was alive wi

eath her crawling with lice. But at night, when the guards were

or the king's bed," hisse

pits," came ano

ced them. "Or the sacrific

he raised brand on her sh

hoed throug

id the old woma

ng and rats scuttled over her legs, something changed. A n

one from Ije

inst the bars. "Ho

et a twisted mass of scar tissue. "I watched you stab Olugbade through

old woman war

revealing a rusted nail. "The guards change at midnight. Ther

rt pounded.

ter was in your village. Eight years old.

na swore, gripping the wom

ed palms, mingling their bloo

escape plan they

beginning