’ll regret it.”

  “I’m certain it’s that way,” he said. “Break the lock. Follow me. It’s not far. The servants should be indoors with the storm; the Valan guards patrol the outer hallways. There may be a guard on the inside if the king has company.”

  “I’ll pray he’s asleep so I can cut his throat.”

  Death followed Beion through the halls and up several stairways. It was like he said—no guards, no servants. He found Godwin’s chambers, and the door was surprisingly unlocked.

  Death held his godsteel dagger, pushing it open without any squeak or sound. The bed was empty, as was the room. Death ordered all inside and shut the door, locking it.

  “Damnit,” he said. “He’ll be somewhere else in the castle.”

  Snow threw herself on the bed. “Now this is somewhere we have to fuck,” she said. “A king’s bed? Come on, that’s a conqueror’s achievement.”

  “Gods, Snow, will you stop?” Death screamed. “I’ve accepted that your lustfulness can get the best of you, but you know this is not the time for that. You’re making me wish I never brought you.”

  “I’m sorry,” she squeaked. “I thought you’d laugh—”

  “I’m not laughing,” he snarled. “Your weakness has brought me nothing but torment. Starting at Caron. If I didn’t have you in the room with that girl from the ritual, I would’ve killed Killian before he understood I was a threat. I would’ve used his strength to destroy Cum Master. I would’ve used their deaths to create chaos, killing every single soul that came to search for them and I would’ve been unstoppable. Instead, I have to—”

  Death ceased his speech. A single tear on Snow’s cheek brought the conqueror to heel. He calmed himself, ordering the others not to speak a word, then wiped the tear from her cheek.

  “I didn’t mean that,” he assured.

  “Then why’d you say it to me?”

  “I’m frustrated. I took my anger out on you. If you forgive me, I’ll give you one opportunity for us to go on an adventure of your choosing.”

  “Like, a date?”

  “Call it what you like. I need no tears. We need to find and kill Godwin. That is our goal. Can you do that for me?”

  “I can,” she boasted. “I can do it for you.”

  “Who knew my dearest friend could be so nice,” Beion joked. “I thought for a second you were going to say sorry.”

  Vera dug through one of Godwin’s draws and rolled an old painting onto his desk. It was of Godwin and Stroke alone, both with God Arms.

  “Weird,” she said. “Never got the impression that he liked his brother this much.”

  Death noticed something out the window and got close to it. A Sentinel burned red in their view.

  “How long has that been red?” Death asked. “Was it blue when we got in here? Vera, summon your daggers.”

  She tried but couldn’t. “Huh?” she said. “The fuck? Where are my weapons? What’s going on.”

  Snow got out of the bed and pressed her ear to the door. Heavy footsteps boomed closer. Death heard them too and leapt over the desk, grabbing Snow and tossing her to Beion. The door came off the hinges from a kick and struck Death in the head, then he felt a tight squeeze around his throat and a sharp pain in his belly.

  Killian had Death against the wall, the tip of his sword tickling Death’s stomach. “Well, well,” he said, licking his lips after seeing Snow. “More meat to fuck. You two will be fun.”

  Beion tried to summon fire. He was unable. Before any of the three could charge to Death’s aid, Prince Harren sauntered in and placed his sickle against Snow’s chest.

  “One move I don’t like and that sword goes into the prisoner’s soft belly,” he threatened. “Feels good, doesn’t it, dog? Having someone against the wall like that.”

  “Yes, my prince,” he said. “Give the order and I’ll kill this one, rape the rest, even that demon.”

  Harren had the room frozen still. He sniffed Vera’s hair, then put his thumb into Snow’s mouth. “Bite my finger and he dies,” he said. “Good girl. Listen to the prince.” He collected her spit on his thumb and tasted her, kissing her cheek. “You’re a really good one, aren’t you? Why are you wasting yourself on a man like this?” He fondled one of her breasts. Snow stayed still through it, not wanting Killian to move his sword. “Very well behaved.”

  The command to protect Snow kicked into Death’s soul. He tried to battle Killian’s hold.

  “Stop squirming or you die,” Harren commanded. “I won’t say the order again, prisoner. Stop resisting.”

  Snow gave an order that released him from the protective command. She ordered him not to care about her, which made him go cold to her fate.

  “Kill her then,” Death said. “You seem the type to take the easy way out of things. Kill her, avoid battle. Or prove yourself, release me, and we’ll fight to the death.”

  Harren rubbed Snow’s lips, intrigued by how such a command made him listen. “Nah,” he said. “I think I’ll have this one get on her knees for me, right here. I’ll make her go nice and slow on my cock right in front of you, plenty of tongue and looking at only me.” He opened her mouth with his thumb. “What’ll it be, hm? How much do you really care about this prisoner?”

  Snow shyly asked Beion and Vera to turn away. “No,” Harren said. “They watch. No tears, or the prisoner dies. I want you looking pretty the whole time.”

  “You’re an evil piece of shit!” Vera yelled. “Be can’t just stand and watch this happen!”

  “One word or movement from either of you, and the prisoner dies,” Harren said. “Actually… if I need to speak up again to give any warnings, the prisoner will die.”

  Snow slowly got onto her knees. Harren put a hand on the back of her head, grabbing her hair, waiting for her to unbuckle his belt.

  “Good so far,” he said softly. “Remove my belt. Spit on your hands before you use your mouth. Keep your eyes on mine. I’ll take the prisoner when I’m done dog. I want to watch you split open the hybrid and watch you pound her deep and raw.”

  “Prince Harren,” Zishang shouted. “I’m under orders from King Godwin to bring these prisoners to the dungeons. What is the meaning of this?”

  “Ah, Zishang,” Harren scoffed. “You damned twat. Come back in twenty minutes, you can have seconds.”

  “I’m under order from King Godwin, my prince.” Zishang glared at Killian, raising his naginata. “He specifically told me he wants all of them unharmed.”

  “Shouldn’t hurt her throat if she does it well enough,” Harren joked. “An order from my brother, huh? Is he watching from that Sentinel over there? Run along and tell him to enjoy it.”

  Zishang pointed his weapon at the prince instead. He whistled, and a small group of Valan guards flooded the room, standing at his side. “The king says if you don’t listen, you’re to go into the cells too,” Zishang said. “He even gave an order to you, Killian. You’re never to take an order from Prince Harren again. You report to me.”

  “You got proof of this?” Killian grunted. “Sounds like shit.”

  Zishang reached into his breastplate and gave a sealed letter to one of the guards. They unrolled it, showing it to Killian.

  “Of course, Captain Zishang,” Killian said. “To the dungeons they shall go.” He dropped Death and butted heads with him. “But make no mistake, I’ll kill this one if he steps out of line.”

  “The fuck you think you’re doing?” Harren said. “Dog, I am a prince. Kill the prisoner!”

  Killan barked an order for the other three to stand with Death and to stay silent. Snow got off her knees and grabbed Death’s arm, but he pushed her away, snarling in disgust.

  “Oh,” she squeaked. “Death, I command—”

  “Gag her,” Zishang demanded. The guards seized Snow and gagged her with an iron ball and chain. “Prince Harren. Godwin has ordered you to wait in the kitchens. Mara is no longer your wife.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” he snarled.

  “Godwin has decreed you are no longer wed. She is to receive punishment from the king for the false rumours spread.”

  “False? Runaya was a whore.”

  “Mara is the whore,” Zishang declared. “Now go to the kitchens and wait with the servants. You shall be punished after Mara.”

  “If my brother wants to punish me, he can do so himself!”

  “He intends to,” Zishang assured. “Attempt the leave the castle and the Sentinels shall kill you. Those are Godwin’s words.”

  “This is ridiculous!” Harren yelled. “How dare you threaten me! How dare he threaten me! I’ll Godwin when I see him, tell him that! Tell him I’ll wait in the kitchens for him. I’ll rip his fucking head off if he thinks I’ll accept this!”

  “Let him go,” Zishang ordered. “This man is not a threat.”

  Harren pushed past their weapons and left.

  “I expect nothing less from Vatanil’s plague,” Zishang said. “I am done for the night. Take these to the dungeons. Put them in the godsteel cell. Leave them with their weapons, I care note. The cell can only be opened by a God Arm once closed.”

  “Where will you be, hm?” Killian grunted.

  “I will be at the Leaky Knight. Get the prisoners food when you put them in their cell, then watch them. Get the food from a kitchen outside the keep. Do not meet with Harren under any circumstance.”

  “Yes captain,” Killian said. “As you command.”

  They were dragged to the cells by only Killian and chained with godsteel links to the wall. Snow fought her restraints, trying to rescind the order to Death to make him not care for her.

  “Death, she’s trying to take back her command!” Vera noticed. “You’ve gotta listen to her.”

  “Silence, fox. I have a plan to get out of here.”

  “You will never get out of here.” Killian slammed the cell shut with a smirk. “Only Godwin or Harren can open this cell now. See the red on the walls? Stone mixed with godsteel. You’ve lost.”

  “Fuck off and go get us food like you captain told you to,” Vera snarled. “Be a good little dog and go do it. Arf, arf, woof! Fuck you, you fuckin’ asshole. Yeah, that’s right, walk away!”

  “What’s the plan?” Beion asked Death. “You said you have a plan, didn’t you?”

  “Why would I share it with any of you?” Death sighed. “My plan will get me out of here. The rest of you can rot.”

  “The fuck?” Vera yelled. “She ordered you not to care about her, not all of us.”

  “I don’t think that’s true,” Beion said. “How did she say it when she said it? I command you not to care about us. She said ‘us’ and not ‘me’, he’s going to leave us here unless we can get that gag off Snow.”

  “What will removing the gag do?” a gentle voice said. “Don’t lie to me. Enough lies have been said.” Fiasco emerged from behind a pillar with teary eyes. “I heard them shouting in the halls. I heard what Harren did to Runaya. I heard him threaten you. If I remove the gag from her mouth, what will happen.”

  “Ignore these fools,” Death said. “I need you to take a message for me.”

  “I’m not talking to you,” she hissed. “I’m asking the demon and the fox. What would happen if I removed the gag.”

  Vera explained Death’s link to Snow as well as she could.

  “Imbeciles,” Death snarled. “You’re giving information to our enemy! If I could reach my knife I would stab the both of you.”

  “I’m not your enemy,” Fiasco whispered. “I hope that all of you aren’t my enemy. It’s not right what they did to Runaya. I never once believed the rumours. If it wasn’t you who killed her… then I want to help you.” She reached her hand into the cell and stretched for Snow’s head. “I’ll ungag you, turn your head.”

  Fiasco undid the gag. Snow pushed out the iron ball with her tongue and cried out to Death, begging him to forget her most recent command. And of course, he did. He smirked at each one of them, laughing to himself.

  “Why is he laughing?” Vera asked. “Why the fuck is he laughing at us?”

  “You can’t control my emotions, my friends,” Death said. “Your command to make me not care only removed my care for the order to protect you.”

  “You were… joking?” Vera squealed. “That’s not funny! You can’t call us friends then do shit like that!”

  “I never believed it,” Beion lied. “I’m far too intelligent to fall for such a trick.”

  “Shut up, dickhead! You believed it like the rest of us!”

  Snow tried to kick Death from afar. “It’s cruel!” she yelled. “I thought you hated me! Why would you do that!?”

  “Twas not meant as a joke. I thought it would be useful to keep up the act. This lady wishes to help us. The removing of your gag is the proof of that. Never would’ve known we could trust her if the gag weren’t there.”

  “It’s still not funny,” Snow cried. “Don’t do that again!”

  I do not understand why they’re upset at me, Death thought. I was a few inches from my dagger. If they didn’t intrude, the brute would be dead from a knife in his neck.

  “How do I help?” Fiasco asked. “Killian won’t be gone long. I can’t get you out of this cell, but I can do other things. Who do you need me to bring a message to, is it Godwin?”

  “No,” Death said with a smirk. “Find Stroke Valan. Tell him I’m in the godsteel dungeon. I’ll leave the rest to fate.”