Page 58 of The War is Coming

“Not at the moment, but one of my mates is a djinn, the other a demon, so we’re trying everything. Barnabus has sent his shadow here to spy on us, hence the need to try everything we can to capture or destroy it.”

“If you need help, call.”

“Thanks, Maletayah. I’ll let you know and will be back later for the collective meditation.”

CHAPTER 25

Blake, Baylan and Frederick walked into the dragon’s ward and saw everyone except Puff and Brook awake and laughing together.

“You all look like you’re having fun,” Baylan commented.

“We’re not. This is strictly a no-fun zone,” Ash said, grinning. The smile fell off his face. “Did you see the shaman?”

“I did. Frederick and the Generals shared that delightful encounter,” Blake replied.

“And what a lovely chap he is,” Frederick said dryly.

“Did you tell him to stick his request for sanctuary up his arse?” Ash asked.

“I didn’t phrase it quite like that, but he knows his days are numbered,” Blake told him.

Frederick laughed. “He told the Generals to think up creative ways to kill him.”

“Nice,” Oz said. “Serves him right.”

“We could hang, draw and quarter him,” Puff said, opening his eyes.

“Finally,” Mateo said, bending down and stroking Puff’s cheek.

“We thought you were going to sleep the day away,” Atticus said, kissing his hand.

“Is everyone awake?” Puff asked, starting to sit up.

Mateo and Atticus helped him.

“Everyone is awake except for Brook,” Blake said, walking to the side of Puff’s bed and putting a hand on his leg. “Welcome back.”

“Thanks,” he said, moving to the side of the bed and standing up. He went and hugged everyone, then Atticus and Mateo. He turned around and leant against Mateo, who had his arms around Puff. “So, what did I miss and who do I want hung, drawn and quartered?”

“The Hayes Pack shaman,” Blake said, filling Puff in on their meeting.

“Then that death is too nice for him,” Puff said.

“Wait, being hung, drawn and quartered is too nice of a death?” Cade asked.

“I’ve never heard of that. How does that work?” Forrest asked.

“It’s actually drawn, hung and quartered,” Atticus said, moving to stand by Puff and Mateo, taking Puff’s hand. “The accused's legs were tied to a hurdle then they were dragged by horse through the streets to the place of execution. The dragging was designed to rip the skin off their backs, shoulders and head. They were then hung by the neck until they were almost dead and then cut down. They were then castrated and disembowelled; their organs were burned in front of them. They were then beheaded and their body chopped into four pieces. Or in some instances each limb was tied to a horse and rider, and the four riders went in different directions and ripped the limbs off.”

The children’s mouths dropped open.

“And you think that death would be too nice for that shaman?” Tobin asked in surprised disgust.

Puff nodded. “Yeah, we don’t have any horses.”

“You could always strip his skin off first, like all his skin,” Cade suggested.

“We can put all killing suggestions to the vote when Tudor finishes resting.”