'Xervish Flydd,' said Ghorr in a treacly voice. 'Irisis Stirm. I'm so pleased to see you both again.'

Irisis shifted her weight, holding the sword two-handed, but Flydd drew her back. 'There's no point, Irisis. Put it down.'

After a long hesitation, she let the sword fall. The soldiers took hold of the pair and swiftly bound their hands.

'These are the last,' said Fusshte. 'Let's get the trials underway, Chief Scrutator. The executioners grow impatient.'

'The executioners wait upon my pleasure,' Ghorr said icily. 'Take the prisoners out to the yard, Captain.'

Ullii pressed back into a niche in the wall, hiding from herself. Flydd had let her down, certainly, but he'd been kind to her too, and always looked after her. And she'd betrayed him to a monster.

Taking off the mask, she rubbed her eyes, trying to work out where it had all gone wrong. As Flydd was dragged past, his eyes met hers for a second. He knew Ullii had betrayed them; he was looking right into her heart and, worst of all, he understood.

The guard jerked on the rope; Flydd stumbled away. Ullii crouched down in her niche, shivering violently. Cold rarely bothered her but now she felt like a statue carved of ice. She was just as bad as Ghorr.

Irisis was dragged past. Hastily pulling down the mask, Ullii turned her face to the wall until the crafter had gone by. Irisis would neither understand nor forgive.

The troops led their prisoners upstairs, gloating and calculating their shares of the reward, and getting in vicious blows when Ghorr wasn't looking. Ullii remained where she was. Ghorr took little notice of her at the best of times and, now that he had his enemies at his mercy, would not give her a moment's thought. It was easy to conceal herself in the darkness, for no one was more skilled at hiding than she.