away, his small heeled shoes clacking.
Watching him, she knew that all the Court was like him, that behind its perfumed and elaborate facade lurked a web of hatreds and secret murders, and her own part in that would begin very soon, and to survive it she must be as hard as they were. Finn could never be rescued. She had to accept that.
She got up, sending the swallow off in panic, and walked to the dressing table.
It was laden with flowers, tussy-mussies, nosegays, and bouquets. They had been arriving all morning, so that the room smelled exquisite and sickly. Behind her, on the bed, the white gown lay spread in its finery. She looked at herself.
All right. She would marry Caspar and become Queen. If there was a plot, she would be part of it. If there were killings, she would survive them. She would rule. No one would tell her what to do ever again.
She opened the dressing table drawer, took out the Key, and placed it on the tabletop. It glimmered, its crystal facets catching the sunlight, its eagle splendid.
But first she would have to tell Finn. Break it to him that there was no escape.
Tell him their engagement was over.
She reached out to it, but just as she touched it, there was a low knock on the door and instantly she slid it smoothly into the drawer and picked up a brush. 'Come in, Alys.'
The door opened. 'Not Alys,' her father said.
He stood, dark and elegant, framed by the gilt lintel. 'May I come in?'
'Yes,' she said.
His coat was new, a deep black velvet, a white rose in the lapel, his knee breeches satin.
He wore shoes with discreet buckles and his hair was caught in a black ribbon. He sat gracefully, flipping the tails of the coat. 'All this finery is rather a bother. But one has to be perfect on such a day.' Glancing at her plain dress, he took his watch out and opened it, so that the sun caught the silver cube that hung on the chain. 'You have only two hours, Claudia. You should dress now.'
She leaned her elbow on the table. 'Is that what you came to tell me?'
'I came to tell you how proud I am.' His gray eyes held hers, and the light in them was keen and sharp. 'Today is the day I have planned and schemed for decades. Long before you were born. Today the Arlexi come to the heart of power. Nothing must go wrong.' He stood up and strode to the window, as if tension would not let him keep still. He smiled. 'I confess I have not slept, thinking of it.'
'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 assassination 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 clustered 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 passageway beyond, but I don't know if he can travel ...'
'Of course I bloody can,' Gildas snapped.
Finn pulled a face. 'Not for long. We must be close, Claudia, to the gate.'
'There is no gate.' She knew her voice was flat.
He looked at her. 'But you said—'
'I was wrong. I'm sorry. It's all over, Finn. There is no gate and there is no way out. Not ever. Not from Incarceron.'
JARED WALKED into the Great Hall. It was thronged with courtiers and princes, ambassadors, Sapienti, dukes, and duchesses. It was a bewilderment of colored satins and the smell of sweat and powerful fragrances, and it made him feel a little weak. There were seats along the wall; he made for one and sat, leaning his head back against the cool stone. All around him, the guests at Claudia's wedding chattered and laughed. He saw the bridegroom, with a gang of his wild young friends, already drinking, laughing uproariously at some joke. The Queen was not present yet, nor the Warden.
A crinkle of silk beside him made him turn. Lord Evian bowed. 'You look a little tired, Master.'
Jared stared back. 'A sleepless night, sir.'
'Ah yes. But soon now, all our worries will be over.' The fat man smiled, and fanned himself with a small black fan. 'Please give Claudia all my best wishes.'
He bowed again and turned. Jared said suddenly, 'One moment, my lord. The other day
... when you made a certain promise ...
'Yes?' Evian's smug manner was gone; he looked guarded.
'You mentioned the Nine-Fingered One.'
Evian glared. He grabbed Jared's arm and hauled him into the crowd, moving so fast, people stared as they were pushed aside. Out in the corridor he hissed, 'Never say that name aloud. It is a sacred and a holy name for those who believe.'
Jared tugged his arm free. 'I have heard of many cults and beliefs. Certainly all the ones the Queen allows.
