Incarceron Part 14

But Finn was watching the Maestra.

As they led her in, her eyes glanced quickly at the crowd, the rickety bridges, her people waiting in the shimmering air beyond. Over there, just for a moment a man cried out, and at the sound her face lost its composure; she tugged away from her guards and screamed, "Sim!"

Finn wondered if that was her husband.

"Come on," he said to Keiro, and pushed forward.

Seeing them, the crowd moved back. It's in the way they look at you, Finn thought bitterly. Knowing that the old man was right made him angry. He came up behind the Maestra and grabbed her arm.

"Remember what I said. No harm will come to you. But are you sure they'll bring this thing?" She glared at him.

"They won't hold anything back. Some people know about love."

The jibe stung him.

"Maybe I did once."

Jormanric was watching them, his dull eyes barely focused.

He jabbed a ringed finger at the bridge and yelled, "Get her ready!"

Keiro pulled the woman's hands behind her and shackled them.

Watching, Finn muttered, "Look. I'm sorry."

She held his gaze.

"Not as sorry as I am for you."

Keiro smiled archly. Then he looked to Jormanric. The Winglord heaved himself up and strode to the Chasm edge, glaring out at the Civicry. The greasy chainmesh creaked as he folded his great arms across his chest.

"Listen, over there!" he thundered.

"You get her back for her weight in treasure. No more, no less. And that means no alloy and no junk." His words rang in the steaming heat.

"First, your word there'll be no treachery." The reply was cold with fury. Jormanric grinned. Ket-juice glistened on his teeth.

"You want my word! I haven't kept my word since I was ten and knifed my own brother. You're welcome to it."

The Comitatus sn.i.g.g.e.red. Behind them, half in shadow, Finn saw Gildas, his face sour.

Silence.

Then, from deep in the shimmering heat haze came a clang and a thud. The Civicry were hauling their treasure across to the Spike.

Finn wondered what they had-ore certainly, but Jormanric would be hoping for gold and platinum and most precious of all, micro-circuitry. After all, the Civicry were one of the richest groups in the Wing. That had been the reason for the ambush. The bridge shuddered. The Maestra grasped the rail to steady herself.

Finn said quietly, "Let's go."

He glanced behind himself. Keiro had drawn his sword.

"I'm here, brother."

"Don't let the b.i.t.c.h go till you get every last ounce," Jormanric rasped.

Finn scowled.

Pushing the Maestra in front, he began the crossing.

The bridge was a web of woven chainwork; it swung with every step. Twice he slipped, once so hard that the whole structure swayed crazily and nearly tipped the three of them into the abyss.

Keiro swore; the Maestra's fingers gripping the metal links were white-knuckled.

Finn did not look down. He knew what was below nothing bur blackness and heat that rose and scorched your face, bringing strange drowsy fumes it was unwise to breathe.

As she inched forward, the Maestra's voice came back to him, hard and cold. "If they don't bring ... the crystal? What then?"

"What crystal?" Keiro asked slyly.

Finn said, "Shut up."

Ahead in the dimness he could see the Civicry-three men, as agreed, waiting by the weighing platform. He edged up close behind the Maestra.

"Don't even try to make a run for it. Jormanric will have twenty weapons trained on you."

"I'm not a fool," she snapped.

Then she stepped onto the Spike. Finn followed, taking a deep breath of relief. It was a mistake. The fumes of the heat haze choked his throat; he coughed.

Keiro pushed past him, sword drawn, and grabbed the woman's arm.

"On this."

He shoved her onto the weighing platform. It was a vast aluminum construction, dragged here in pieces and rea.s.sembled with immense difficulty for occasions like this, though in all Finn's time with the Comitatus he had never seen it used. Jormanric didn't usually bother with ransoms.

"Look hard at the marker, friend." Keiro turned silkily to the Civic leader.

"Not such a lightweight, is she?" He grinned.

"Perhaps you should have kept her on a stricter diet."

The man was stocky, m.u.f.fled in a striped coat, bulky with concealed weapons. Ignoring Keiro's taunt he came and glanced at the needle on the rusting dial, exchanging a swift, s.n.a.t.c.hed look with the Maestra.

Finn recognized him from the ambush. The one she'd called Sim. The man gave Finn a filthy glare. Taking no chances, Keiro pulled the Maestra back and held his dagger to her neck.