‘This is my act, sire.’ For a moment the voice was changed; it became the soft voice of Sapphique, so that they all stared at him through the falling snow. But Rix just grinned his gap-toothed grin.
The Prison howled. It gusted the snow against them in an angry scream. Attia glanced up and saw that the statue was crusted with icicles. Snow whitened the crevices of its hand, clogged the plumage of its coat. Sapphique’s eyes were glinting with ice; over his face a frost spread almost as she looked, stars of crystal joining up like some inhuman virus.
She was too cold to bear it. She jumped up. ‘We’ll freeze here. And god knows what’s happening elsewhere’ Claudia nodded gloomily. ‘Putting Keiro in the middle of a seige is a recipe for disaster. If only I knew where Jared is.’ I have come to my decision. The Prison’s venomous whisper was all around them.
‘Excellent The Warden glared up into the snowfall. ‘I was sure you’d come to your senses. Show me the Door. I’ll ensure the Glove is returned to you.’ Silence.
Then, with a snigger that sent shivers down Attia’s spine, Incarceron said, I am not such a fool,John. The Glove first.
‘We leave first.’ I don’t trust you.
‘Very wise,’ Rix muttered.
I was made by the Wise.
The Warden smiled coldly. ‘Nor do I trust you.’ Then you will not be surprised at what I do next. You think I cannot reach the Glove. But I have spent centuries investigating my own power and its sources. I have discovered things that astonished me. I assure you, John, I can suck the life out of your pretty Realm.
Claudia said, ‘What do you mean? You can’t …’ Ask your father. How pale he looks now. I will show all of you who is the true Prince of the Realm.
The Warden seemed shaken. ‘Tell me what you mean to do. Tell me!’ But only the snow fell, icy and relentless.
Attia said, ‘You’re scared. It’s scared you.’ They all saw his consternation. ‘I don’t understand what it means,’ he whispered.
Dismay struck Claudia like a blow. ‘But you’re the Warden…‘
‘I have lost control, Claudia. I told you, we’re all Prisoners It was Attia who said, ‘Do you hear that?’ A low thudding. It came from across the hail, and as they stared out they realized that the snow had stopped falling.
The electric snakes slid silently into the black tiles of the floor, which clicked across and became solid again.
‘Hammering,’ Rix said.
Attia shook her head. ‘More than that.’ Blows against the door, far off in the suddenly frosty air of the great hail. Blows of axes and sledgehammers and fists.
‘Prisoners,’ the Warden said. And then, ‘A riot.’ When Jared walked into the Great Chamber Finn turned in relief. ‘Any progress?’
‘The Portal is working. But the screen shows only snow.’
‘Snow!’ Jared sat, wrapping his Sapient coat around him. ’It seems to be snowing in the Prison. The temperature is five degrees below zero and dropping.’ Finn jumped up and paced in despair. ‘It’s taking its revenge.’
‘So it seems. For this.’ Jared took the Glove out and placed it carefully on the table. Finn came and touched its scaly skin.
‘Is it really Sapphique’s?’ Jared sighed. ‘I have tried every analysis I know. It just seems to be what it looks like. Reptile skin. Claws. Much of it is recycled matter.’ He looked baffled and anxious. ‘I have no idea how it works, Finn.’ They were silent. The shutters had been drawn back and sunlight slanted in. A wasp murmured in the window panes.
It was hard to believe a besieging army was encamped outside.
‘Have they made any move?’ Jared said.
‘None. It’s a stand-off. But they may attack and try to rescue Caspar.’
‘Where is he?’
‘In there.’ Finn nodded at the door to the next chamber. ‘It’s locked, and that’s the only way in.’ He leant against the empty fireplace. ‘I’m lost without Claudia, Master. She’d know what to do.’
‘You have Keiro instead. As you wanted.’ Finn smiled, wan. ‘Not instead. As for Keiro ... I’m beginning to wish—’
‘Don’t say that.’ Jared’s green eyes watched him. ‘He’s your brother.’
‘Only when it suits him.’ As if the words had summoned him like a spell, a soldier flung the door open and Keiro walked in.
He was breathless and exhilarated and looked every inch a prince. His coat was deepest midnight blue, his blond hair shone clean. Rings glinted on his fingers. He sprawled on the bench, admiring his expensive leather boots. ‘This is fantastic he said. ‘I can’t believe it’s real.’
‘It’s not,’ Jared said quietly. ‘Keiro, tell us about the situation Inside.’ Keiro laughed and poured some wine. ‘I can only guess that the Prison is furious, Master Sapient. I suggest you destroy your machines and nail up the door that leads there and forget all about it. No one can save the Prisoners now’ Jared watched him. ‘You sound just like its builders,’ he said.
‘Claudia’ Finn said.
‘Oh yes, well I’m sorry about the Princess. But it was me you wanted to rescue, wasn’t it? And I’m here. So let’s win our little war, brother, and enjoy our perfect kingdom.’ Finn stood over him. ‘Why did I ever make an oath with you?’
‘To survive. Because without me you couldn’t’ Keiro stood lightly, gazing at Finn. ‘But something’s changed in you, Finn. Not just all this. Something inside.’
‘I’ve remembered.’
‘Remembered!’
‘Who I am Finn said. ‘I remembered that I am a prince and that my name is Giles.’ Keiro said nothing for a moment. His eyes flickered to Jared’s and back. ‘Well. So will the Prince ride into the Prison with all his men and all his horses?’
‘No.’ Finn took the watch out and set it down on the table beside the Glove. ‘Because this is the Prison. This is where you came from. This is the vast edifice that had us all fooled He grasped Keiro’s hand and put the watch in it, lifting the silver cube close to his eyes. ‘This is Incarceron Jared expected awe, or astonishment. He saw neither. Keiro burst into a fit of laughter. ‘You believe that?’ he managed to gasp. ‘Even you, Master?’ Before Jared could answer the door opened and Ralph came in with a guard at his back.
‘What?’ Finn barked.
‘Sire.’ Ralph was pale and breathless. ‘Sire …’ The soldier stepped out from behind him and he had a drawn sword in one hand and a pistol in the other.
Two more men slipped round the door. One slammed it shut and put his back to it.
Jared stood, slowly.
Keiro didn’t move, his eyes alert.
‘We’ve come for the Earl. One of you open that door and get him. If anyone else moves I fire.’ The pistol was raised and pointed directly at Finn’s eyes.
Ralph gasped, ‘I’m sorry; sire, so sorry! They made me tell them …’
‘It’s all right, Ralph.’ Finn stared at the Queen’s man.
‘Jared?’ Jared said, ‘I’ll fetch him. Don’t shoot. There’s no need for violence.’ He moved to the door, out of Finn’s eyeline, and Finn was left staring at the gun. He smiled, wan. ‘This is the second time this has happened to me.’
‘Oh come on, brother.’ Keiro’s voice was light and sharp. ‘It was an odd day in the Prison when such things didn’t happen.’ A door was unlocked behind them. Jared’s voice spoke, low and quiet. Then there was a laugh of pure glee. That must be Caspar.
‘How did you get in here?’ Finn said.
The soldier’s aim did not waver. But he said, ‘We captured one of the Steel Wolves out there in the woods. He was . . . persuaded to talk. He showed us the tunnel the Sapient used.’ Sweating, Finn said, ‘Do you really think you’ll get out the same way?’
‘No, Prisoner. I think we’ll go out through the front door.’ Instantly, one of the other men swivelled his weapon. ‘Keep still!’ Keiro must have moved. Finn could only see his shadow on the floor.
Finn licked dry lips. ‘You are overconfident.’