15
None of us know who we are any more.
THE STEEL WOLVES
Finn and Keiro stared at each other.
Years of reading his oathbrother's moods told Finn this one was savage. Knowing Claudia and Jared were watching he rubbed his flushed face. 'Are you all right?'
'Oh I'm just as you'd expect. My oathbrother's Escaped. I have no gang, no Comitatus, no food, no home, no followers. I'm an outcast in every Wing, a thief who steals from thieves. I'm the lowest of the low, Finn. But then, what else do you expect from a halfman?'
Finn closed his eyes. The dagger of the Steel Wolves was in his belt; he felt its edge against his ribs.
'It's not all Paradise out here.'
'Oh really?' Arms folded, Keiro surveyed him. 'You look well set up to me, brother. Hungry, are you?' 'No, but..’
'Sore? Dead-beat? Bleeding from fighting off a chain of monsters?' 'No'
'Well I am, Prince Finn!' Keiro exploded into rage. 'Don't stand there in your golden palace asking for my sympathy. What happened to your plans to get us Out!'
Finn's heart was beating too loud; his skin prickled. He felt Claudia close up behind him; as if she knew he couldn't answer she said firmly, 'Jared is doing everything he can. It's not easy, Keiro. My father saw to that. You'll have to be patient.'
There was a snort of scorn from the screen.
Finn sat on the metal chair. He leant forward, both hands on the desk, towards them. 'I haven't forgotten you. I haven't abandoned you. I think about you all the time. You must believe me.'
But it was Attia who answered. 'We do. We're all right, Finn. Please don't worry about us. Do you still get the visions?'
The concern in her eyes warmed him a little. 'Some. They're trying medicines, but nothing helps.' 'Attia.' It was Jared who interrupted, his voice intrigued. 'Tell me, are you near any object that might be emitting power? Any part of the Prison's systems?'
'I don't know.. . We're in some sort of. . . nursery'
'Did she say nursery?' Claudia whispered.
Finn shrugged. All he was, watching was Keiro's silence.
'It's just..’ Jared was puzzled. 'There are some peculiar readings coming in.As if some potent source of energy was very close to you.'
Attia said, 'It must be the Glove. The Prison wants — ' Her voice stopped, abruptly. There was a scuffle and a mutter, and the screen tilted and flickered and went black.
Jared said, 'Attia! Are you all right?'
Muffled and angry; Keiro's voice hissed, 'Shut up!' Then, louder, 'The Prison's unstable. We're getting out of here.'
A muffled yelp. A whiplash of steel.
'Keiro?' Finn leapt up. 'He's drawn his sword. Keiro! What's going on there?'
A clatter. Distinctly they heard Attia's hiss of fear. 'The puppets,' she breathed.
Then nothing but static.
She'd bitten Keiro's hand; now he jerked it away from her mouth and she gasped. 'Look. Look!'
He turned, and saw. The puppet on the end of the row was moving. The strings that worked it were taut from the roof's darkness, and its head was lifting, turning smoothly to look at them.
One lank hand rose and pointed. The jaw clacked. I told you not to betray me, it said.
Attia backed, holding the musical box tight, but it gave a broken clank in her hands and the mirror cracked into pieces. She threw it down.
The puppet jerked upright, knock.-kneed, rickety as a skeleton. Its face was some ancient harlequin, the nose hooked and hideous. It wore a striped jester's cap and bells.
Its eyes were red.
'We haven't,' Keiro said rapidly. 'We heard a voice and came to find out what it was. We've got the Glove safe and we're still bringing it to you. I didn't let her tell them about it. You saw that.'
Attia scowled at him. Her mouth was sore where he had clamped his hand over it.
I saw. The wooden jaw opened and closed, but its voice, with its faint echo, came from nowhere. You interest me, Prisoner. I could destroy you and yet you defy me.
'What's new?' Keiro's drawl was sarcastic. 'You could destroy us all, any time.' He stepped up to the puppet, his handsome face to its ugliness. 'Or is there some twisted remnant of your programming left? He says, the Sapient out there, that you were made to be a Paradise. We should have had everything. So what went wrong? What did you do, Prison? What turned you into a monster?'
Attia stared at him, appalled.
The puppet raised its hands and feet and danced, a slow, macabre caper.
Men went wrong. Men like you, who seem so bold and are in fact riddled with fears. Crawl back to your horse and ride on my road, Prisoner.
'I'm not afraid of you.'
No? Shall I tell you then, Keiro, the answer to what torments you? It would end the pain for ever, because you'd know. The puppet's face bobbed mockingly before him. You'd know how far the circuitry and plastic reaches into your body, how much of you is flesh and blood, how much of you belongs to me.
'I already know.'
Attia was shocked at the whisper his voice had become. No you don't. None of you know. To find out you must open up your heart, and die. Unless I tell you. Shall I tell you, Keiro?
'No.'
Let me tell you now. Let me end the uncertainty.
Keiro looked up. His eyes were blue and blazing with anger. 'We'll go back to your stinking road. But I swear one day it'll be me doing the tormenting.' I can see you want to know. Very well. In fact, you are — The sword slashed. With a yell of fury Keiro sliced through the strings and the puppet collapsed, a heap of splinters and a mask.
Keiro stamped on them; the face cracked under his boot. He raised his face, eyes blazing. 'Do you see that! Having a body will make you vulnerable, Prison-puppet. If you have a body you can die!'
The dark nursery was silent.
Breathing hard, he whirled round and saw Attia's face. He scowled. 'I suppose that stupid grin is because Finn is alive.' 'Not entirely,' she said.
* * *
Claudia ran down the stairs next morning, slipping past the retainers carrying the Queen's breakfast. Probably the Pretender's too, she thought. She glanced up at the Ivory Tower, wondering how he was enjoying his splendour. If he was some farm-boy, it would all be new to him. And yet his manner had been so assured. His hands so smooth!
Quickly, before the doubts came back, she turned into the stables, past the rows of cybersteeds to the real horses at the end.
Jared was adjusting his saddle.
'You haven't got much baggage,' she muttered.
'The Sapient carries all he needs in his heart. Which is from where, Claudia?'
'Martor Sapiens. The Illuminatus. Book One.' She watched Finn lead out his horse, surprised. 'Are you coming too?'
'You suggested it.'
She had forgotten that. It rather annoyed her now; she wanted to see Jared on his way by herself, to say goodbye to him privately. He might be away for days, and the Court would be even more hateful in his absence.
If Finn noticed he said nothing, turning and swinging himself up into the saddle expertly. Riding had come naturally to him, though he had no memory of doing it before the Prison. He waited, while Claudia's horse was saddled and the groom held her foot while she mounted
'Is that outfit in Era?' he asked quietly. 'You know verywell it isn't.'
She wore a boy's riding coat and trousers under her skirt. Watching Jared turn his horse she said suddenly, 'Change your plans, Master, don't go. After what happened last night
'I have to go, Claudia.' His voice was strained and low; he rubbed the horse's neck gently. 'Please don't make me feel worse than I do about it.'
She didn't see why. It would mean work on the Portal would pause, just when they were having success. But he was her tutor, and though he rarely exercised it, his authority was real. Besides, she sensed he had his own reasons for going. The Sapienti returned yearly to the Academy; perhaps his superiors had summoned him.
'I'll miss you
.'
He looked up, and for a moment she thought there was a desolation in his green eyes. Then he smiled and it was gone. 'And I you, Claudia.'
They rode slowly through the courtyards and quadrangles of the vast palace. Servants drawing water and hauling in waggonloads of kindling stared, their eyes on Finn. It made him ride proudly, trying to look like a prince. Housemaids shaking sheets outside the laundry stopped to watch. At the corner of the scrivener's offices Claudia saw Medlicote come out of the door. As she rode past he bowed, elaborately.
Jared raised an eyebrow. 'That looks meaningful.' 'Leave him to me.'
'I don't like leaving you with that problem, Claudia.'
'They won't try anything, Master. Not if the Pretender is their candidate.'
Jared nodded, the breeze lifting his dark hair. Then he said, 'Finn, what did Attia mean by the Glove?'
Finn shrugged. 'Sapphique made a wager with the Prison once. Some say they played dice, but Gildas had a version where they told riddles. Anyway, the Prison lost.' 'So what happened?' Claudia asked.
'If you were a Prisoner you'd have guessed. Incarceron never loses. It shed the skin from its claw and vanished. But Sapphique took the skin and made a glove and used it to cover his maimed hand. The story says when he put it on he knew all the Prison's secrets.'
'Including the way Out?'
'Presumably.'
'So why did Attia mention it?'
'Why did Keiro try to stop her mentioning it, rather?' Jared's voice was thoughtful. He glanced at Finn. 'Keiro's anger troubles you.'
'I hate him like that.'
'It will pass.'
'I'm more worried about what happened to cut them off.' Claudia glanced at Jared, who nodded. As they reached the cobbled entrance the noise of
the clattering hooves drowned talk. They rode under three gateways and through the vast Barbican with its murder— holes and portcullis. The vaguely medieval arrowslits were not Era, of course, but the Queen thought them picturesque. They had always made the Warden tut with displeasure.
Beyond, the green fields of the Realm stretched out in their morning beauty. Claudia breathed a sigh of relief. She grinned at Finn. 'Let's gallop.'
He nodded. 'Race you up the hill.'
It was a joy to be riding, and free of the Court. She urged the horse on, and the breeze lifted her hair, and the sky was blue and sunlit. On all sides in the golden fields birds sang among the corn; as the lanes divided and narrowed vast hedges rose on each side, the deep tracks hollowed with apparent age. She had no idea how much of this landscape was real — certainly some of the birds, and the hosts of butterflies . . . surely they were real. In truth, if they weren't, she didn't want to know. Why not accept the illusion, just for one day?
The three of them slowed on the top of a small hill and gazed back at the Court. Its towers and pinnacles earned in the sun. Bells were ringing, and the glass roof shone like diamond.
Jared sighed. 'It's strange how beguiling illusion can be.' 'You always told me to beware of it,' Claudia said. 'So you should. As a society we have lost the ability totell the real from the fake. Most of the Court, at least, don't even care which is which. It concerns the Sapienti greatly.'
'Maybe they should enter the Prison,' Finn muttered. 'We never had any trouble.'
Jared glanced at Claudia, and they both thought of the watch, which she wore now, safe in her deepest pocket.
It was two leagues to the fringes of the Forest, and almost midday when they approached it.
The road to this point had been broad and well-used — traffic between the Court and the western villages was steady, and the ruts of wheels had cut deep in the baked mud.
But once under the green canopy the trees gradually closed in, and vast deer-nibbled boughs of mighty oaks gave way to the tangled undergrowth of the wildwood. Branches hung heavily overhead, the sky barely seen through their meshed leaves.
Finally they came to the crossroads and the track that branched off to the Academy. It ran downhill through a green clearing, crossed a stream on a clapperbridge and wound its way up the other side into the wood again.
Jared stopped. 'I'll go on from here alone, Claudia.'
'Master . . .'
'You need to get back. Finn must be there for the investigation.' 'I don't see the point,' Finn growled. 'It's vital. You have no memories, so you must impress them by your personality. By the strength you have, Finn.' Finn gazed at him. 'I don't know I have any, Master.'
'I believe you do.' Jared smiled, calmly. 'Now, I ask you to look after Claudia, while I'm gone.'
Finn raised an eyebrow and Claudia snapped, 'I can look after myself.'
'And you must look after him. I depend on both of you.'
'Don't worry about us, Master.' Claudia leant over and kissed him. He smiled, and turned the horse, but she saw how under his calm there was a tension as if this separation meant more than she knew.
'I'm sorry,' he said.
'Sorry?'
'For going.'
She shook her head. 'You'll only be a few days.'
'I did what I could.' His eyes were dark in the forest shadows. 'Remember me kindly, Claudia.'
She suddenly had nothing to say. A chill struck her; she wanted to stop him, to call after him, but he had urged the horse and it was already striding away down the lane.
Only when he had reached the bridge did she stand in the stirrups and yell, 'Write to me!'
'He's too far Firm muttered, but Jared turned and waved his hand.
'His hearing is excellent,' she said, foolishly proud. They watched until the dark horse and its slim rider disappeared under the eaves of the wood. Then Finn sighed.
'Come on. We should get back.'
They rode slowly and silent. Claudia was moody; Finn barely spoke. Neither of them wanted to think about the Pretender, or what decision the Council would come to. Finally Finn looked up. 'It's darker. Isn't it?'
The slants of sunlight that had lit the Forest earlier had gone. Instead clouds had gathered, and the breeze had become a wind, threshing high branches.
'There's no storm ordered. Wednesday's the Queen's archery day.'
'Well, it looks like a storm to me. Maybe it's real weather.'
'There is no real weather, Finn. This is the Realm.'
But in ten minutes rain began. It came as a pattering and was suddenly a torrent, lashing with tremendous noise through the leaves. Claudia thought of Jared and said, 'He'll be soaked?
'So will we!' Finn glanced around. 'Come on. Hurry!'
They galloped. The ground was already soft; the hooves splashed into puddles that spilled over the track. Branches whipped at Claudia's face; her hair flew out across her eyes and plastered itself to her cheek. She shivered, unused to the cold and the wet.
'This is all wrong. What's going on?'
Lightning spat; from overhead the low, heavy grumble of thunder rolled down the sky. For a moment Finn knew it was the voice of Incarceron he heard, its terrible, cruel mockery, knew he had never Escaped at all. He turned and yelled, 'We shouldn't be under the trees. Hurry!'
They whipped the horses up and raced. Claudia felt the rain like blows in her chest; as Finn pulled ahead she shouted at him to wait, to slow down.
Only his horse replied. With a high whinny it reared, hooves kicking the air, and then to her horror it fell, crashing on one side, and he rolled from it, slamming into the ground.
'Finn!' she screamed. Something slashed past her, whipping into the wood, thudding into a tree.
And then she knew it wasn't rain, or lightning.
It was a hail of arrows.
Ruined, Like the Moon
Each man and woman will have their place and be content with it. Because f there is no change, what will disturb our peaceful lives?
KING ENDOR'S DECREE
'Claudia!'
Finn rolled over as a firelock blazed; the tree next to him was scorched with diagonal fire. 'Get down!'
Did she have no
idea how to act in an ambush? Her horse was panicking; he took a deep breath and ran from cover, grabbing it by the bridle. 'Get down!'
She jumped, and they both fell. Then they were squirming into the bushes, lying fiat, breathless. Around them the forest roared with rain.
'Hurt?'
'No. You?'
'Bruised. Nothing serious.'
Claudia dragged soaked hair from her eyes. 'I can't believe this. Sia would never order it. Where are they?'
Finn was watching the trees intently. 'Over there, behind that thicket, maybe. Or high in the branches.'
That alarmed her. She twisted to see but rain blinded her She wriggled further back, her hands deep in leaf- flitter, the stink of decaying foliage rich in her face.
'Now what?'
'We regroup,' Finn's voice was steady. 'Weapons? I've got a sword and knife.'
'There's a pistol in my saddlebag.' But the horse had already bolted. She glanced sidelong at Finn. 'Are you enjoying this?'
He laughed, a rare event. 'It livens things up. But back in Incarceron we used to be the ones doing the ambushing.' Lightning blinked. Its brilliance lit the wood and the rain came down harder, hissing through the bracken.
'I could try and crawl to that oak: Finn muttered in her ear. 'And get round ...' 'There might be an army out there:
'One man. Maybe two, no more: He squirmed back, the bushes rustling. Instantly two arrows thwacked into the bole of the tree above them. Claudia gasped. Finn froze. 'Well, maybe not.'
'This is the Steel Wolves,' she hissed.
Finn was silent a moment. Then he said, 'Can't be. They could have killed me last night:
She stared at him through the downpour. 'What?'
'They left this next to my head.' He held up the dagger; the snarling wolfshead dripping in his fingers.
Then as one, they turned. Voices were approaching through the hissing forest.
Sapphique - Incarceron 02 Page 13
