Incarceron Part 64

She hissed out a breath of anger and turned away.

To her back he said shrewdly, "You know what it means, if that boy is really Giles."

She didn't answer.

"It means that we have a figurehead for our coup. More than that, a righteous cause. As you so thrillingly said, the true Heir. I gather this was the information you promised me?"

"Yes."

She turned and saw his fascinated gaze, and it chilled her as it had before.

"But listen, Evian. We're doing this my way. First of all I'm going through that gate."

"Not alone."

"No," Jared said swiftly.

"With me."

She shot him a startled look. "Master ..."

"Together, Claudia. Or not at all."

A trumpet rang out in the Palace. She glanced toward the building in annoyance.

"All right. But there's no need for a.s.sa.s.sinations, don't you see? If the people understand that Giles is alive, if we show him to them, surely the Queen will never be able to deny it..." Her voice trailed off as she looked at them.

Jared was playing unhappily with a small white flower from the gra.s.s; rubbing its perfume between his fingers. He wouldn't look at her.

Evian did, but his small eyes were almost pitying.

"Claudia," he said, "are you such an innocent still?"

He came over to her, no taller than she was, sweating in the warm sun.

"The people will never see Giles. She would not let that happen. You and he would be killed mercilessly, like the old man I spoke of. Jared too, and anyone else they thought knew about the plot."

She folded her arms, feeling her face go hot. She felt humiliated, like a small child being told off kindly, to make it worse. Because, of course, he was right.

"They are the ones who must be killed."

Evian's voice was low and hard.

"They must be removed. We are decided on that. And we are ready to act."

She stared up at him.

"No."

"Yes. Very soon now."

Jared dropped the flower and turned his head. He looked very pale.

"You must at least wait until after the wedding."

"The wedding is in two days. As soon as it's over we will move. It's best if neither of you know any details ..." He raised a hand to forestall her.

"Please, Claudia, don't even ask me. If it should go wrong, if you are questioned, this way you can give nothing away. You won't know the time, or the place, or the method. You have no idea who the Steel Wolves are. You cannot be blamed."

By no one but herself, she thought bitterly. Caspar was a greedy little tyrant and would grow worse. The Queen a silky murderess. They would always enforce Protocol. They would never change. And yet she didn't want their blood on her hands.

The trumpet rang out again, urgent.

"I have to go," she said.

"The Queen is hunting and I have to be there."

Evian nodded and turned away, but before he had taken two steps she forced the words out.

"Wait. One thing."