St. Raphael was the best hospital in Leoden and when they took the carriage there, Cassio studied the layout of the city to see if Sal had been right. If there was really no way for the public transport to get to St. Raphael. His observations did not fill him with confidence. The very layout of the city was a finger trap. The way the bridges had been designed and the way the roads took dagger sharp turns made it impossible to have trams run to certain parts of the city without tearing down half of it. People had been boxed off, and the city was planning to keep them caged.

  “Why didn’t you ever tell me about this sooner?” Cassio asked.

  Sal was sitting across from him, and the sign of his nerves fraying was how tightly he was gripping the handle of his cane.

  “About what?” Sal said.

  “The city. How bad things really were.”

  Sal was quiet for a moment and then bowed his head: “I was going to… and then I lost faith.”

  “In what?”

  “People. Boom-Boom believed that… the world was worth fighting for, that people could overcome greed, and that tomorrow would be better than yesterday. I tried believing it too but… nothing breaks your faith in humanity faster than a law degree.”

  The world was worth fighting for. People could overcome greed. Tomorrow would be better than yesterday. Those words sounded familiar, but he couldn’t remember where from.

  “So, you gave up?” Cassio said.

  “I did. I had managed to claw my way out and decided to be happy with what I had. The rest of the world could go fuck itself.” Sal said and his face distorted with shame: “I was an idiot and a coward. I wasted so many years that I now have to make up for.”

  “That we have to make up for.” Cassio said and rubbed his signet ring: “I guess your faith has been restored.”

  “It has.” Sal said.

  Dawn was beginning to break when they arrived at St. Raphael, but the sun was hidden by heavy clouds. An intimidating stone building that made Cassio think of a fortress defending its inhabitants from approaching sickness. Even from the outside you could smell the stench of disinfectant that made your eyes water.

  Doctor Isidoro was waiting for them at the hospital yard.

  He was a powerfully built man with thick muscles under a layer of fat. His fearsome beard covered his multiple chins and made him look formidable like a judge appointed by higher powers. He wore a spotless doctor’s coat over his black suit. When they stepped out of the carriage, Isidoro bowed to him.

  “My lord viscount… what happened to your eye?” Isidoro said.

  “He is a lord count now.” Sal corrected him.

  Isidoro’s eyes widened ever so slightly, and he glanced at the signet ring in Cassio’s finger: “Your uncle? Is he…?”

  “He is of no concern.” Cassio said and looked at the hospital looming over them: “You said that Francesca was here.”

  “She is but first let me have a look at your eye.” Isidoro said.

  Cassio took off his eyepatch and revealed the empty socket surrounded by scar tissue. The hot poker had not only cost him an eye but also burned off his eyelid and eyebrow. Now there was a small crater where an eye should have been. Isidoro didn’t even flinch when he studied the injury.

  “Not much that can be done about that, I’m afraid. I will forward to you a colleague of mine who specializes in cosmetic surgery.” Isidoro said: “We also need to have you fitted for a glass eye so that the socket won’t collapse.”

  “Doctor.” Sal said with a hint impatience: “Francesca.”

  “Yes. She is here with her mother.” Isidoro said.

  “Her mother?” Cassio said and looked at Sal.

  “Her mother’s name is Antoinette.” Sal said.

  “Is there anyone you don’t know, Sal?” Isidoro said with a fond smile and patted Sal’s shoulder: “Good to see you too, lad. Your walking has improved.”

  “One step at a time.” Sal said.

  “That’s always how it is.” Isidoro said and glanced at the heavy storm clouds: “Let’s go in before it starts raining.”

  The hospital’s hallways were as white and spotless as doctor Isidoro’s coat. Isidoro made them wash their hands thoroughly with a soap so strong it stung before letting them inside. Every floor was cleaned multiple times a day and all the instruments treated with fire. The smell of antiseptic lingered in the air and the portrait of Joseph Lister hung on the wall. There were flowers on every windowsill to cover up the smell of disinfectant but that just made Cassio think of offerings left on a grave. The nurses worked tirelessly while the Sisters of Mercy clad in black gave the final remedy to those who were beyond saving and could no longer take the pain. Cassio nodded to every nurse he passed by as thanks for the work they did. His head tilted even deeper for the Sisters of Mercy, but he couldn’t quite meet their gaze.

  “She’s here.” Isidoro said and opened the door to a private room.

  Francesca was lying on a bed, her face ashen and gaunt. Even when she was covered by blankets, Cassio could see that she had lost a lot of weight. Weight, she hadn’t had in excess even before. An older woman sat by Francesca’s bed and at first Cassio considered her to be too beautiful to be Francesca’s mother but then he saw that they had the same eyes. Francesca grew even paler when she saw them.

  “… holy… shit… you… really are alive.” Francesca whispered.

  “Francesca. Manners.” Antoinette said and stood up to offer Cassio a curtsy: “Thank you for coming, lord Lionheart.”

  Antoinette’s face cooled when she looked at Sal and only gave him a curt nod.

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  “You too, Torrini.” Antoinette said.

  Francesca grimaced from the pain and Isidoro helped her drink some laudanum to ease her suffering. Cassio waited for the worst to pass before speaking.

  “It was the least I could do. Francesca has given me fine service.” Cassio said and looked at Francesca: “What happened?”

  “I had my… guts ripped out… my lord.” Francesca wheezed.

  “Do you want more laudanum?” Isidoro asked.

  “… no… not yet.” Francesca said.

  “Very well. Just say the word.” Isidoro said: “The country doctor was able to patch her up. Infection hasn’t taken hold either. The bandages and sheets are changed daily, and we treat the wound with a sterilizing agent. Everyone has strict orders to wash their hands. Now all she needs is time.”

  “Good.” Cassio said.

  Francesca took a deep breath and then pushed back the pain.

  “Mom… doctor, could I have a moment with the vis…” Francesca began before noticing the signet ring: “… with the count and his… consigliere?”

  Antoinette cast a suspicious eye at Sal before nodding.

  “Of course.” Antoinette said.

  Once Isidoro and Antoinette were gone, Sal kneeled next to Francesca’s bed and took her hand. Worry and urgency made his voice quiver when he spoke.

  “Francesca… what happened? Who did this to you?” Sal said.

  “… a devil.” Francesca said.

  “A devil?” Sal said: “From Gehenna?”

  A shiver ran down Cassio’s back at the mention of Gehenna. The second circle of the Wyrding. The land of demons.

  “… it looked like… a minotaur… with wings…”

  Sal’s face hardened: “Did… he give you a name?”

  “… Zagan… he… took Emilia… Danielle and Nuncio too… and killed Amadeus…”

  Zagan’s name hit Sal like a fist, and he sat on the floor, dazed and scared. Cassio looked at Francesca and tried to think of something to do with his hands before crossing his arms.

  “How did you survive?” Cassio asked.

  “… after… he gutted me… I passed out… he must have thought… I was dead.” Francesca said.

  “Now that’s a relief.” Cassio said and put his hand on Francesca’s shoulder: “Rest now. We will take it from here and perhaps you will consider running my household again when you’re better.”

  Francesca nodded and then grabbed Sal’s hand and yanked him close to her.

  “Promise me, Sal. Promise me that you will get her back. Promise me you’ll bring Emilia back. Swear it!”

  “… Franz…” Sal whispered.

  “Swear it! Swear by your soul, you bastard! Swear that you’ll save her! Swear you’ll save our little girl!” Francesca yelled.

  The shock passed and Sal’s face turned solemn. He stood up and pulled out a small knife. He cut his wrist without hesitation and let the blood run down his arm. Francesca never let go of Sal’s arm and the blood stained her fingers. Sal’s eyes were two blue flames, and his voice fitted a god.

  “Francesca, I do solemnly swear by the Wild to save her. Or avenge her.” Sal said.

  Francesca held his gaze for a long time before the clarity left her and she fell back on her bed: “… thank you… can I now have some laudanum?”

  Doctor Isidoro returned to the room with Antoinette, but when he tried to administer the dosage, Cassio took the bottle and poured it for Francesca himself and helped her drink.

  “Thank you for everything you’ve done.” Cassio said and looked at Sal: “Sal. Cheque book.”

  Sal handed it to him with a hand that wasn’t bleeding, and Cassio wrote down a generous sum. He tore the cheque off and handed it to Antoinette.

  “That should cover Francesca’s unpaid wages while I was gone. The bonus is for work well-done.” Cassio said and nodded at Isidoro: “Doctor.”

  “Yes, lord count?”

  “Expect a generous donation soon. If you need anything, you can contact me through the usual channel. I will see you get anything you require.”

  Once they had left the room, Sal stumbled over and had to lean against a wall just to stay upright. When Cassio touched him, he pulled back his hand like he had touched a hot stove. Sal was burning up and sweat was pouring down his face.

  “Sal?”

  “… the carriage… help me into the carriage.” Sal groaned.

  He had to practically carry Sal out of the hospital. When he got them back to the carriage, Sal buried his face in his hands and took a deep breath like he was fighting off a panic attack.

  “Sal, who is Zagan?” Cassio asked.

  Sal didn’t seem to hear him and stared ahead without seeing anything.

  “… Amadeus… I rescued him from a puppy factory… he was so starved he couldn’t even stand… it took so long for him to start trust people… and now he is dead…” Sal whispered.

  Cassio put his hand on Sal’s shoulder and forced him to meet his gaze: “Sal, I know how much you care about dogs, but I need you to advise me. Who is Zagan?”

  Clarity returned to Sal’s eyes like two loose neurons had suddenly reconnected. He rubbed his head and wiped away the sweat in his sleeve.

  “Sorry about that… a past skin almost rose to the surface. I am… going through the memories now and… it… really… fucking hurts…” Sal said and pressed his hands on his temples like his head would split open otherwise: “Zagan the Bloody. An enemy from another life. Shrike. The previous skin of His Savage Highness. Goblins took him down. Strong Heron and… Wise Badger.”

  Sal opened the carriage window and threw up yellow water before continuing like nothing had happened.

  “Zagan… they… we trapped him in his castle. He should still be there.”

  Cassio took out a flask of brandy and handed it to Sal who used it to calm his nerves and wash the taste of vomit out of his mouth.

  “What manner of man is Zagan?” Cassio said.

  “A bandit pretending to be a noble. A mass murdering serial rapist.” Sal said.

  “Charming. I will remember that when I remove his head.” Cassio said.

  They passed the flask between them and Cassio waited to see which of them cracked first and asked the question they both were thinking. The question they both knew the answer to. A question which was too terrible to ask.

  What were the chances that Emilia, Nuncio, or Danielle were still alive?

  When your captor was a man like that? Not likely. And it couldn’t have been a clean or quick death. Some truths would paralyze you. For the time being they were both prepared to live a lie.

  “We need to get to Gehenna.” Sal said.

  “Doesn’t sound easy.” Cassio said.

  “It’s not. Crossing the Wyrd Stones is one thing. Crossing the Circles is quite another.” Sal said and drank greedily from the flask: “I have a few leads. I will go through them and then… I will find the cunt who broke Zagan free and paint my fucking room with their blood. Two coats! Then I will decorate Zagan’s grave with their guts!”

  “Okay. We go to Gehenna. Find Zagan, avenge Emilia, Nuncio, and Danielle…”

  “Save them.” Sal corrected him without believing it himself.

  “We save them and force Zagan to tell us who freed him.” Cassio said.

  “Harsh questioning it is. I am sure we can prepare a Pot in Gehenna.” Sal said.

  Cassio nodded and marveled how beautiful Leoden was at the crack of dawn. He just wished it hadn’t been so cloudy. The sun had been practically swallowed by the grey.

  “Sal?”

  “Yes?”

  “How dangerous will this be?”

  Sal stroked his beard for a moment before answering.

  “Cassio… You know what? Fuck it. Why lie? We are heading to the Infernal Emperor’s Domain. This is at the very least a suicide mission. And I’m saying this as a twenty-three-year-old lawyer with a lot to lose.”

  “Impossible odds? Next to no chance of success?” Cassio said before smiling his thin smile: “We’ve had worse.”

  “At least it can’t get any worse.” Sal said.

  The roof of their carriage was suddenly belted by heavy rain and Cassio felt sorry for the driver. The downpour hammered the carriage all the way to Isabella’s apartment complex, and they left the driver a hefty tip before they ran inside. They brushed water off their hair and clothes and then they came face to face with a group of children. And their mothers. All the kids and their mothers were from Primavera Street and were carrying flowers and cards. Cassio and Sal stared at them for a moment confused before the bravest of the children stepped forward with some encouragement from her mother.

  “… lord Torrini… lord Lionheart.” The girl said.

  “Present.” Sal said and looked at the children: “What is this?”

  The girl offered Sal flowers and a self-made card: “… thank you for being back.”

  The girl’s mother smiled at her daughter and then handed Sal a gift basket filled with chocolate and a bottle of brandy before shaking Sal’s hand.

  “Welcome back, lord Torrini.” The woman said and bowed to Cassio: “Thank you for bringing him back, lord Lionheart.”

  “It was my pleasure.” Cassio said.

  Cassio knew Sal well enough to see when the smile hid how dazed and confused, he was. He accepted the flowers and cards the children had prepared for him and the warm embraces of their mothers. When they were done, Sal sat down heavily.

  “Are you crying?” Cassio asked.

  “… no. Just something in my eye.” Sal said.

  “Shouldn’t a lawyer be a better liar?” Isabella said while she stepped out of the kitchen with a pot of coffee.

  She poured them coffee and offered Cassio a bow after pouring him a cup.

  “I hope this is to your liking.” Isabella said.

  “I am sure it is, lady Torrini.” Cassio said and glanced after the women and children: “Where are all the men? I barely saw any in the party yesterday.”

  Isabella’s face soured and Sal looked like the chair he was sitting on was suddenly driving nails into his ass.

  “Sal… hasn’t told you?” Isabella said.

  “Told me what?” Cassio asked.

  “There… are no more men left.” Sal said without looking at his mother: “The Twelve-Year-War wiped them out.”

  “Oh.” Cassio said.

  “Oh, indeed.” Isabella said and then looked at Sal: “You have a guest. A girl.”

  Sal pinched the bridge of his nose: “Mom, if you’re trying to set me up, I am not in the mood right now. I don’t care how nice her personality is.”

  “A white girl.” Isabella said and then a dreamy look came over her eyes: “She had… a girl with her. A child. I think it was a child. They’re waiting for you in your room.”

  “I still have a room?” Sal said.

  “I could never bear to rent it.” Isabella said.

  “And you just let them into my room? Mom, I kept sensitive material in there. You promised not to let anyone in there without my permission.” Sal said.

  Isabella’s face fell slack and then she looked confused: “I did. I never let anyone go there. Why did I do so this time?”

  Sal finished his coffee and looked at Cassio. He nodded in understanding and could feel the revolver under his coat grow heavier.

  “Have a seat, mom. I’ll be back soon.”

  While they climbed the stairs to Sal’s room, they drew their weapons. Sal was a small man and had always preferred guns marketed at women. Cassio’s choice of firearms had always leaned to the heavier side. With a big enough gun, even a sloppy shot could be deadly. Before entering the hallway, they removed their shoes, and Sal tied a sock around his pegleg to muffle any sound from his steps. Once they arrived at Sal’s door, Sal counted down to three with his fingers. On three he threw the door open, and they prepared to gun down anyone who had used magic on Isabella to get inside.

  And they came face to face with Daring Ant.

  “Cassio! Grandfather!”

  Dare ran to hug them, and it was shocking how someone so small could be so strong. She had grown and matured since they had last met but the orange hair and fur remained the same. Her tail wagged happily behind her.

  And behind Dare stood the vampire Elysa Capello.

  “Hello, lads.” Elysa said: “Any fucking idea where my family is?”