Sapphique - Incarceron 02 (38 page)

Rix tore his eyes from the apparition. 'I'd say you were the madman, Warden.'

'Perhaps I am. Come and see what causes your mirage.'

Keiro pulled Attia on. At first she was unable to stop staring back, because the shadow on the clouds grew as they moved away from it, rippling and fading and reappearing. Rix, though, hurried, after the Warden, as if he had already forgotten his wonder. 'How tiny?'

'Tinier than you could imagine.' John Arlex glanced at him.

'But in my imagination, I am immensel I am the universe. There's nothing else but me.'

Keiro said, 'Just like the Prison, then.'

Ahead of them the steam cleared. Alone in the centre of the marble floor, pinpointed by a ring of spotlights, they saw a man.

He was standing on a platform reached by five steps, and at first they thought he was winged, the plumage black as a swan's. Then they saw he wore a Sapient's robe of darkest iridescence and it was threaded with feathers. His face was narrow and beautiful, shining with radiance. Each eye was perfect, the lips held in a smile of compassion, his hair dark. One hand was lifted, the other hung at his side. He did not move, or speak, or breathe.

Rix stepped up on to the lowest step, staring up. Sapphique he murmured. 'The Prison's face is Sapphique's

'It's just a statue,' Keiro snapped.

All around them, as close as a caress against their cheeks, Incarceron whispered,
No, it isn't. It's my body.

The Portal said something.

Finn turned and stared at it. Wisps of grey, like curls of cloud, were moving over its surface. The hum in the room modulated and changed. All the lights flickered off and on.

'Get back.' Claudia was already at the c
ontrols. 'Something's happening
inside.'

'Your father, he warned us ... about what might come through.'

'I know what he said!' She didn't turn, her fingers playing on the controls. 'Are you armed?'

He drew his sword, slowly.

The room dimmed.

'What if it's Keiro? I can't kill Keiro!'

'Incarceron is cunning enough to look like anyone.'

'I can't, Claudia!' He moved closer.

Suddenly, without warning, the room tipped. It spoke. It said,
My body
...

Finn staggered, slamming against the desk. The sword clattered out of his hand as he grabbed at Claudia but she slid back with a gasp, missing her footing, crashing into the chair, falling back into its seat.

And before she could stand up, she was gone.

Rix moved. He snatched the sword from the Warden's belt and swung it to Attia's neck. He said, 'It's time to give me my Glove back.'

'Rix
’
Beside her was the right hand of the statue. Small red circuits rippled at its fingers ends.

Do what you have to, my son,
the Prison said eagerly.

Rix nodded. 'I hear you, Master.' He pulled Attia's coat open and snatched out the Glove. He held it up in triumph and from all sides the beams of light swivelled and focused on it, throwing swollen replicated shadows not only of the statue now but of all of them, great cloudy Keiros and Attias on the clouds.

'Behold,' Rix murmured. 'The greatest illusion the Prison has ever seen.'

The sword tip whipped away from Attia's neck. She moved, but Keiro was quicker. Diving forward he batted the blade aside and punched Rix hard in the chest.

But it was Keiro who cried out. He was flung hack jerking with shock, and Rix laughed, his gap-tooth grin wide.

'Magic! How powerful it is, my Apprentice! How it guards its master!'

He turned to the image, lifted the Glove towards its sparking fingers.

'No!' Attia cried. 'You can't do this!' She turned to the Warden. 'Stop him!'

The Warden said quietly, 'There is nothing I can do. There never has been.'

She grabbed at Rix but even as she touched him the shock burnt into her nerves, an electric spark of recoil that screamed in her own voice. Then she was on the floor and Keiro was standing over her. 'Are you all right?'

She crouched over her burnt fingers. 'He's wired up. He's beaten us.'

Rix.
Incarceron's order was urgent.
Give me my Glove. Give me my freedom. Do it NOW.

Rix turned, and Attia rolled. She shot out her foot and the magician tripped and fell, crashing on the white floor, the Glove falling from his hand and skidding over the shiny marble, Keiro diving after it
and grabbing it with a whoop of
joy.

He scrambled back, out of reach. 'Now, Prison, you get your freedom. But from me. And only if you do what you promised. Tell me I'm the one who gets to Escape with you.'

The Prison laughed, ominous.
Do you really think I keep such promises?

Keiro circled, gazing up ignoring Rix's howls of anger. He showed no disappointment. 'Take me or I wear the Glove
You would not dare.
'Watch me.'
The Glove will kill you.
'Better than living in this hell.'

Their stubborness made them equal, Attia thought. Keiro turned, a slow circle. He slid his metal fingernail towards the Glove's opening.

I will torment you.
Incarceron's voice was a high metallic whine.
I will make you pray for death.

'Keiro, don't,' Attia whispered.

For a second he hesitated. And then from behind her the Warden's cool voice cut the air. 'Wear it. Put it on.' 'What?'

'Put it on. The Prison won't risk destroying its only way Out. I think the result will surprise you.'

Keiro stared at him in surprise, and the Warden stared back. Then Keiro slipped his fingers deeper.

Wait.
Incarceron's voice thundered. The cloud flickered

with invisible lightnings.
I will not allow that. No. Stop. Please.

'You stop me Keiro breathed. A spark leapt between his metal nail and the Glove. He gasped with the pain. And then he was gone.

There was no light, no blinding brilliant flash. Instead, as Finn stared at Claudia he saw she was no longer there. She had become a vacuum of herself, a shadow, a negative image. And as he watched she re-emerged from the darkness, pixel by pixel, atom by atom, the reassembly of a fragmented being, all its thoughts and limbs and dreams and features, and it wasn't Claudia, it was someone else.

He groped for the sword, his eyes blinded by what might be tears, the blade whipping up to the face that stared at his, the amazed blue eyes, the dirty blond hair.

For a long moment Finn was still, both of them were, face to face, and then Keiro reached forward and took the sword from him and turned the point to the ground.

The door burst open. Jared took one look around the Portal and stood stock-still. His heart was hammering so hard he was breathless, and he leant back against the wall.

Behind him Medlicote pushed Caspar in, and they stared.

They saw, facing Finn, a stranger in a filthy red coat, his eyes blue with triumph, his muscled hand tight around the hilt of a sharp sword. There was no one else in the room.

'Who are you?' Caspar demanded. Keiro turned and gazed at the shining breastplate and splendid clothes. He levelled the blade an inch from Caspar's eyes. 'Your worst nightmare,' he said.

30

The Winged Man

Did he Escape? For there is a rumour that is whispered in the dark, a rumour that he remains, trapped deep in the Prison's heart, his body turned to stone; that the cries we hear are his cries, that his struggles shake the world. But we know what we know.

THE STEEL WOLVES

Jared stepped forward and grabbed the Glove from Keiro's hand, flinging it down on the floor as if it was alive. 'Did you hear its dreams?' he said. 'Did it control you?'

Keiro laughed. 'Does it look like it?'

'But you wore it!'

'No. I didn't.' Keiro was too amazed to think about the Glove. He flicked Caspar's coat—collar with the sword tip. 'Nice material. And just my size.'

He was glowing with delight. If he felt sick or dazzled by the room's white light he didn't show it. He took in everything — the four of them, the cluttered Portal, the huge feather — with one avid sweep of his eyes. 'So this is Outside.'

Finn swallowed. His mouth felt dry. He glanced at Jared and almost felt the Sapient's dismay.

Keiro tapped Caspar's breastplate with the sword. 'I want that too.'

Finn said, 'It's different here. There are wardrobes full of clothes.' 'I want his.'

Caspar looked terrified. 'Do you know who I am?' he stammered. Keiro grinned. 'No.'

'Where's Claudia?'
Jared's agonized question cut the tension.

Keiro shrugged. 'How should I know?'

'They changed places Finn kept his eyes on his oathbrother. 'She was sitting in the chair and she just dissolved. Keiro appeared. Is that what the Glove does? Is that the power it has? Can I put it on now, and... '

'No one puts it on until I say.' Jared moved past him. He went to the chair and gripped it, leaning on its back. His face was pale with weariness and he looked more anxious than Finn had ever seen him. Quickly, Finn said, 'Master Medlicote, pour some wine please.'

The fragrant smell filled the
air. Keiro sniffed it. 'What is
that?'

'Better than the Prison muck.' Finn watched him. 'Try some. And you, Master.' As the drink was po
ured he watched his oathbrother
prowl round the room, exploring everything. It was all wrong. He should be happy. He should be so elated to have Keiro here. And yet there was a deep dread inside him, a shivery, sickening terror, because this wasn't how it should have happened. And because Claudia was gone, and suddenly there was a hole in the world. He said, 'Who was with you?'

Keiro sipped the red liquid and his eyebrows rose. 'Attia. The Warden. And Rix.'

'Who's Rix?' Finn said, but Jared turned from the screen instantly. 'The Warden was with you?'

'He told me to do it. He said,
"Put the Glove on."
Maybe he knew . . .' Keiro stopped, instantly. 'That's it! Of course he knew. It was his way of getting the Glove out of the Prison's reach.'

Jared turned back to the screen. Placing his fingers on it he stared sadly into its darkness. 'At least she's with her father'

'If they're still alive.' Keiro glanced at Caspar's tied wrists. 'What's going on here, anyway? I thought this was where people were free.' Turning he saw them all staring at him. Medicote whispered, 'What do you mean, if they're still alive?'

'Use your brain' Keiro sheathed the sword and went to the door. 'The Prison is going to be very, very angry about this. It may have killed them all already.'

Jared stared at him. 'You knew that might happen, and you
still... '

'That's how it is in Incarceron,' Keiro said. 'Every man for himself. As my brother will tell you.' He turned and faced Finn. 'So. Are you
going
to show me our kingdom? Or are you ashamed of your jaibird brother? That is, if we're still brothers.'

Finn said quietly, 'We're still brothers.'

'You don't seem so pleased to see me.'

He shrugged. 'It's the shock. And Claudia ... she's in there.

Keiro raised an eyebrow. 'So that's how it is. Well, I suppose she's rich, and enough of a bitch to make a good Queen.'

'That's what I've missed about you. Your tact and courtesy.'

'Not to mention my quicksilver wit and devastating looks.'

They stood face to face. Finn said, 'Keiro. . .'

A sudden explosion rumbled over their heads. The room shook, a plate sliding to the floor and smashing.

Finn swung to Jared. 'They've opened fire!'

'Then I suggest you get the Queen's beloved son up to the battlements,' Jared said quietly. 'I have work to do here.' He exchanged one swift look with Finn, and Finn saw the discarded Glove was in his hand. 'Be careful, Master.'

'Just stop them firing. And Finn.' Jared came over and gripped his wrist. 'Do not, on any account, leave this house. I need you here. Do you understand me?'