Nibbler’s concern. As promised, she had explained the deal she’d struck with Darkmount as they’d approached the courtyard. The Winged One had not been pleased with the arrangement, and after witnessing the bishop’s display of stonesinging power Charlie wasn’t too sure how she felt about the matter herself.
After a moment’s consideration Charlie had to admit that Nibbler was right; Edge Darkmount was brutally powerful, stronger than anyone she’d encountered since arriving in Bellania. As Charlie continued to weigh up her options, she reached for the pendant hidden round her neck. All she knew was that her parents had been kidnapped by Bane for the secrets it held and now they were trapped in his macabre Tapestry, which kept them in a terrible state of suspended animation. The Tapestry itself was beyond reach, heavily guarded by Shades and Stomen deep within the darkness of Bane’s Throne Room. Life had played a cruel trick in leaving Charlie’s parents’ fate in her hands. Surely parents were supposed to rescue their children, not the other way round? Charlie’s knuckles whitened as she tightened her grip on the pendant.
‘I don’t think we’ve got a choice,’ she said with resolve. ‘We need to know what the pendant does – without it we can’t move forward. As for trusting him, I don’t.’ Charlie could still remember the beating that Lady Narcissa and her twisted sons, the Delightful Brothers, had given her in pursuit of the bounty Bane had placed on her head. It would be a long, long time before she was stupid enough to trust a stranger again.
‘And what if he turns on us?’ insisted Nibbler.
‘I don’t think he will.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because he needs me to get his “god” for him. If he turns on us before then he’ll lose out. Until I actually hand this vessel thingy over to him we should be safe.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘No!’ chuckled Charlie with a wry laugh. ‘I’m not. Nothing ever seems to go the way I hope, at least not in Bellania. But it makes sense. Edge Darkmount knows he’s on to a good thing with me; it’d be crazy for him to do anything stupid before he gets his half of the deal. Besides, I think we’re stressing too much. As soon as Sic Boy, Kelko and Jensen are back, he’ll be outnumbered and outmatched. Right?’
‘Right … I guess, but don’t let your guard down. I don’t like the feel of him. He’s hard and he’s cold, and even I know that’s a bad combination.’
‘Yeah, tell me about it. But you watch my back and I’ll watch yours.’
‘Always.’
Nibbler raised his paw, Charlie raised her hand and the two of them exchanged a high five. Sharing a grin they turned to watch their formidable, but uncertain, ally in action.
Darkmount had nearly reached the pair patrolling the courtyard. Slinking head first down the wall he paused just within arm’s reach and waited.
Silent. Still.
Then he blurred into action. Grabbing one guard by the head, he slammed his unsuspecting victim against the wall. Snapping his hand back, he gripped the second guard before he had a chance to react and knocked him unconscious in a similar manner. Checking to see that the soldiers guarding the gate hadn’t noticed his ambush, he stuffed his catch beneath an arm, retreated back up the wall, on to the roof and out of sight.
Charlie’s mouth dropped open. She shut it, then opened it again. First the fight in the dungeon and now this.
‘Have you ever …’ she began, blinked, then shook her head in disbelief. ‘Wow. That was amazing. Just amazing.’
‘That’s one bad man,’ agreed Nibbler.
‘No kidding, it’s like he’s part ninja or something.’
‘What’s a ninja?’
‘You know those guys that dress in black, do Hong Kong Phooey and get all sneaky at night?’
‘Huh?’
‘Ninja!’ Charlie slipped into a bad impression of a martial artist, ‘You know, kung fu! Hi-yaaa!’
‘What are you going on about?’
‘Aw, I don’t know why I bother,’ grumped Charlie. ‘Ninjas, they’re deadly assassins that creep around, a bit like Darkmount was doing just now, they –’
The unconscious body of one of the soldiers slammed down between them, making them both jump in shock.
‘What is it with you two?’ hissed Darkmount as he crept down the wall with the other guard still firmly in his grip. He glared ruthlessly at them. ‘Every time something needs to be done you two brats open your squabbling, petty mouths.’
‘Squabble? We weren’t squabbling we were talking about –’
‘Enough! I am not interested. Now be quiet while I interrogate this faithless