Rebellion

“I’ve never met anyone who makes as much noise trying to be quiet as you do. It couldn’t have been anybody else. Where are we?”

There was muffled swearing on the other side of the door. “Forfax’s place.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“Don’t suppose you know how we got here, do you?”

“You expect me to know that?”

“Call it blind optimism.”

“Well, can you blindly and optimistically open the door, Vin?”

“Hang on.” There was some scuffling, and a scraping sound. More swearing... and the door creaked open.

“Tadaa!” said Vin brightly, sticking his head inside.

His smile faded as he took in first Mallory – dirty, ragged, his clothing full of buckshot holes – and the mess on the floor... and finally the chair, complete with Toby, slumped like a rag doll beneath his bonds.

“They’ve really stepped up their game, haven’t they?” He let out a whistle.

“Well, you made it easy. You left a spot on the team open when you took Purson out.”

“Who?”

“You can have three guesses. You won’t need them.”

“Rimmon?”

“Rimmon.”

“Look who’s all grown up...” Vin said under his breath. Mallory scowled.

“I heard that. I don’t know how long we’ve got. Can you get us out?” He lifted the chain in his hand, and Vin took it, weighing it in his palm. He frowned, closed his eyes and frowned some more.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Nothing. I don’t know what it’s made from, but I can’t even dent it.” He grabbed Mallory’s wrist and rubbed at the manacle. “Same with this.” He leaned in closer, peering at the band. “Is that Enochian?”

“If it is, it’s not like any I’ve ever seen.” Mallory pulled his arm away. “But it’s effective. I can’t leave, I can barely heal. And I can’t help him.” He nodded to Toby, but Vin was already there. He picked his way through the detritus Rimmon had left, and through the spatters of blood on the floor, his face creased into a scowl. As he reached Toby, and finally saw his face clearly, he sucked in a sharp breath and glanced back at Mallory. Without a word, he checked over the ropes that tied Toby, and the chair... and then he picked his way carefully back.

“I can’t help him.”

“He’s only tied with rope, Vin. Even you can deal with that.”

“You’re asking for my help, and you’re still insulting me? Charming.” Vin shook his head. “But no. It’s not just rope. There’s some kind of metal thread in there.”

“Don’t tell me: same metal as this.” Mallory waved his wrist, and his chain jangled.

“I’d put good money on it.”

“Looks like they managed to get some of their helliron out of Xaph’s lab, doesn’t it?” Mallory flicked at the manacle round his wrist. “Bloody stuff.”

“Given we tied him up with rosary chains, you’ve got to laugh at the irony, right?” Vin shrugged and looked at Mallory. Mallory glared back at him with a face like a thunderstorm.

“Oddly, I don’t.”

“No. Right.” Vin stared at the floor.

THEY STOOD IN silence: Vin listening, and Mallory turning over every possible option in his mind. None of them were great. A couple of them were terrible. Only one made any sense – and even then, it was about as far from ideal as it was possible to be.

“Vin...” he said, looking up, “I don’t think I’m going to get out of this one.”

“Don’t even start.”

“I think you’re...”

“Would you shut up already?” Vin snapped at him, but Mallory smiled grimly.

“You know what I’m asking.”

“Yeah, and you can go fuck yourself. I’m serious.”

“No you’re not. You’ll do this because I’m asking you to and because it’s a mercy.”

“No way.

“Vin...”

“Nope.”

“Vin...”

“I’m not listening.”

“Kill me. Kill me and leave – before we all lose the chance to make the choice.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR Gambit

“YOU’RE OUT OF your fucking mind!” Vin spluttered. “It’s absolutely out of the question. You’re insane – and even if you weren’t, it’s still not going to happen.”

“I wish I was.” Mallory sighed, but it felt better, having said it. “This isn’t about him.” He gestured towards Toby. “It’s about me. It’s about me and it’s about Rimmon, and it always has been and it always will be.”

“That’s it, isn’t it? You’ve finally lost it.”

“I’ve not lost it, Vin. I’m collateral damage.”

“Round the twist, that’s what you are.”

“He told me, alright? He told me. That kid, over there, is going to die. Because of me. And then they’re going to throw him out like so much garbage... and they’re going to find themselves another one. And another one after that. And I can’t help them, and I can’t stop it!” His voice trembled with rage, and Vin took half a step back. He’d never seen Mallory like this.

“It won’t end. Not until I give them what they want.”

“And what is it they want?” Vin already knew, but he still had to ask.

“Me. They want me.” Mallory hung his head.

“Why? You’re bolshy, bad-tempered, you drink like a fish and you’ve got an itchy trigger-finger. And, by the way, you owe me money.”

“I always owe you money, Vin.”

“Exactly my point.”

“Stop. Please.” Mallory was too serious for Vin to carry on pretending.

“Alright. But I’m still not doing it.”

“There’s no other way.”

“There’s always another way.”

“Not this time.” Mallory shook his head. “I won’t stand by and let them torture and kill and say it was all because of me.”

“Coward.” Vin looked Mallory in the eye as he said it. And meant it.

“Coward? Really? You think that’s what I am?”

“You’re running away. You’re giving up. That’s cowardice, isn’t it? Where’s your faith? Where’s your fight, for that matter?”

“Look at him.” Mallory held Vin’s gaze, unblinking, but raised his hand and pointed at Toby’s broken form. “Look at him. You want that on your conscience? Because I don’t. I can’t.”

“You know that anyone else would let him die. Everyone else. I’m not so sure I wouldn’t.”