Incarceron Part 85

"You're not the only one."

He looked at her closely. "You must have no fear, Claudia. Everything is arranged. Everything ready."

Something in his tone made her glance up. For a moment she looked at him and saw under the mask, saw a man driven so fiercely by his dream of power that he would sacrifice anything to achieve it. And with a cold shiver she saw that he would not share it. Not with the Queen, or Caspar.

"What do you mean ... everything?"

"Just that things will turn out in our favor. Caspar is nothing but a stepping-stone."

She stood. "You know, don't you? About the a.s.sa.s.sination plan ... the Steel Wolves. Are you one of them?"

He crossed the room in one step and grabbed her arm so tightly, she gasped.

"Keep quiet," he snapped. "Do you think there aren't listening devices even here?"

He led her to the window and flung it open. Strains of lute and drum floated upward, the shouts of a guard commander drilling his men. Under cover of the noise his voice was low and husky.

"Just do your part, Claudia. That's all."

"And then you kill them." She tugged away.

"What happens after doesn't concern you. Evian had no right to approach you."

"Doesn't it? How long before I'm in your way too? How long before I fall off my horse?"

She had shocked him.

"That will never happen."

"No?"

Her scorn was acid; she wanted it to burn him. "Because I'm your daughter?"

He said, "Because I have come to love you, Claudia."

There was something there that stuck her. Something odd. But he turned away.

"Now. The Key."

She frowned, then went to the dressing table and opened the drawer. The Key gleamed; she took it out and laid it on the top, among the cl.u.s.tered flowers. The Warden came and looked down at it.

"Not even your precious Jared could have discovered all the mysteries of this device."

"I want to say good-bye," she said, stubborn.

"To Finn, and the others. To explain to them. Then I'll give you the Key. At the wedding."

His eyes were cold and clear.

"You always have to try my patience, Claudia."

For a moment she thought he would just take it. But he walked to the door.

"Don't keep Caspar waiting too long. He gets so ... sulky."

She locked the door after him and sat down, holding the Key in both hands. I have come to love you. Perhaps he even thought that was true.

She switched the field on.

Then she jumped back, so fast that the Key fell with a clatter onto the floor.

Attia was in her room.

"You have to help us," the girl said at once.

"The ship has crashed. Gildas is hurt."

The field widened; she saw a dark place, heard a distant howling as of wind. Petals blew off the flowers on her table, as if a gale from that place moved here.

Attia was shoved aside; Finn said, "Claudia, please. Can Jared help ...?"

"Jared's not here."

Helpless, she saw the wreckage of a strange craft littering the floor. Keiro was tearing a piece of sail into strips and binding Gildas's arm and shoulder; she saw blood already seeping through.

"Where are you?"

"The Wall."

Finn looked weary.

"I think we've come as far as we can. This is the End of the World. There's a pa.s.sageway beyond, but I don't know if he can travel ..."