Page 126 of The Only Way Out Is Up

“You are! Of course you are. And you are, um, entirely within your rights to arrange the form of the matches to your, um, satisfaction, even if that is a bit, um, irregular. But there is, um, no provision for a match against the judge’s champion.” He gives an incredibly awkward laugh. “After all, how could such a thing be, um, even remotely fair? A runic from Hod against one from Above, I mean. The, um, outcome could hardly be in doubt.”

“I have a perfectly fair challenge in mind,” Alzimyth says. “If Taj wins, then he will be the champion of the Ascent, with all the appropriate prizes and privileges. If my champion wins, then you may award him the prize if you wish, but he will remain here on Hod, and the remnants of his runic will be forfeit.” He waves a hand. “A formality, really.”

“I really don’t think this is appropriate,” Hisham says, and he looks so uncomfortable that for a moment I have to admire the old man’s bravery. “The rules of the tournament—”

“The rules of the tournament are irrelevant if he agrees, aren’t they?”

“Well. I suppose.” Hisham peers down at me. “Do you agree, boy?”

“Don’t answer yet,” Alzimyth says. “I still have to offer my incentives.”

There’s a murmur from the crowd and then a piercing scream, so familiar it cuts straight to my heart.

Somi mounts the judge’s stand first, with Spike pressed against his back. Behind them are two big men with spears. One is Quech, a crude bandage over his ear, glaring down on me with undisguised loathing. The other is Rekas, the Clawmark enforcer, looking utterly out of place here amid all the Hod finery. His eyes are wide as he looks around in near atavistic terror, almost overwhelmed by the strangeness of everything.

“These, I’m sorry to say, are criminals,” Alzimyth says. His tone has turned gloating. “Officially condemned and surrendered to the authorities. I have brought them here because I understand they have some connection to Taj, and I thought he might want the opportunity to petition someone on their behalf. An honored visitor to Hod, perhaps.” He smiles. “I could intervene, if I was so inclined.”

“I say,” Hisham protests weakly. “This is very, um, not to say completely…”

He trails off. I pull free of Ky and step forward, meeting Somi’s eyes. He gives me a sad smile and mouths, We’re okay.

“We’re not!” Spike shouts, breaking free of Somi’s grip. “We’re not criminals, whatever this asshole says”—she points at Rekas—“and they just dragged us up here—”

Quech slams the butt of his spear into her midriff, and Spike folds up like a creased sheet of paper. Somi grabs her and pulls her close, turning his back on Quech. People in the stands are shouting and even screaming.

“Alzimyth!” I scream, scraping my throat raw.

He waves a hand irritably for quiet. “Yes?”

“Win or lose?”

No one is listening to the knight’s demand for silence. He stomps his foot with a bang. “What?”

“If I say yes, you’ll intervene? No matter what happens?”

“Indeed. You have my word as a Hesed Knight I will show mercy.”

I swallow, painfully, and close my eyes.

“Taj, what the fuck is going on?” Ky whispers in my ear. “Do you know why he’s doing this?”

“He wants Star,” I reply dully. “He told me that when he made his offer, but I didn’t realize it was this important to him.”

“How did he find your family so quickly?”

“He must have sent for them when I turned him down.”

“But how did he find them?”

“The Clawmarks.” For a sufficient payment, Uncle Claw will happily deliver up anybody in his power, bound hand and foot. “The people up there sound angry. Will they do anything to stop him?”

“I…” Ky chews her lip, then shakes her head. “No. The way he’s playing it…”

“Whatever he says, this can’t be legal.”

“It doesn’t have to be,” Ky says bitterly. “It just has to look that way. Just enough that later they can all tell themselves they were fooled.”

I give a weary nod. Truthfully, I wasn’t expecting any different.