Renegade (26 page)

‘How much of it is your design?’

He glances away from me awkwardly. ‘More than I’m proud of but you don’t know what it was like in those first few months. We never knew if we were going to wake up with someone
holding a knife to our throat in the castle . . .’

‘We
do
know what that’s like,’ I shoot back quickly.

He nods an acknowledgement. ‘When Victor started talking about how he wanted things to work, I said we would need four points to help centralise the results and be able to broadcast
them.’

‘The four towers in Middle England.’

‘Exactly.’

‘You’re why they were built?’

Xyalis shrugs and looks away again. So much of his legacy is negative. ‘Not the towers as such – they were Victor’s idea. My idea could have used four pylons but he wanted to
create something that made a statement. He demanded we build a testament to his new rule that would stand for years to come. That’s where the towers themselves come from but, yes,
you’re right, it
is
my technology within them – the results of the Reckoning are processed there.’

‘What about the Offering?’

‘Victor’s idea. Once he realised we could find everyone’s strengths and weaknesses, he said he wanted a group of people around him that he could mould to create the country he
wanted. That was the reason I left.’

‘Why?’

He holds his hands out, indicating us. ‘You should know. Anyone who spent any time around him could see that creating a country in his image was going to be a terrible idea. Not only that,
but there was no way he would be able to tolerate so many new people with different ideas and personalities. It was always going to be a bloodbath.’

Suddenly I feel angry. ‘If you knew this was going to happen, why didn’t you do something to stop it?’

He doesn’t react. ‘What would you have had me do? At least half of us went along with everything he wanted because the alternative was to be executed as a traitor live on screen. I
spoke to a few people about my concerns but as soon as I realised I didn’t have great support, I knew I had to go. I packed what I could and left in the middle of the night. I know they told
everyone I was dead because it didn’t suit them to let others know there was anyone alive who disagreed with what was going on. I suppose I figured I could be more use trying to fight against
everything from outside, rather than being killed in my bed.’

‘But that was years ago, what have you done since?’

This time my words do sting. Xyalis glares back at me and I can tell he is suppressing his anger. ‘I escaped with almost nothing. Since then, I have built up all of this and helped to
stabilise the few rebel groups there are. Things take time.’

He continues to stare at me before Imrin tries to defuse the situation. ‘Why Lancaster?’ he asks.

Xyalis blinks and then turns to face Imrin. ‘This was one of the rebel strongholds during the war. They used the castle as a base and a storage area. I was on the other side and we had
been scouring the country for any leftover fuel supplies. We didn’t have much but we had enough for a handful of bombing raids from the planes we still had. We thought that if we could
destroy their main operations area, then the rest would fall. We threw everything we had here, using the last of the fuel and bombs to flatten the place. We thought it would be a big turning point
but it had hardly any impact because the rebels were so spread out over the country. After I escaped Windsor, I knew this would be one of the few places there would be no patrols. What you see
overground is more or less as it has been for the past twenty years or so.’

‘Where are we then?’ I ask.

‘These were the catacombs under the castle. We’ve managed to expand slowly and fortify. I’ve salvaged all sorts of useful things from various places and gradually recruited
people I thought could be useful.’

‘Is that what we are?’

The hint of a smile returns. ‘It’s
you
who said you wanted revenge.’

I feel embarrassed, even though none of the others reacts.

‘Why do your guards have guns?’ I ask. ‘Not even the Kingsmen have anything other than swords and knives.’

Xyalis laughs patronisingly and then apologises. ‘We don’t have much ammunition if that’s what you’re really asking. We have enough to defend ourselves but not enough to
mount any sort of assault, especially not on Windsor. You’re clever enough to have worked it out but it’s not about the guns, it’s about the ammunition. If you manufacture
bullets, there’s a good chance they will eventually find their way into the hands of your enemies. Victor could arm all of the Kingsmen if he wanted – but they have enough authority
with the weapons they have. The bigger danger is if the guns and bullets found their way into the hands of rebels. He’s very sensible with things like that because he doesn’t need guns
anyway – there are far bigger weapons out there.’

‘Like what?’

He doesn’t reply but his narrow smile is becoming infuriating. ‘Let me ask you a question,’ he says. ‘Have you ever heard of Hadrian’s Wall?’

‘Who’s Adrian?’

Xyalis grins and his entire face changes. I sense this is a story he is going to enjoy telling. ‘When I was a little younger than you, I used to enjoy history. So much has happened in the
last few years that history is all around us but it wasn’t like that back then. A long, long time ago, a group of people called the Romans ruled this country. They controlled vast nations
throughout the world but they were obsessed with defence. Every time they fought and won a battle, they would focus on making sure it was as secure as possible before moving on to the next place.
When they invaded our country, they had a lot of problems with barbarians further north than this. Because they didn’t want to lose the ground they had won, they built a wall the entire width
of the country to stop the barbarians attacking them.’

‘Why are you telling us this?’

‘You’ve probably heard of “Scotland”. That’s the country north of here, beyond that old wall – Hadrian’s Wall. When the war started, the Scots decided
we
were the barbarians and that they didn’t want any part of it. They found a way to rebuild the wall with technology even I don’t understand. They cut themselves off from the
rest of us.’

‘Is that why Scotland doesn’t appear on any of the maps?’

‘Exactly, which is probably the way they would have it as well. The thing is, they’re still there beyond that wall.’

‘Is that where you’re going to ask us to go?’

Xyalis recoils, looking at me as if I am stupid. ‘Of course not! If you went anywhere near the border you’d be killed on sight. I’m asking because it was one of the things
Victor always talked about in those early days, saying we had to get them back on side. I think he actually wanted a bigger Kingdom to rule but I was wondering if you had heard anything while you
were in the castle?’

I look across to Imrin and Faith, but their faces are blank. All of this is news to us. ‘We didn’t hear much at all about what was going on beyond the castle walls,’ I say.

Xyalis seems disappointed. ‘I always thought Scotland would be his weak point. If he attacked there, it would leave him unprotected elsewhere . . .’

He tails off but it makes me realise that he does at least have some ideas.

‘One of our friends is sick,’ I say. ‘He has an infection but we don’t have access to the medicine we need. Do you have anything?’

Xyalis shakes his head. ‘Only to cure very minor ailments.’

I try to block the image of Hart from my mind and concentrate on where we are. I knew it was going to be unlikely that Xyalis would be able to help but I had to ask. Finally, I get to the point.
‘When we spoke, you said you might have something I wanted?’

Xyalis stands and steps towards the nearest workbench. ‘I may have been a little hasty . . .’

I can feel the mood change as Imrin stares at me across the table, his mouth wide open. I start to speak but he gets in ahead of me, shouting angrily. ‘You told us to come here because you
had something we could use!’

Xyalis remains calm. ‘I still might. In theory, I had what I needed but, unfortunately, I am a part short.’

‘What is it?’ I ask.

‘I wouldn’t want to say until it is ready . . .’

‘What do you need?’

Xyalis turns to face us and I realise that everything we have spoken about beforehand has been a prelude to this moment. I have played into his hands.

‘I think the question you should be asking is “where”. If it’s any consolation, it’s in the same place as the medicine you will need for your friend.’

In the same way that I played Opie’s father, I know Xyalis is about to do the same to me. Not only that but I’ve given him more ammunition than he had already – he is going to
use Hart’s illness against me.

He licks his lips, scanning the others before focusing back on me. ‘There’s only one place in the country that has what you need – Windsor Castle.’

The air feels so heavy that I struggle to breathe and end up coughing loudly. Everyone is staring at me. ‘You want us to go back?’ I stammer.

‘It’s up to you. I’m not asking you to do anything.’

‘But we spent so long trying to escape. Now you want us to walk back in, steal what you need and walk out again?’

‘It’s not what
I
need. You said you wanted revenge, this is for you. You said your friend needed a cure, this is for him.’

I manage to compose myself in order to reply. ‘Tell me about the medicine.’

‘Before the war we started to stockpile tiny samples of all the diseases we knew about. Most cures are based in some way on a minute amount of the disease it is healing. When Victor found
out, he thought we would be able to create weapons from the viruses. In fairness, it was something we had discussed during the war but we never wanted to go that far.’

‘So he has lots of diseases he can use against everyone?’

‘Not exactly, although it isn’t for the want of trying. When this type of weapon couldn’t be created quickly enough for him, he had the chief engineer killed and shut the whole
thing down. What they created by accident was a formula which can cure most illnesses and diseases.’

It takes me a few moments to take in what he’s saying. ‘It can keep someone alive?’

Xyalis starts to say something but stops himself and flaps his hands about, trying to find the right words. ‘It’s not something that can give you everlasting life. It doesn’t
stop you ageing or dying. If you’re stabbed in the heart, you still die. It’s a combination of all the diseases and ailments that have ever been isolated. It cures every illness
you’ve ever heard of – and many more. It’s very powerful but Victor isn’t interested in curing people.’

‘And this formula is in the castle?’

‘Yes.’

‘How do you know?’

Xyalis points behind us towards the bank of computer equipment. ‘I built most of the technology there. I still have my ways in.’

‘What about
our
way in? We can’t just knock on the front door.’

Xyalis crosses towards where he was pointing and beckons us over. ‘If you choose to go, there is plenty I can help with.’ He presses a string of buttons, bringing up a collage of
small squares on the screen. ‘I have access to the security cameras and can make sure you’re not seen . . .’

Imrin catches my eye. This was something I managed to do by myself during our escape.

‘I also have something that will get you out safely and quickly. The only real issue is, as you say, getting you in. I have an idea but won’t be able to offer you much
protection.’

‘What is it?’

‘There is a supply train which arrives once a week . . .’

‘We know,’ Imrin and I say together.

‘One of the Kingsmen is loyal to me. He will be able to get you on it but if any of the others find you, he will act with them. You’ll have to conceal yourselves and hope for the
best.’

He speaks so matter-of-factly that he doesn’t even try to conceal the fact that he had much of this planned out from the moment he invited me here. I try to ask him again what he might
have that interests me but he waves me away, saying he won’t reveal anything until he is certain it works. Perhaps he would have told me if I hadn’t given away the information about
needing a cure for Hart.

‘There is something else I should show you,’ he adds, flicking on another monitor. ‘I recorded this earlier.’

On screen, the national anthem plays before the ‘breaking news’ strap scrolls across the bottom. The presenter excitedly tells us that Colt Blackthorn has failed to present himself
for the Offering. The photo of me with reddened eyes and pale skin is shown again as they remind everyone of my crimes, before a large number one appears next to my face.

‘Silver Blackthorn is, of course, number one on the nation’s most-wanted list,’ the voiceover says as a picture of my brother appears on screen with the number two flashing
next to him. ‘Number two is Colt Blackthorn, with – for the first time ever – three members of the same family comprising one, two and three in our most-wanted chart.’ My
mother’s image scrolls into view, accused of harbouring known criminals.

The newsreader sounds overly cheery as the camera switches back to her. ‘The punishment for their crimes is, as we all know, death.’

The reward for anyone who catches me has almost doubled since I last saw the figures, which probably explains the increased number of capture squads we saw on the streets on our journey away
from Middle England.

Xyalis switches the screen off and says that he thought I would want to see it. It wasn’t a surprise but it was still shocking to see my brother’s face displayed so publicly and the
promise that he is to be put to death.

‘I have beds you can use for the night,’ Xyalis says. ‘I’d advise you to sleep on things. If you want to return to the castle, we can talk through the specifics tomorrow.
If not, we can go our separate ways.’

I know he showed me the footage deliberately to let me know that I don’t have too many options. Imrin’s warning about manipulating people is as relevant to Xyalis here as it was when
he was talking about me. I know nothing about the person I am allowing to lead me – but it is either that, or walk away with a death sentence hanging over me and my family and return to watch
Hart die. I also want to know what it is that Xyalis claims to have for me.