The Knight of Swords Fights a Duel with Sebastian to save his Queen!

Hello,

Happy Friday!  Here is the next part of Knight of Swords!  Lord Valancourt faces Sebastian in a dangerous duel to save his beautiful Queen!

Have a great weekend!  I am up North back to Newcastle to see family and edit some more books for my agent while I am there for the next week but I will keep posting.

Take care.

Happy Reading!

Sara



Knight of Swords

Sebastian would never let Juliet go until I killed him.  However, I did not believe he was capable of taking me on in a physical challenge over Juliet with his battered, limp body.  He would attempt to trick us, of that I was sure.  Letting go of the hybrid females would mean losing profit, possibly even the deaths of many of his flock.  I would need to have my wits about me at our meeting.

I was also anxious about the book.  Whose possession was it in now in?  Had it been taken from Sebastian, or had he entrusted it to someone?  Many more would die if I did not get it back.  If I gave my hand up too readily, I could lose more than Juliet.  I needed to plan my next move carefully.

Chapter Fourteen

We moved fast through the snow, up the hill that led to the church graveyard.  Only Jason accompanied me.  The cloud had receded, revealing the moon long since past its peak.  As a result, the temperature was dropping, and the snow was freezing, crunching underfoot.  Icicles hung from the gravestones as we walked around them.  For the first time I became distinctly aware of the chill.  While I did not experience the biting coldness in the same way I once had as a human, it was sufficient for me to be glad of wearing my long, woollen riding coat.  My knights and I all wore the heavy, black coats to conceal our swords.  It made our appearance as human as possible.  Amused, I fancied it was our uniform.  We were, after all, soldiers, our Queen’s warrior army.

Sebastian’s pathetic, spindly figure appeared from behind the small, stone church, flanked by two hunter demons in their black hooded cloaks.  I straightened stiffly, glancing at Jason.  Like myself, he held his sword by his side in a firm unrelenting grip, ready to strike.

Sebastian stood before me in a top hat, an incongruous accompaniment to his clergyman’s garb.  He smiled that sickly smile which never failed to make my skin crawl.  He nodded a greeting to me.

‘Lord Valancourt.’

‘Where are the women?’ I snapped, ignoring his reference to my human title.

‘They are being brought here.  My flock?’  He removed his hat, handing it to the demon on his left side.  Wisps of his long hair lifted from his head in the breeze.

I watched him intently as the demon on his right side handed him a sword.  ‘They will be released when you let the hybrids go.’

‘Good, but in the mean time we have a challenge to fight.’

I narrowed my eyes darkly at him, feeling the beast inside me rise to the bait.  I cast my eyes over his ugly, weak form.  ‘Are you sure you are capable of a challenge Sebastian?’

Sebastian splayed his arms wide in an amused gesture.  ‘Do not let this form fool you, Nathan.  I am stronger than you think.’  The demons moved away as he raised his sword at me.

I followed suit.  ‘So I get to kill you now, Sebastian?’

He laughed.  ‘Now why would you do that?  I am the only one who can tell you where Juliet is?  You must make me talk first.’

Rage burst inside me, a furious explosion of violent desire.  I moved to strike him with my sword, but he defended well, expertly blocking every move I made.  He was a skilled swordsman, better trained than myself.  Time after time our blades clashed as we danced around the gravestones, sending a deafening echo across the silent countryside.

 ‘You aren’t having the women brought to me, are you, Sebastian?’

I fell back, stumbling over one of the tombstones.

‘Did you really think I am going to let you have them?’ he asked, sarcasm heavy in his tone.

He raised his sword to bring it crashing down upon me, but just in time I rolled away from him in the snow.  I jumped to my feet as his blade struck the stone, grating across the surface.  He growled.  We stood facing each other, ready to pounce, moving in a circle as we both calculated our next move.

‘No, I didn’t.  That’s why I have sent my knights into the dungeons to fetch them.  While we fight, they are being rescued.’

Sebastian laughed again.  ‘You’re too late, Nathan.’

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words froze against my lips as I heard a familiar shrieking sound.  I looked up quickly.  Juliet’s words of warning on the stairs of Eldridge House replayed in my mind, ‘Don’t look at them.’  I looked away just in time to see Sebastian’s blade.  I twisted my body violently to the side.  Mindfully alert, I watched as the glinting steel narrowly missed contact with my neck.

The ravens shrieked again over head.  ‘There are your female hybrids, Nathan.  Aren’t they wonderful?  Beautiful, dark creatures that can bring death in such a brutal way.’

‘No, it’s a lie.  A trick.’

I struck out at him with my sword once more.  ‘Where are they going?  What are they doing?’

‘They are going to kill my flock.’

I panted with exertion, astounded.  ‘But I thought . . .’

He stopped, watching me closely.  ‘Yes, I did.  I do care for them, but they have outlived their usefulness.  They are now a liability.  You have proven that to me, Nathan.  I cannot be held to ransom over their safety.  I have business to attend to.’  He smiled.  ‘You understand?  The ravens will attack, they have no choice.  When they have killed, they will die.’

‘They are immortal.  They can’t be killed unless their heads are removed.  They can’t be made to do anything,’ I angrily insisted.

‘But I have learned ways to master the female hybrid mind.  Their powers are tamed.  I command them all.  I have simply removed their will to live.  When they kill the villagers, they will die.  No one will be able to stop it.  Soon, I will command Juliet’s mind,’ he laughed.

The ravens were fewer in number than when they attacked at Eldridge Hall.  However, their mass was still large enough to cause death to humans should they decide to make them a target.  I shouted to Jason.

‘Get the others.  Stop the ravens.  They are the female hybrids.  They are going after the people in the village hall.  You must stop them, for if they kill, they will themselves die.’

Jason did not answer me.  He simply turned back towards the village, running to obey my instructions.  Sebastian started to laugh once more.  I couldn’t bear it.  My attack upon him became fierce, my intent renewed.  I fought with all of the strength I had, using the full weight of the power bestowed upon me as Knight of Swords.  Unbridled anger appeared to summon my character, I made good use of it.

I ploughed into Sebastian, knocking him down.  I had taken him by surprise.  His sword fell into the snow – his head striking hard against a large stone figure of an angel standing above one of the graves.

 I grabbed his dazed form by the lapels of his coat and pulled him up so that he might see the fury blazing in my eyes.  His head rolled back.

‘You command them, call them off, or I will remove your head.’

‘No. I can’t.  You can’t save anyone, not the women, not the villagers, not even Juliet.’

I hit him.  I could not bear his vile words anymore.  Still he smiled from his bloodied mouth.  I shook him.

‘Where is she?  What have you done with Juliet?’

‘Your lack of communication with her mind almost drives you to madness, Nathan, doesn’t it?  I almost feel sorry for you.  Your pain grows worse by the hour.  You will lose your mind before you find her.’

I shook him again.  I shook him so hard this time that I believed his bones would separate from their joints, and his body would crumple into a heap of bone, sinew, and flesh.

‘I should kill you,’ I shouted at him.

‘But you can’t.  I am the only one who can tell you where your precious Queen is.  You have to let me go.  It’s the only way you can attempt to find out.  That is your real challenge Nathan, not this sword fight,’ he paused.  When he spoke again there was humour in his voice.  ‘See if you can outwit me.  Let me go.  If I die, so does she.  The Caratacos demons will kill her when they find out I am dead.  Let me go.’

I stared at him, shaking with the force of the tempest that battled inside my conflict ridden mind.  If I let him go, could I outwit him?  And if I didn’t, would I be successful in forcing the truth from him?  I doubted it.

I gave a loud grumble of anger as I let go of his coat.  He fell back into the snow and lay there, unmoving.  I picked up my sword.  Without a moment of hesitation, I ran it forcefully through his body.  He screamed in agony, clutching at his stomach.  His hands soaked in the blood that seeped from the wound.  I towered over him with some small amount of satisfaction in consolation as he writhed in the snow, staining its purity with the spilt evil that ran through his veins.

‘I will let you go.  I will win this challenge you have set.  Get on your feet before I run my sword through you again.’

I watched as he began to raise himself from the ground with a struggle.  He would be healed in a matter of a day, perhaps hours, but at least he would suffer until then.  The demons came to help him stand.  I turned, hearing the sound of horses pulling a carriage on the other side of the hill.  The demons hurried a groaning Sebastian to it, half dragging him.  I followed, watching them help him get in to it.

Another man sat in the carriage.  As it began to move away, he leaned forward to look at me.  I recognised the gruff, ruddy complexion and stout figure at once.  It was William Cameron.

Chapter Fifteen

I hurried back to the village hall, but it was too late.  My men had fought valiantly to defend the people of the village, but at tragic cost.  Sebastian’s ravens had been efficient in their killing.  Many of the villagers lay in bloody pools.  However, the sight that dismayed me most was of the dead ravens, now metamorphosed back to their true forms.

The hybrid women lay dead around my feet after making their attack, just as Sebastian had prophesised.  Their appearance was not dissimilar to the small urchins we had rescued.  But even in their poor state there was no mistaking their great beauty, common to our race.  They were clothed in rags and smeared in dirt.  Each woman’s eyes were stricken with terror.  I did not understand how Sebastian could remove their will to live.  They were immortal beings like myself.  What devilish trickery had he poisoned their minds with? 

A man ran past me clutching at the bloodied hole that had once housed his left eye.  It did not rouse my pity.  The villagers had brought their demise upon themselves in consorting with a devil like Sebastian.  Behind the movement, I saw Jason sitting on one of the chairs, holding his head in his hands.  One of the fallen women lay at his feet with his sword through her chest.  I stood looking down at the horrific scene, hypnotised by the woman’s eyes, remembering Sophie’s murder.  How many more women would Sebastian destroy before I got the opportunity to take his head?

I cast a sweeping glance around at my men.  My knights were despondent.  Their faces were downcast.  Tears swelled in the eyes of some, others blazed with anger and hopelessness.  They stood over the women, grief stricken.  Their hearts filled with remorse for having had the necessity to use violence to stop them attacking the villagers.  The villagers were criminals, party to the torture of the hybrid women they sought to rescue.  My men did not believe them worthy of protection.  It was unjust.  For the women to die when we could do nothing to help them was too much to endure.  Our race was depleted of females because of Sebastian and others enslaving them to the humans for a profit.  Each of my knights had been lonely without a mate for many years, in some cases centuries.  The loss would weigh heavily on their souls. 

I felt anger rise inside me.  I let it grow until it was stronger than my sorrow, than my fear for Juliet, drawing strength from it.  I put both of my hands on the hilt of the gilt edged sword, encrusted with a single, large, fiery emerald, a sword fit for a Taleian knight.  I pulled it from the female hybrid’s body in one fluid motion.  The woman’s flesh released the blade with a soft sigh.  I handed it to Jason.

‘Avenge her death, Jason.  You may mourn later.’

The Knight of Swords confronts his Nemesis!

Hello,

Here it is!  The next part of my New Adult Gothic Victorian Vampire Romance, Knight of Swords.  Nathan confronts his nemesis, Sebastian.

I am busy preparing a lot of manuscripts for my agent to send to publishers.  Do you think Knight of Swords should be one of them?


Also, if you love erotic novels please go to my sister blog, Arabella Kingsley Erotic Novels to follow my new story.  Be warned it is a hot one and not for the faint of heart! :)  You can also win a copy of one of my books if you comment on the story.

Keep letting me know what you think.  BTW I will be continuing Forget Me Nots on here at some point!

Happy Reading!

Sara





Knight of Swords

People came running out of the old Tudor building that served as the village hall.  However, when they saw the snow’s approach, they quickly turned and re-entered, seeking safety inside.  The unforgiving snow tumbled down upon the village.  Windows shattered, breaking with the weight of the snow as it invaded and buried each building.  Nothing was sacred or safe in its path.  Only the church and graveyard sitting on a small rise, a distance away from the village appeared to have been spared the deluge of snow.

An eerie silence settled upon the buried village.  It was as though it had never existed.  Only the weather vane on top of the hall marked our destination.  We jumped to the roofs using our finely tuned senses to determine secure footing.  Our heightened vision enabled us to tread a safe path across them to the hall.  As we landed on the hall, thudding onto the roof, I heard screams heralding our approach.  I had never struck terror into anyone before.  The noise that greeted my presence gave me a strange feeling both of power and heavy disappointment.  Was this how I appeared to others now?  A creature to be feared?  I thought of Camille’s reaction to me.  Is that how my friends in London would now see me?  Could I ever return to my life as Lord Valancourt?

I quickly dismissed my ruminations for later consideration and set about the task in hand.  I could not sense Sebastian’s presence in the village hall.  My anger rose at his absence as we scraped snow away from the clay roof tiles.  The tiles were supported on a simple timber Tudor structure, and it was not hard for us to kick out a hole large enough to fit ourselves through. 

The screams grew louder.  I leaned my arm on my knee as I peered down at the people below.  They were pressed in a huddled group against one of the broken windows through which snow had piled into the room.  They stared up at us.  They were afraid, terrified of the consequences I would reap upon them.  The women cried, the children wailed, and the men shook with fear, crying out in their minds for Sebastian to rescue them.  I had them just where I wanted.  Without further hesitation, I jumped through the hole and landed squarely upon my feet in a crouched position.  The height of the drop was sufficient that had I been human, it would have perhaps severely injured me, but my new strength and abilities as a hybrid vampire ensured my safety.  My men followed to stand at my sides as I straightened.  I smiled elegantly at the group of cannibals, brandishing my sword and my newly formed canines.

‘Good evening ladies and gentlemen.  I am sorry to drop in on you in this manner, but you have something of mine that is very precious to me.  I want her back.  If you don’t persuade your fine leader, Sebastian, to give me back my Queen, then I will have no choice but to seal you up in this splendid tomb.  You will all freeze to death.  Do I make myself clear?’

They stared at me in horror.  The terrified silence that settled upon the hall was deafening.  At least two of the women fainted.

‘Good.  Now, I am feeling rather hungry as are my men.  Who would care to offer their blood?’

I stared at them, raising my eyebrows in mock amusement when no one stepped forward.  They all pressed themselves back toward the wall and window as if they could somehow melt through those barriers and escape away from us.  But fortune was not on their side.  The smell of fear was potent in the enclosed space, crammed with scattered overturned chairs.

‘No?  Then we will just have to take it from you.  Take your fill men.  When you have finished, bring me a human to feed from.  Something young and fresh in years.’  I turned to my men, a growl evident in my voice, ‘Don’t spare anyone but the children.   The blood of our women runs in these villagers’ veins.  Let us reclaim some of it on their behalf.’  I softened my mouth into another smile as I glanced at my men and then the group once more.  ‘And try not to kill anyone.’

Jason, Cedric, and the others moved quickly, their images a blur as they swept down upon the panicked humans.  They reminded me of the ravens at Eldridge Hall.  I watched with a distasteful gaze as I contemplated my new identity and role as Knight of Swords.  I had changed, but not without cause or need.  This was a war I needed to win for the survival of our people.  I righted one of the chairs to sit down, watching as my men fed.   I hoped my efforts would not be in vain, and Juliet would soon be by my side once more.

Chapter Thirteen

I cast aside the distempered, redheaded youth I had been feeding upon and wiped the blood from my mouth.  He fell to the floor of the stage I was now standing upon, cursing my existence.  I narrowed my eyes, casting them down in his direction.  I knew they would still be coal black from feeding.  He backed away from me on his elbows, terror in his eyes.  I followed him. 

‘We have every right to exist.  It is you and your friends here who are the monsters, cannibals no less.’  I made no attempt to hide my passionate disgust as I towered over his prostrate form.  ‘You rip the flesh from our women’s bodies, devouring it to heal yourselves.  I have witnessed this crime myself.  You disgust me.’

The boy clutched his hand to his throat, wincing from the burning pain of my bite.  He raised his chin at me defiantly.  He was shaking, but that did not stop the tirade of venomous words dripping with hate from his lips.  ‘It is no different to the way you take blood from humans.  You are a scourge upon us all.  It is against God’s law that you should even exist.’

I fought hard to rein in my anger.  ‘Really?  And you know this how?  Have you asked Him?’  Silence.  ‘No, I did not think so.’

I put the foot of my boot upon the inside of his elbow, trapping his arm against the floor.  Pressing down with only a small effort, I felt his bones begin to compress.  The boy groaned with pain and lay back, unable to move, as I continued my verbal attack.

‘And this belief gives you the right to treat my people as though they are common slaves?  To be disposed of however you choose?  To be used and consumed for profit?’

  ‘Yes, you are nothing but vermin.  Parasites among the living that cheat death.  This way you are of some use,’ he spat at me.

My message, although eloquently put, clearly was not getting through to the callous youth.  I had never been called vermin before.  Not even by jealous husbands of my female conquests.  The word left me cold.  It sorely reminded me that I was not of my old human world anymore.  Now, I was vampire, both physically and in mind.  I was a powerful and feared creature, detested and hunted by humans.  I could never go back to my previous innocent, human condition ever again.

I had little choice but to resolutely accept the hand fate had dealt me, whatever the world thought of it.  Perhaps one day I would find some peace in my new identity, but for now, my human side warred with its invasion.  Finding Juliet, having her near me once more so I could touch and feel her presence, was all the peace I craved for now.  I felt the headache that always accompanied our separation gnaw inside my head, a constant painful reminder of our loss of contact.  I found myself wishing we were safe at home in London among my friends, forgetting any of this had happened.  But that could never be.

I pressed my foot down more forcefully, listening to the young man pant with discomfort.  But he refused to give me the satisfaction of seeing him squeal.  ‘And, are you not a parasite upon my kind?  Have you not cheated death yourselves?’

I looked out at the band of villagers as I spoke.  A grand mixture of high, middle, and low born people, all united in their crimes.  Even the children were party to their disgrace.  None of them regretted their part or the benefit they took.  We were nothing to them.  We were simply animals, to be slaughtered like cattle for consumption.  A means to their survival and a way to make the village’s inhabitants rich.

By reading some of their collective thoughts, I learnt more of the reasoning that helped them to choose their errant path of destruction.  They had been on the verge of death.  Leprosy had invaded the village like wildfire.  No one had been spared, many died in agony.  The village population had been reduced from one hundred and fifty to the eighty-six before me now. 

I saw their memories of pain, deformity, and death as they watched their loved ones suffer.  Then Sebastian had wandered into the village.  He had promised them hope, a way to combat the disease.  They had been afraid, worried his actions would offend God.  The fact he was a clergyman eventually assuaged their concerns.  They came to believe that God had sent him to them to save their miserable souls.  The villagers gave Sebastian a home.  He was their leader, spiritual and physical.  Nothing was ever done in the village without consulting Sebastian.

As my knights had fed upon a portion of the small throng, I had noticed a woman and her daughter sitting huddled together for protection.  Their thoughts interested me, especially those belonging to the younger woman.  She was worried that I would find the book Sebastian kept.

The book was ancient.  The girl and some friends had overheard Sebastian talking of it to the village elders when they had sneaked down into the dungeons where the female hybrids and their children were kept.  It had been created by the powerful, magical advisor to the Queen when our people were first cursed and cast out of their lands.  It listed the names of all the Taleians and hybrids that walked the earth.

The Queen had wanted to keep track of her subjects as they dispersed over the globe in the hope that one day she could reunite them all.  The book kept a record of all births and deaths.  When a hybrid was to be born, their name would appear in the book together with their location, as though written by an invisible hand.  This information was only to be known to the Queen, her Knight of Swords, and the Magical Advisor.  Now I understood how Gabriel had known of my identity.  Whoever possessed the Book of Talus held power over us all.  None of us were safe, especially Juliet and the female hybrids. 

That was how Sebastian had known where to find them.  All of the women he had murdered in London . . . that was how he knew what they were.  Had he murdered them for their organs or purely to punish me for being Juliet’s mate?  I knew not.  I knew only that I had to get the book back.

I returned my attention to the man beneath my foot.  My anger at him burned in my veins, spurring my temper.  I increased the pressure of my foot as he hurled abusive, degrading words about Juliet.  When he mentioned what Sebastian intended to do with her, I could only think of tearing out his throat, sending him to his maker for justice to be served.  He was foolish to push me so hard.  I could not bear his words any longer.  I increased my weight upon his arm just a small fraction further.

The loud crack of a bone breaking stunned the weeping women and frightened the men into silence.  A cry of pain burst forth from the boy’s mouth, and he began to writhe in agony.  He vainly attempted to lift his limp arm even though I still stood upon it.

‘You will not insult my Queen, or I will rip your arm from your body.  Juliet is more noble, more caring of others than you will ever be.  I do not wish to hear you speak of her again, or maybe next time, I will decide to kill you.’

He nodded profusely.  ‘I won’t do it again, let me go, let me go.’  His fear made my stomach twist with loathing.  Where had all his bravado gone now?  He was easily broken.  I despised his weakness.

‘I haven’t heard you apologise.’

‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry.’

I pressed again, then gave his side a sharp kick, forcing him to roll from the stage.  He dropped to the floor with a scream.  There was a sharp intake of breath and gasps from my captive audience.  Two of the men rushed forward to his aid.  Jason and Cedric went to stop them, baring their teeth.  I shook my head allowing the men to help the youth lift his aching, injured body from the floor.

I turned away from the staring eyes of the shivering men, women and children who looked upon me with fear and condemnation.  I knew the hall was cold.  It did not bother me or my men, but the humans were suffering.  The gas lamps were dimming and the candles flickered in the icy air that swept down into the hall from the hole in the roof.  It would not be much longer before the beginnings of hypothermia would set upon them.  Slowly death would approach.  It seemed revenge was mine.

The burden upon me was heavy, but I could not falter.  Part of my mind was still human.  It suffered from a conscience despite the crimes of these wretched people.  Too many depended on my actions to save them.  I wondered why Sebastian had taken so long to answer my call to his consciousness.  I thought he cared for his flock as though they were his own children.  Was he really willing to sacrifice them all to possess Juliet, to rule her power?  I thought of Gabriel, of my own feelings.  Perhaps he would.  I needed to change tack.

I walked to the front of the stage and sought out the girl who knew of the Book of Talus.  I beckoned at Jason to bring her to me.  She came struggling in Jason’s grasp, shouting for her mother who was beside herself with fear as to what I might do to her child.

I made the girl sit down next to me so I might begin to question her on the whereabouts of the dungeons.  At first she insolently refused to answer.  She was trembling, but I sensed she was more afraid of Sebastian than she was of me.  The child was the only one in whom I detected a trace of guilt.

‘You have been to the dungeons, haven’t you, Millie?  You and your friends sneaked down there and have seen what Sebastian does to the women.   You don’t like to hear the screams or the taste of what you eat.  Last time you spat the flesh out when your mother wasn’t looking.’

She stared at me aghast.  I smiled as I sensed her making every effort to shut down her thoughts, but she could not hide from me.  I was already inside her head, taking what I needed.  I was far too strong for her to put up a mental defence against.

‘Where are the dungeons, Millie?’

‘He said you could all read minds.  No, I mustn’t, mama will be angry.  Sebastian will not let her take the medicine any more.  I don’t want her to die.’

‘Then you must help me.’

‘I can’t tell you.  Please, sir.’

She could feel the weight of the villagers’ eyes upon her, willing her not to reveal their shameful secrets.  Screwing her eyes up tight, she emptied her mind of as many thoughts as she could.  All her mind would show me was a picture of her favourite dress.  I wanted to laugh.  Her simple games would not stop me from finding out.

I said her name softly, but made sure my voice lost none of its stern command when I called her attention.  Slowly, she opened her eyes as I drew her gaze to mine.  I pushed deeper into her mind, searching out her secrets through her eyes.  She was helpless to stop me, but she was a strong, stubborn girl.  She fought well. 

I regretted causing her some small discomfort as I knocked down her barriers with the energy I sent into her mind to clear a path.  But I could sense her relief that I forced the truth from her.  The others would know she did not give me the information willingly.

The dungeons were under the small castle of Haydon, half a mile or so away, to the west of the village.  But there was a tunnel that led from under the church graveyard all the way to the castle. 

I had all I needed.  If Sebastian would not come to me, then I would go to him.  Forcing his hand, I would make him respond to me.  Despite his silence, I knew enough of the creature to know he would be in a dilemma over freeing his people whilst not letting go of Juliet.  I called to him with my mind once more.  This time he did not ignore me.  His rage filled my mind to the brim.

‘You will not have her.  She gave herself to me willingly.  Let my children go.’

‘You gave Juliet no choice.  She is not yours to have.  Give her back to me.  Free Juliet and the other women, then I will let your pathetic children go.  If you don’t, I will seal them up in this freezing hall, leaving them all to die.  Then I will come for you as I promised.  It is useless, Sebastian, I know where you hold the women . . .’

He interrupted me abruptly, his voice thick with devilish humour, ‘But you do not know where Juliet is.’

‘What have you done to her to stop our communication?’ I hissed.

‘My friends, the Caratacos demons, know of ways to suspend the mind in blinding agony so nothing can get in or out.  Life has no meaning, no beginning or end.  Every thought is of pain, nothing else.’

‘If I had you in front of me . . .’

He gave me his own venomous hiss, ‘If her blood had not been contaminated, I would have taken her by now.  The Caratacos are purifying her blood.  They have hidden her where even you will not find her.  Let my children go.’

‘I will never give up.  Give me what I want.  Give me the book.’

‘The book?’

‘The Book of Talus.  I know you have it.’

‘How did you . . .?’

‘I want it.’

He was silent for a moment.  ‘Meet me in the graveyard of my church.  I will have the women ready for you.  Perhaps we can arrange a challenge for Juliet.  Let us lay this matter to rest once and for all.  As for the book, it is not mine anymore.’

‘Who has it?’

He ignored my question.

‘Do not hurt my flock, or I will take the heads of your women.’