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Lord Cole pulled on a rope in the

corner of the roo for help

Arnolo caritted and hate-filled eyes A truncheon spun in circles as it left Arnolo’s hand Mara had ti it, but ducked instead, slipped the swing of the next truncheon, and passed close to Arnolo, first running the blade underneath his ar him in the back three times

Arnolo kept co man until he eventually dropped to one knee

Arnolo looked at his blood-soaked hands, then at Mara “What are you?” he whispered

Mara leant into Arnolo’s bloody ear “Death” Then stepped away as Arnolo slumped to the floor

“Help!” Lord Cole shouted again and again from the corner

Mara took his ti to Lord Cole

Lord Cole dropped to his knees “Please, spareHe wants the Shadows stopped He wants their power… their control of things… to save the city I was following orders to have you detained I did not wish you any harm”

Mara smiled “You cannot harm me Nobody can, not anymore”

Lord Cole rocked back onto his arse and shuffled into the corner “Please, all the gold in the city It is yours, all yours My children, I have children A wife Allow me to take them from this place I will never return”

Mara stepped back “Stand up”

Lord Cole wiped at his teary eyes and struggled to his feet “I… I arateful… I –”

“The ”

“I… I don’t understand”