She didn’t hear them come up behind her, but suddenly she was dragged backwards out of the passage, and thrown to the floor of the temple.
Three strange, dark men stood over her. They looked old, their faces lined and hardened by sun and wind and ice, like weathered rocks. One hissed at her, and she saw his yellowed teeth were filed to points. Their earlobes were stretched wide with silver discs, and she knew without being told that they were spirit men – they stank of magic.
‘I’m sorry for running away.’ Teya’s throat was tight with terror, and her voice sounded thin and small to her ears. ‘I promise not to do it again. I’ll marry the Inca. I want to. Just let Pahuac out. He didn’t do anything.’
She was struck so hard across the face that she didn’t really feel it. Her head smashed int
