“Well,I’d sooner suck a wyrm through my cunt.You’re the only noble exception in thewhole bloodline, far as I’m concerned.”
He tooka deep breath.“Z.The deal’s off.”
Sheblinked down at him.“What?”
“Listen—”
“Youmean the deal ‘tween you and me?”
“Yes.”
Shefrowned.“Shut the fuck up, squire.”
“Neitherof us are going to get the treasure,” Isaac said, firmly.“The only way we wereever hauling it out of here was through the help of the Diet, and, clearly,they’re not going to let us have it.They’re going to send assassins after me.I’m going to be a fugitive for the rest of my life.You will be, too, if youstay here with me.”
Sheglanced back at the shattered machinery, whiskers twitching.
“Youshould leave,” he said.“Go somewhere else, before it’s too late.Things aregoing to get very dangerous.”
“Still beinghunted, aren’t I?”Zaria blew out a tired breath.“Where am I supposed to go?Nowhere to hide out in them dunes.It’s a death sentence up there as much ashere.”
Shetilted her axe at him.
“Whatare you doing, actually?You understand this mission was a fraud, don’t you?You got no obligations to it.”She glared at his father.“It was wrong, whathappened to you.”
Theskull slithered back, the central mass deflating towards the floor.
“Iknow,” Isaac said.“This is my decision.I’m not leaving.I’m going to makesure no one ever claims what’s in this tomb.I’ll make sure this skeleton neverwalks again.And ...I’ll kill my uncle, if it comes to it.”He glanced atthe mass of bones behind him.“I have no idea what I’ll do after that, but Ican’t let the indecision stop me from doing what’s right.”
Shetried to laugh, but it was hollow, breathless.Her ears were twitching.
“Youshould leave,” he said.“You already have a target on your back.There’s noreason to paint another.”
“Doesthat mean you don’t want to be my squire no more?”
“Inever was.”
“Oh,aye?What’s next?Gonna tell me rain ain’t wet?That flowers ain’t pretty, andmead ain’t sweet?I’d rather shave myself bald.”
“Zaria—”
“Youand I,” she said, jovially.“Squire and knight, fire and fur, robes and steel.Ain’t been a better pairing since cocks and cunts.”
“By thegods,” Isaac said, “you are justexhausting.”
Shemanaged to laugh this time.
“Let mebe clear,” he said.“I have not enjoyed your presence.I have beensubjectedto it.”He began to mimic the rough tilt of her voice.“‘Oh, squire, tell me ofyour childhood.Squire, fetch my rations.Squire, heal my wounds.Squire!Squire!Squire!’”
Sheslapped the pommel of her axe to the floor, grinning wide.
“Look,”Isaac said.“I—” He stopped, meeting her gaze.“I’m very glad I met you, andnot just because I would’ve died, otherwise.It was, without a doubt, the bestthing that’s ever happened to me.”He paused.“But I....”
Shewatched him, silent.
“I wantyou to stay,” he said.“I would very much like your help.But I won’t ask youto.Leaving is your best choice.”
Shelooked at him for a long moment.Her eyes roamed abovehis shoulder, over the ruins of the extraction chamber, coasting her vision upand across the wings of the colossal pelvis.She looked forward again, watchingthe squirming wall of corpses that was his father.Finally, she looked at theopen bronze doors.
