‘Even with my lips bound, it was easy to gain control of such a foolish creature. When it came looking for me, I sucked from its busybody self all the knowledge I needed. It was then very easy to bring you here. I know all about you, mage. I know the trouble that you are in. And I am prepared to help you, but I will need three things in return.’
‘Help me? You are in no position to help anyone! And soon you will be dead. Four members of the Oussa lost their lives attempting to bring you into lawful custody. Your death warrant will already have been signed. No doubt they will delay your demise in order to prolong your pain and learn what they can about you.’
‘There was nothing lawful about my capture,’ the purra retorted. ‘They stole from me a piece of star ore that was in my possession. Other more important things were also confiscated. These you must return to me in order to receive my help.’
So the purra had found the star-stone. ‘Finders keepers’ was the law in such cases, but the Oussa would not accept that a lone human, especially a purra who was so close to Valkarky, had any rights. A star-stone was rare, very valuable and much sought after. A weapon using such ore could be fashioned only by the most skilled of smiths, but properly worked the result was a blade that never lost its edge and could not be broken. Even if the star-stone had not been a factor, this purra would have been arrested on sight and either eaten or bound in slavery. That she had resisted meant certain death.
By rights I should have left her to her fate, but I was filled with an overwhelming curiosity and wanted to learn more. I was also impressed by her bravery and combat ability in slaying four of the Oussa.
‘If you were free, how could you help me?’ I asked.
‘You face trial by combat against a creature that you call the Haggenbrood. It has never been defeated, so history says that you will lose and die . . .’
I raised my hand to protest but she continued speaking, a little more rapidly than before.
‘Don’t try to deny it. I know all about you – information from the mind of your little spy. I know the situation and have thought out what to do. I could take the place of one of the three girls bound to stakes in the arena – the one called Nessa is the closest to me in size; I hold her image in my mind, courtesy of your spy. Cut me free and give me a blade as you intended for her. I will fight alongside you; consequently, the Haggenbrood will die and you will be allowed to leave the city with the three girls.’
‘This is foolish,’ I told her, aghast at the way she had entered my head. ‘I don’t know why I am wasting my time listening to you. Even if I could free you from this cell, do you not think that your substitution for little Nessa would be noticed?’
The purra smiled and her whole body seemed to shimmer, and then I had a moment of dizziness. And there before me, the silver pins through her hands and feet, the silver chain twisted tightly about her neck, was Nessa.
‘Now do you believe?’ she asked, speaking with the voice of little Nessa, the intonation and nuance completely correct. Quickly, I used magic to try and probe the illusion, but to no avail. The image of Nessa didn’t even waver.
‘How can you do this?’ I demanded. ‘You have neither seen Nessa nor heard her speak?’
‘There are not merely words inside a head!’ the witch retorted. ‘There are images and sounds – I took all that I needed from your little spy’s head. The rest I have been taking from your own mind even as we speak!’
Angered by that, I attempted to slither into her mind. I intended to give her pain – just enough to make a scream. But I could not do it. There was some type of barrier there – one that I could not breach. She was strong.
‘I believe that you could indeed enter the arena in that guise and fool the spectators – even the High Mages,’ I admitted grudgingly. ‘But what makes you think that fighting alongside me would make our victory certain?’
‘I am Grimalkin, the assassin of the Malkin clan. I am a witch who can wield powerful magic; more than that, I am skilled in the arts of combat. I could defeat the Haggenbrood alone if necessary.’
I would have laughed at her arrogance, but I did not do so. I had never heard of the Malkin clan, nor of a witch assassin, but this purra radiated utter confidence and certainty. She really believed that she could do it. And had she not already slain four elite guards?
‘The real problem would be to get you out of here and back to my quarters before the trial,’ I explained. ‘These dungeons are very secure. I only managed to reach this level because I can make myself very small, as you have already seen. I can slither through a crack or under a door. Can you do that?’
She shook her head and her whole body shimmered. Once again I was looking at the pointy-toothed purra. ‘I can create that illusion, but lack the ability to change my size. If you ease the tightness of the silver chain around my neck I will do the rest. But I still need three things from you in return.’
‘Name them,’ I said.
‘First of all, I want my weapons returned to me. There are ten blades and a pair of special scissors. I also require the straps and sheaths that hold them. Secondly, I require the piece of star ore that was taken from me.’
‘It will be difficult enough to seize and return your weapons to you; to get the star-stone will be impossible. It is very valuable and will now be under tight guard.’ It had almost certainly been placed in the Plunder Room, the most secure vault in the city.
‘I want it. It belongs to me!’
‘A purra has no rights of ownership. Cease making that foolish demand and be content with your weapons.’
‘Mage,’ she said mockingly, ‘it was a question of ownership that brought you to the extremely difficult position in which you now find yourself. From your servant I learned how you slew the High Mage and the Shaiksa assassin to win back the three girls into your possession. I know that you are a formidable warrior, thus I offer you the respect that I would deny others. But we come from different races and cultures. In Pendle, where I live, there is no slavery, no ownership of people, and a female can own property. Thus we see things from different perspectives. Accept my rights and I will accept yours. And now we come to the third thing that you must bring me. It is a large leather sack that contains something very dangerous. Of the three things that I require to be returned to me, this is the most important.’