CHAPTER 78Despite herself, Esyal jumped back as the pounding on the door began again, so sudden and violent was it. The hammering, accompanied by the scratching, renewed now with even greater ferocity, seemed to shake the whole room. Weaving through its brutal rhythm came the sound of innumerable voices, wordless but flesh-crawling, rising and falling like some demonic musical instrument.
Qualto paused from his collection of bottles and pans. “It seems you’ve upset him,” he said, unexpectedly ironic.
“It’s a good start,” Esyal retorted. She hefted her machete. “As soon as I can I’ll upset his head from his shoulders.”
“I doubt you’ll get the chance,” Badr said, affecting a calm he did not feel. “I don’t think he’s the type to lead from the front.”
“Then he’ll be last man standing,” Esy
