But he refuses to leave me.
The street opened to the wide expanse of the Panforum. Hundreds of stalls had been cleared from the massive stage. Andy spotted the Exegesuits and Ziesqe surrounded by guards on one side of the stage. Opposite them, stood a large and chaotic group.
“The Archatians are already arguing among themselves,” one guard said. “This shouldn’t take long.”
Andy spotted small stands built to hold the mouse vote keepers, just like in the parcel plazas. The people in the audience were also sharing or readying strips of cloth of various colors. Andy recalled those as well.
As they carried his cage up the stairs onto the stage, Andy saw what the Archatians were arguing about. Letty and her friends were there.
Dean! And, is that Emma? What are they doing here?
Andy tried to rub his eyes with his gauntlets, but the chains stopped short, and his movement startled the guards.
The Archatians ceased their quarreling when the cage appeared.
They all stared. Letty had been speaking, but she stopped short and watched, wide-eyed, as Andy’s cage was lowered.
Andy turned away, feeling his stomach twist.
They came back for me. Even Dean and Emma. Dean is a coward, and Emma hates me. But they came.
The guards set Andy’s cage down in the center of the stage.
He heard Letty struggling with a guard sergeant. “Let me see him!” she yelled.
I have to tell them to leave. I can’t stand that they’ll see the execution, but I have to let the Exegesuits sentence Caspian to die.
No, you don’t.
Andy tensed at the voice.
Leave me, Caspian! You caused this!
Andy pulled against the chains and gritted his teeth. The guards stepped back and raised their weapons.
The sergeant interpreted Andy’s moves as a desire to see Letty and ordered his men to let her through.
“No! Keep that girl back!” Ziesqe shouted from the Exegesuit side. Ventalus, who had looked resistant to Ziesqe the day before, now commanded his guards to keep Letty away from the cage.
Andy barely noticed as he listened for another sign of Caspian.
Silius’s replacement, a tall woman with a booming voice walked to the center of the stage.
“People of Degoskirke, the Quoratota is called and assembled! Two issues await the leaders of your city. The first is that of the ryle ban. Will it be repealed, or will it stand? The second issue is that of Caspian and his punishment. The five branches of the Anteschismarian Order of Exegesuits each cast a vote. The five chief Archatian factions also cast a vote. Those factions are: The Peace and Parlay Party—”
People in the crowd held up blue stripes of cloth and shouted, “Braid!”
Opponents laughed and called them, “The bored to pieces party!”
The announcer continued over the noise, “The Greek Idealists!”
“Idle-Greeks!” a detractor shouted.
Several robe-wearing Greek Idealists shuffled at the outburst.
“The Egalitarian Redistributionists!”
The crowd was peppered with cheers and boos. Calls of, “Red-baggers!” were heard most of all.
“The Redvolutionists!”
The crowd outright raged at the name. “Murder the people party!” was a common reply.
How are they so powerful, then? Everyone hates them.
“Finally,” the announcer said, a little unnerved by the vitriol. “Chosen by toss up, we have The Pioneers!”
Andy recognized a few trim young men wearing blackened suits of armor. The audience was indifferent.
“The ten votes lie with the representative of each faction, as chosen by that faction. Any person accredited and empowered may speak for the Archatians, as any person approved by the Exegesuits may speak for them. The audience may address their need for representation, as always, to the Archatian side of the stage. The Exegesuits will vote with a mind to the charter and founding documents of Degoskirke.”
The crowd grumbled.
“It has always been so,” she replied.
Andy heard sneers coming from the Archatians.
“We are opening the stage up to the speakers. Ventalus, will you speak?” she asked, looking at the large mouse.
Ventalus shook his head and gestured to the Archatians.
“Fine!” a Redvolutionist said, stepping forward. “The honeyed words and sublime achievements of one, Ziesqe, not even a known parasite of these streets, but a sceptered lord and slave master from afar, have had their moment! Yes, indeed! He is more than just another exploitative merchant; he rules over hordes of serfs as if they were cattle! Who stands in his company? Other merchants with their eyes set as high! The Exegesuits stand beside him! What does that say for them!”
Andy gawked at the lightning words. The Redvolutionist moved across the stage in a frenzy, his eyes flashing with hate.
The crowd cheered and surged, and the guards pressed forward to calm them.
Andy heard the word, “treason,” already coming from the Exegesuit side.
A representative of The Heart pulled back their hood to reveal teal skin and brilliant golden eyes. She raised a hand to the Redvolutionist. “I will forgive your heresy just once! If I hear another outburst like that, I’ll have you hanging by your neck over the city gates!”
The audience was mostly stifled by her answer, though a few, outraged at the threat of violence booed and beat their chests furiously.
The Redvolutionist turned back to his peers and gave them a nod. “My body will hang as a constant reminder of your institution’s fail—”
The mer woman snapped her fingers and a pair of guards lunged at the man, capturing him and shutting him up at once.
A few pockets of fighting broke out between sympathizers and guards, but they were put down quickly. This surprised no one.
“Are they really going to hang him?” Andy asked, again alarming his guards.
“Probably not,” Titus said, “I bet they’ll tan his hide and throw him back onto the streets after everything is over. They don’t want a martyr.”
A venerable looking braid in a long coat and white wig took the stage.
“What we need is more respect, all around,” he said firmly.
A few people mock yawned, while many agreed.
“The point of this Quoratota isn’t to further divide the city—though somebody will always take a stab—we are here to make informed decisions for the wellbeing of Degoskirke.”
Vegus, the ychorite representing The Blood stepped forward. “Indeed, and nothing would benefit this city more than the repealing of this, once necessary, but now outmoded law. The ryle fight each other; they do not threaten us. Opening trade and relations with them will help put Degoskirke on a stronger footing in the diplomatic arena of Pansubprimus. Our only other ally has been the embarrassing city of Caspia, and we know what treachery crawls from there,” he finished sarcastically.
An aide approached Vegus, whispered, and pointed over to Letty and her friends.
Vegus laughed. “I see! Our envoys have appeared! We thought you had been abducted. But it is worse: You involve yourselves with these troubles!”
The woman who spoke for The Heart stepped forward again. “Remember my warning? I knew that you were sent here to aid Caspian! The viper’s old lover.”
Vegus nodded. “All that time, pomp, and money, wasted on infiltrators, and here they are! Of course, they plan to interfere with our autonomy!”
Dean stepped forward. “We are still here as friends—”
“Does this criminal speak for Archatia? Why are they not in chains?” Vegus demanded, looking to Ventalus.
The senior Greek stepped forward. “He speaks with our permission; he will not be denied!”
Ventalus did not order their arrest, despite protest from his peers and Ziesqe.
Dean continued, “You kept us hostage for three days, when you knew we had business in the City. It cannot be he
ld against us that we escaped. Also, there is a foreigner trying to change your laws. He is standing on your side of the stage, not ours. And, to you, Heart lady, I say that this is not Caspian at all!”
The crowd gasped and Ziesqe stepped forward. Andy met Ziesqe’s eyes.
He was right, my friends are screwing this up. I have to stop this, now!
“No!” Andy yelled. “I am Caspian!”
The Heart priestess rolled her eyes and smiled at the crowd. “He admits it still!” she cried.
Andy spotted Blue whispering into Dean’s ears. “He left the Cogito!” Dean yelled “He hasn’t taken it for himself. I’m told that Caspian would not have done this! This young man allowed himself to be captured! If he is Caspian, and so forthcoming, ask him to walk you through basic history of the Netherscape! You will find him completely ignorant, where Caspian would know everything. Ask him to perform any feat of Caspian’s. He will fail, because he is a surface boy being used as a prop by that ryle!” Dean concluded pointing at Ziesqe.
The announcer interrupted. “We are to discuss the ryle ban, not Caspian’s legitimacy!” she insisted.
The crowd disagreed, loudly.
Vegus opened his mouth to speak but was booed so soundly that he shrunk back.
Damn it, Dean. Why’d you have to be home-schooled? This will blow up in our faces.
“Letty!” Andy yelled, shaking his chains. “Let me see her!” he snapped at the guards.
Letty saw this and pushed her way through, the guards were too distracted with the crowd and failed to keep her away. Though once she was at his side, those who noticed, relented in removing her.
“What? What’s wrong? Why do you keep saying that you’re Caspian? You aren’t, I know it’s you!” she insisted.
“The city is going to be attacked! At noon! If Ziesqe doesn’t get his way, his armies invade. They’re in the sewers, all around. I know it’s true, I saw them weeks ago! I even heard them planning the invasion. The only way to keep it from happening is for the laws to change and for me to be executed.”
Letty’s knees gave way. She stumbled and clutched the bars.
One guard found this suspicious and tried to grab her.
“Stay back!” Andy yelled pulling his chains taught. His gauntlets glowed, as he tried to make a fist despite them.
The guard saw this and stepped back.
Andy turned and saw Ithmene, standing next to Ziesqe. She was afraid and staring his way.
“Letty, you don’t understand,” he whispered, leaning close to the bars. “They won’t actually kill me; it’ll just be for show. Then we’ll get to go home.”
Letty reached through the cage and slapped him across the face. “What happened to you! How can you believe it! Of course he’ll kill you! It’s getting rid of evidence. He’ll do the same to the rest of us too, because we know too much! Why don’t you understand this?” Letty raved and cried. She held a hand up to his face and touched where she had just slapped him. “What did they do to you?”
“She’s right,” Titus said, from his shoulder.
Andy tensed.
They’re both right.
“What do you want me to do? No matter what I say, this city will be ruled by the ryle! No matter if I fight or die, we cannot win against what he has!” Andy cried out, breaking down. “I deserve these chains! I’m just a boy! I don’t know what to do! I don’t know where I am, and seeing my friends from inside this cage—I can’t!” Andy heaved and gasped, his eyes streaming and his face flushed. He slammed the gauntlets against the cage.
Exhausted, he slumped forward against the bars. He wiped tears on his sleeve and noticed how silent it was.
Every eye was staring. The debating had ceased and those on the stage had stepped aside. The audience was still, and the only sounds were the banners against their poles and then Ithmene weeping into her palms.
Andy knew he should feel more ashamed than he ever had, but instead, there was something else. There was relief.
Ziesqe stepped through the Exegesuits. The motion was jarring, as if the whole world, except he, was frozen in place. “You did your best, Lysander.”
He’s going to attack! Now, Lysander! You have to act now!
Images of the brutox queens flashed before his mind. He saw flames and the crumbling towers of Hyadoth. The faces of his friends screaming in agony seized his heart; he heard their terror and gasped. He saw Letty, staring at him through the bars and he knew what to do.
Andy heaved in a breath and faced Letty. “Go to the parcel where they keep the brutox queens! You have to free them!”
Letty instantly turned and rushed to the Caspians, grabbing them and Clang before racing off through the confused crowd.
Ziesqe approached the cage. “You’ve just sent them to their deaths.”
“What is the meaning of this?” the senior Greek, yelled.
Ziesqe flung his robes off to reveal a full suit of crimson plated armor. Andy saw his wrist articulate and the purple blade appeared.
Ziesqe sliced the Greek in two, right as several other purple blades appeared. The guards lunged, but Ziesqe merely swung and lopped their halberds to pieces. The sight made them retreat.
Cries rang out, but the guards seemed paralyzed.
Andy saw a pair of ychorons had daggers on Ventalus. They had his mouth shut, though he struggled.
Finally, a few muskets were trained on Ziesqe.
“Ah!” He yelled. “Shoot me and he dies!” he said, pointing at Ventalus. He then looked at Andy. “This could have been a simple matter! There were three paths. Now there are two!” Ziesqe declared slicing Andy’s cage apart.
Andy tensed, expecting to meet his end.
Ziesqe won’t kill you. He is stalling.
What? Why—
“Unlock the prisoner. Let us test whether he truly is Caspian!”
Because he still wants me! He wants me to take the Cogito and fight—
Ziesqe paused and looked up, shuddering.
Andy did likewise.
What the hell is that?
An abomination flew high above the stage on crow’s wings. It trailed a scorpion’s tail and looked to bear three heads.
Ziesqe tensed at the sight. When no guard appeared to unlock Andy, Ziesqe swiftly and expertly sliced his restraints apart, piece by piece.
Andy stood and felt the chains and gauntlets falling from his body.
He sensed Caspian looking through his eyes and flexing in his arms and legs.
I’ve almost given over to him. I can’t let him take me!
Ziesqe turned and walked to his retinue, holding a hand out expectantly. A ryle produced a windowed container. Inside was a small piece of Argument.
He doesn’t know that I’ve hidden more, far more, inside.
The ryle bearing the container approached the broken cage.
Andy felt a grin breaking out on his face. He heaved in a huge breath and looked up at the steel blossom. It stretched and grew across the cavern ceiling as his lungs filled.
Now!
Nerve by nerve, he tensed the muscles in his body; he felt the Argument within surge through his limbs. Andy stepped towards one of Ziesqe’s ryle, tightened his fist, and impaled him on the blade as it appeared. His victim expected anything but this. Andy loosened his grip and moved towards Ziesqe, who still had his back turned. The ryle with the container could not believe what he saw.
The crowd exploded and Ziesqe’s retinue tried to call out warnings as Andy advanced.
With a smug look across his face, Ziesqe turned on his heel, gesturing widely, and then he saw Andy, far closer than he expected.
Andy tensed his off hand and threw a punch. Ziesqe’s face went from amused to shocked as a parrying dagger appeared on Andy’s fist.
Andy recognized the motions in Ziesqe’s exposed musculature; the tendons in his neck tensed.
Is he faster?
Andy’s dagger cracked against something rigid. Ziesqe rolled off his feet and
down the stairs. Thick streams of black blood stained the stage.
Andy saw a glowing purple helmet, but beneath its hollow shimmer, Ziesqe suffered the loss of a tentacle, which writhed on the floor.
Press the attack!
Andy gave in to the command and leaped into the air raising his hands and summoning the blade to match the dagger. He fell onto Ziesqe, who was too shocked to fight back.
Andy hammered against his armor. Bursts of lightning shot out into the air as the glowing Argument struck the Counter. Andy felt the thunder of thousands of voices cheering him on.
He released his primary blade and grabbed Ziesqe’s arm, twisting it out of position. Ziesqe flinched and could no longer maintain his weapon. With his enemy disarmed, Andy brought his dagger down against Ziesqe’s helm over and over, until it flickered out.
Andy felt a sharp kick to his groin.
He cried out, losing focus.
Ziesqe grabbed Andy by the throat and twisted him to the floor. Ziesqe tried to summon his blade but Andy grabbed his wrist and twisted it back.
Ziesqe growled and cracked his helmet against the bridge of Andy’s nose.
Call the armor!
Andy felt his muscles obeying Caspian all on their own. The Argument bent inside and he glittered with silver armor.
“Caspian! Come out to see us! Everyone wants to meet you!” Ziesqe howled. “Does this body need more convincing?”
Ziesqe held up his right arm and twisted his fingers in a way Andy didn’t recognize.
A war-pick. He’ll try to pierce your armor! You must overpower him!
Ziesqe swung the pick into Andy’s shoulder. Andy screamed at the blow. The weapon stuck and the noise of the Argument and the Counter touching for too long was deafening. A hissing pop underscored the bursts that sounded like gunshots. Andy saw purple and silver frost growing on the stone floor nearby.
Ziesqe twisted the pick and Andy’s armor shattered.
Fight!
The pick raised again. Andy tried to lift his arms, but the pain was too great; he felt paralyzed.
Instead of death, Andy spotted Titus leaping and latching onto Ziesqe’s unprotected neck and climbing under his helm.
Ziesqe tried to swat him away, but cried out as Titus bit down on his wounded face.
The Immortal of Degoskirke Page 22
