I shook my head in disbelief. ‘How long have I been asleep?’ I asked.
‘A few hours at the most. While you slept, I was given a hearing and subjected to a deep probing which was quite painful. However, it was worth it – they reached a decision quickly.’
I felt a surge of hope. ‘So we can leave this place now?’
‘I wish it were that simple, little Nessa. It was proven that I was telling the truth, and the Triumvirate were prepared to absolve me of all guilt in law, but the Shaiksa Brotherhood made a formal objection; they submitted false evidence that was impossible to refute. They communicated the dying thoughts of the assassin that I slew. He accused me of theft, saying that Nunc, the High Mage, had paid me well for ownership of you and your two plump sisters.
‘I do not accuse the dead assassin of having lied. It may well be that he only repeated information that had been given him by Nunc. However, he lives no more, so now it is his dead, deceitful word against my honest living one.’ Slither paused a moment and I held my breath in anticipation of what he would say next.
‘I must face trial by combat. There are many legal disputes each year – a counter claim over ownership of purrai is just one of the categories of civil conflict. The vast majority are resolved directly by the Triumvirate, but in difficult cases the accused must face such a trial. It is outrageous that I have been placed in such a position – I need to vent my anger. Now I have been given the opportunity to do so publicly.’
‘You have to fight? Against another of the mages?’ Fear clutched my heart again. If he lost, what would happen to us?
‘No, little Nessa. I only wish that were so. I must face the Haggenbrood.’
I didn’t even like the sound of the word. ‘What is that?’ I asked. ‘Some kind of creature like the ones who are building the walls of this city?’ They were indeed hideous things.
‘In a way, yes, but the Haggenbrood was created by the magic of the High Mages to fight in ritual combat; that is its sole purpose in life. It consists of three warrior entities bred from the flesh of a purra. The three share a common mind, and are, to all intents and purposes, one creature.’
‘Can you defeat it?’
‘No one has ever done so before.’
‘That’s not fair! If you are certain to lose, how can it be a “trial by combat”?’
‘It is the way of things. It allows a modicum of hope, and is more honourable than being executed. And, of course, victory is not impossible – there is always a first time for everything. We cannot afford to be pessimistic, little Nessa.’
‘If you die, will we be slaves or will they kill us as well?’ I managed to ask – though I didn’t really want to hear the answer. ‘Could you not keep your promise to my father and send my two sisters to safety before your trial?’
‘I only wish I could. But who would be willing to escort you out of the city? It is impossible. Without me you have no status here other than as slaves or food. If I die, then you will die there in the arena with me, slain by the claws and teeth of the Haggenbrood. I must defend you against the creature or die in the attempt. Come, I will show you so that you can prepare your mind for what lies ahead.’
I was so frustrated by the situation we were in. Even though Slither repulsed me, I was dependent on him for survival. The beast left the room for a few moments, leaving me alone with my sombre thoughts, but returned clutching a long chain and a lock.
‘Come here!’ he commanded. ‘I must place this around your neck.’
‘Why?’ I asked. ‘I won’t try to run away. Where could I go? As you pointed out, without your protection I would be killed on sight!’
‘Within Valkarky, a purra may only appear in public in the presence of her owner, with this chain around her neck. Without the chain you would indeed be taken and there would be nothing I could do about it. This is the law.’
I scowled at the beast, but knew I had no choice but to submit. He carefully placed the cold metal chain about my neck and then attached a small lock to complete and maintain the circle. Then, holding the rest of the chain in his left hand, he gave a small tug as if I were an animal, and pointed towards the door.
‘Now, purra, I will lead you to the arena!’ he declared.
He led me along a seemingly endless succession of gloomy corridors. Mostly they were lit by flickering torches, but in some sections the walls themselves seemed to radiate a white light. Kobalos that we passed mostly ignored us, gazing straight ahead. But when the rare curious glance came our way, Slither invariably gave a tug on the chain, jerking my head forward sharply. On one such occasion an involuntary cry escaped my lips and tears came into my eyes. But when we were once again alone in the corridor, the beast turned and spoke to me in hushed tones.
‘I have been gentle, little Nessa, and the chain is not tight. Some owners fix them so tightly that the purra is always red in the face and struggling for breath. Be brave. You will need all your courage in the arena!’
He turned, tugged the chain again and we continued on our way. The city was vast, but so gloomy that it seemed as if we were underground. Even the open spaces accessed by the corridors looked like vast caverns, but their walls were perfectly smooth and clearly manufactured rather than being of natural stone.
At one point we passed through what appeared to be a vast food market. Kobalos were handing over coins and receiving metal basins in return. Some seemed to contain roots or fungi, but in others small worm-like creatures squirmed as the purchasers greedily stuffed them into their mouths. I could barely contain the bile rising from my stomach at the sight and the smell.
Then there were larger vats. Looking more closely, I saw with horror that they were full of blood, from which steam was rising. Each was surrounded by a throng of jostling Kobalos dipping in metal cups and quaffing the liquid greedily, so that it dribbled down their chins and splattered on the floor.
What manner of creatures had died to fill those vats? Valkarky was a terrible, terrifying, ugly place. And were it ever to expand to cover the whole world, as Slither had boasted, it would create a hell on earth – every bit of grass, every tree, every flower and creature of the meadows replaced by this vast monstrosity.
It was not only Kobalos that I glimpsed. There were other creatures that made me shudder with fear, and even in the presence of Slither I did not feel safe. Mostly they resembled insects, except that the smallest creature I saw was the size of a sheepdog, while the largest could have bitten off my head with ease. I hoped my sisters were still safely asleep in their rooms.