A drum began to beat—a deep, throbbing sound like a great heartbeat. The crowd fell silent.
Lief had to see what was happening. Cautiously he tweaked a little more of the cover aside.
The metal box, with Tira walking before it, was being pushed through a vast archway not far ahead. It was moving from darkness into blazing light. The light of the Arena.
Lief knew that there must be tiers of seats circling the Arena, but he could not see them from where he was lying. Neither could he see the vraals, whose growls were mingling with the beating of the great drum. But he could see the ground clearly. Everything within the frame of the arch was as clear as day. It was like looking at a vast, moving picture.
Grey Guards holding sparking rods lined the path along which the metal box was passing. The path led to a huge platform ringed with white columns. Someone wearing a long red robe was standing there, too far back for Lief to see clearly.
Behind the Guards were ragged people, pressed closely together. The peoples’ shoulders were bowed, their eyes haunted and despairing. Most bore the Shadow Lord’s brand on brow or cheek. They stood dully watching as Tira and the metal box passed them by.
Lief’s eyes burned as he saw among them the black-clad people of Noradz, the hulking figures of hundreds of Jalis, some palace guards. Others he did not recognise. But he knew who they were. Farmers from the northeast, the west and the Plains, gladiators from Rithmere, fishing folk from the coast, Resistance fighters, citizens of Del…
Deltorans, all of them. Beaten, worked and swept by the wind of despair until they had no heart or hope left. They believed they had been brought here to die. For many, perhaps, death might seem a relief from the misery of their slavery.
But they will not die, Lief thought grimly. And they will be slaves no longer. They will not!
But there were so many. Uneasily Lief fingered the Pirran Pipe beneath his shirt. The Pipe’s moment of testing was near. Would its magic give them time to rally the people? To get so many thousands out of the Arena? Would it break the shutting spell blocking the mountains?
The box had nearly reached the platform. And the light in the Arena was changing to a dull, angry red.
Dawn.
A movement caught Lief’s eye. The Baks were stealing closer to the archway. 3-19 was looking resentfully after Tira. No-one was watching the cage.
‘This is our chance to get down!’ Barda muttered.
‘No!’ Jasmine whispered urgently. ‘We must stay here. How else are we to reach the platform safely?’
‘The platform?’ exclaimed Barda, aghast. ‘Why—?’
Lief was sure that Jasmine had her own reasons for wanting to get to the platform. But he, too, believed that the centre of the Arena was where they should be.
‘The Pipe must be played where the Shadow Lord can hear it clearly,’ he whispered. ‘And the people must see us. Emlis, as soon as we reach the platform, I will pass the Pipe to you. Be ready!’
Emlis squeaked frightened agreement.
‘This is a reckless plan, Lief,’ Barda growled. ‘The people have had no warning. They will not know—’
‘Shsh!’ breathed Jasmine.
Lief froze. Then he heard what Jasmine had heard before him. At the back of the cage there were tiny noises. Whispering voices. A clink as someone lifted the cage lock. A grunt of effort and a muttered curse.
Then something tapped Lief’s foot.
‘Get down, you fools!’ rasped a harsh voice. ‘We cannot release Pi-Ban, but you at least we can save.’
Claw!
‘No. We are staying with the cage,’ Lief whispered. ‘Are you mad, boy?’ Claw hissed. ‘There is no time to explain,’ said Barda rapidly. ‘If you wish to help us, get into the Arena. Tell the people—as many as you can—to be ready to fight their way out. When it is time, they will know it.’
‘If we try to save them all, they will be slaughtered,’ rasped Claw. ‘And we with them. A few we might—’
‘Tell them to make for the pass behind the Arena!’ Barda broke in. ‘Now move away, Claw, for pity’s sake. The Guards will turn and see you!’
‘The pass is sealed by the shutting spell,’ Claw said. ‘Leave that to us,’ said Barda. ‘Just tell them!’ ‘You are mad!’ muttered Claw. The talon resting on Lief’s foot tightened briefly, then slipped away.
They heard more whispering. Then silence. Claw, Brianne and Gers had vanished into the shadows. ‘Will he do it?’ Jasmine murmured. ‘Who can say?’ said Barda grimly. ‘And I fear we are as mad as he claims! For all we know the Pirran Pipe will trouble the Shadow Lord no more than a buzzing fly.’
‘Look!’ Jasmine whispered.
A red-clad woman was walking forward on the platform, her strong face and smooth silver hair now clearly visible. ‘Hellena!’
The despairing, unbelieving cry had come from below them. From Pi-Ban.
3-19 swung around. ‘Return to your posts!’ he spat at the Guards furiously, then turned back to the Arena.
The red-robed woman had also heard Pi-Ban’s cry. Her lips curved in a cool smile.
Lief stared, horrified. Hellena had been a member of Pi-Ban’s group. She was the friend for whom Brianne had mourned so bitterly. Yet now her eyes gleamed in triumph as the Perns slid the metal box up a ramp and onto the platform. She was revelling in evil. Like Tira.
The Conversion Project… the way of the future…
‘There will be no vraals released today,’ Hellena cried in ringing tones.
Howls of disappointment rose from the audience—howls that changed abruptly to wails as thunder cracked and a ghastly chill swept through the Arena.
The Baks cringed beside the cage. ‘The master is present,’ Bak 3 whimpered.
‘Today a new era begins!’ Hellena cried. ‘After today, nothing will stand in the master’s way. Wherever he lays his hand, all will bow down before him, and do his will. As you will see.’
She raised her hand. ‘Bring Faith!’
Two Guards came up to the platform dragging between them a small, struggling, black-haired girl whose green eyes flashed fury.
Jasmine caught her breath.
Lief’s heart seemed to stop. Barda cursed softly.
The child on the platform, her small face so like Jasmine’s that the two could only be sisters, was scanning the crowd, her eyes filled with fearful hope.
‘This is the sister of one of the master’s most vicious enemies!’ shouted Hellena. ‘But, like the gnome who will be joining her—a gnome I know to be the worst of traitors—she will soon bow willingly before the master.’
The audience roared.
‘We are about to be summoned,’ gabbled Bak 9 fearfully. ‘The master will think we have disobeyed our orders. Dawn has broken, and the cage is uncovered.’
Lief tensed, the child Faith suddenly the last thing on his mind. Surely disaster would not strike now, when they were so close!
The other Baks shuffled their feet nervously. ‘The Ol said—’ one began.
‘Curse the Ol!’ snarled Bak 9. And without further warning the six sprang up onto the sides of the cage and ripped the covers aside.
Emlis, suddenly exposed, rolled in an agony of terror and fell. He hit the ground and lay still. Lief, Barda and Jasmine struggled to rise, to draw their weapons, but they had no chance. The Guards recovered from their shock in an instant. The sparking rods thrashed down, down…
Lief saw Jasmine crumple and fall back, Kree with her. He saw Barda hit once, twice. Then he himself felt a fiery jolt on the back of his neck. Agony shot through him. Then all was darkness.
14 – The Shadow Arena
Lief came to his senses slowly. Something was thumping, thumping, every thunderous beat sending shooting pain through his head. He was lying on a hard, jolting surface that was jarring his aching bones…
He forced his eyes open. His head was jammed against cold bars. He could see nothing beyond the bars, because thick fabric hung over them on the outside.