The people in the doorway gasped. With a sinking feeling, Rye found the armour shell and pushed it onto his finger.
‘A traitor, Warden?’ Tallus said, his voice sharp with contempt. ‘Because I wanted to spread the word that there might be a chance of beating the skimmers? Because I wanted to make sure that if you tried to stop our test the whole of Weld would know? Well, put me in a cell if you like. It will make no difference.’
The Warden’s eyes bulged. He glanced at Jordan for help, but Jordan was staring stolidly ahead, and appeared not to notice.
‘The Southwall test will go on, with me or without me,’ Tallus said, limping rapidly forward until he and the Warden were almost nose-to-nose. ‘The columns to raise the lanterns above roof level are being built as we speak. And if you attempt to have those columns pulled down, Warden, everyone will hear about it. The Lantern will see to that!’
‘The Lantern will be suppressed!’ the Warden squeaked. ‘We have discovered who is writing it, and he will be dealt with! What is the fellow’s name, Jordan? Crane … Cren …?’
‘Crell, sir,’ Jordan said tonelessly.
Crell! Dirk’s friend Crell! Rye felt a jolt in the pit of his stomach, and Dirk and Sholto became very still.
‘It is hardly difficult to find out the name of The Lantern’s editor,’ Tallus murmured. ‘It is printed at the bottom of the second page—quite plainly.’
Some of the people in the doorway laughed. The Warden looked up sharply, as if noticing the crowd for the first time. Rye held his breath, but the watery eyes slid over the three brothers without showing a spark of recognition.
It would be a different story if I still had red hair, Rye thought, and shook his head. How strange that the disguise meant to hide him from enemies beyond the silver Door had been of the most use to him in Weld!
‘We know of this Crell, as it happens,’ the Warden said loudly, his gaze still on the crowd. ‘Our records show that he came to the Keep years ago, claiming to be a quest volunteer. When it came to the point, however, he showed his true colours. He abandoned his brave comrades and crept home.’
Jordan looked down his nose and smoothed his huge moustache. The people at the door fell silent.
‘I daresay if he had not run away he would have been declared dead like all the others,’ said Tallus calmly. ‘And that would have been a pity, for me and for the whole of Weld. There are more ways than one to be a hero.’
‘A hero, indeed!’ jeered the Warden. ‘We will see how brave he is when he is brought in under guard tomorrow!’
‘Under guard for telling the truth?’ a woman shrilled from the doorway. ‘Shame!’
Tallus smiled. ‘Oh, I doubt you will catch Crell, Warden,’ he said. ‘He and his printing device are very well hidden.’
The crowd cheered.
‘Jordan, shut that door!’ the Warden roared.
A small boy woke and began to wail. The old woman with the plait rose from the floor and hurried to comfort him, shooting the Warden a furious glance.
‘It might not be wise, sir, to let the citizens feel you have something to hide,’ Jordan said in a voice so low that Rye could scarcely hear it.
‘Do as I say!’ the Warden bellowed.
Two more children began to cry. Expressionless, Jordan moved to do as he was told.
‘We will have to go in,’ Dirk muttered. ‘We cannot let Tallus face this alone. Rye, put on the armour …’ His voice trailed off as Rye showed him the shell already clinging to his little finger.
Together the brothers darted into the room. Rye had the feeling that Sonia had moved at the same time, but he did not dare look round to be sure. He did not want to draw attention to her. What the Warden would say if he saw his daughter’s maid in the company of rebels did not bear thinking about.
Jordan’s attention, at least, was all for Dirk, Rye and Sholto. He lunged for them, bounced back, and fell heavily to the floor. Shocked titters rippled through the crowd in the doorway. Gaping at the brothers, Jordan picked himself up and sidled to the door. It closed with a click, shutting the laughter out.
Dirk, Rye and Sholto ranged themselves behind Tallus. The Warden stepped back, crossing his fingers and wrists as if to ward off evil.
‘So you have brought your henchmen with you, Tallus!’ he cried, as Jordan returned to his side. ‘Now we know what you are, without doubt! Where are the soldiers, Jordan? What is the meaning of this delay?’
‘You ordered that the men present themselves in clean uniforms, sir,’ said Jordan. ‘They had to change, but I am sure they will be here soon.’
Sholto snorted. Dirk shook his head in disgust. Jordan eyed them keenly then turned to gaze in puzzlement at Rye.
Jordan knows he has seen us before! Rye thought. In a moment he will realise we were all quest volunteers. He will realise we have come from beyond the Wall.
‘Hold them, Jordan!’ the Warden ordered feverishly, pointing to Dirk, Rye and Sholto. ‘Hold them here till I return! There is—something I have to do. In private!’
He turned and bolted into the waiting room, slamming the door behind him.
‘He has probably gone to destroy the petition so he can pretend he never received it,’ Tallus murmured to Sholto out of the corner of his mouth. ‘You and your brothers had better make yourselves scarce, my boy, or you will find yourselves in a cell with me. Get back outside the Wall and keep trying to find the source of the skimmers. I cannot think why you have not done it by now—you have been away long enough!’
‘We have found it!’ Sholto snapped. ‘I have not had a chance to tell you.’
‘What?’ Tallus thrust his hands through his hair and tugged at it violently. ‘But—’
‘Listen, Tallus!’ Sholto hissed. ‘There is an enemy, and he is breeding skimmers that can hunt in daylight.’
‘Daylight!’ Tallus seemed to shrink.
‘Yes. We destroyed most of the new breed, so your plan to light the darkness is good for now. It will save many lives. But in years to come—’
Tallus’s eyes were wild. ‘Tell me—No! There is no time! Now it is more important than ever that you stay free. Go, my boy! Go while you can! I will see to it that your mother knows you are alive, never fear!’
Jordan was still staring at Dirk, Rye and Sholto. He took a breath as if he was about to say something, but before he could speak the hallway door opened and a group of very clean Keep soldiers marched in.
‘Too late!’ Tallus groaned. ‘Here are the stalker birds!’
Despite everything, Rye had to smile. The soldiers, with their red leggings, white tunics and plumed helmets, did look ridiculously like the long-legged birds that plagued Weld’s grain fields. Then the smile froze on his lips as another image flew into his mind—the image of inhuman, grey-uniformed guards with strangely smooth, cool skin and hard, flat eyes.
How would the elegant Keep soldiers fare against the forces of the Lord of Shadows? The idea would have been comical if it had not been so terrible. It would not be battle, but slaughter.
But even as Rye shivered, it came to him abruptly that it did not really matter if Weld’s defenders were strong or weak. No army, however used to fighting, could combat the Enemy’s dark sorcery.
Instinctively he reached up to the little bag hanging around his neck. His fingers tingled with magic.
The waiting room door clicked open once more and the Warden stood framed in the doorway. He had put on his plumed hat, despite the fact that the feathers were stained with ink. He strutted forward, not troubling to close the door behind him. Through the gap Rye could see that the petition and the half-finished letter no longer lay on the polished table.