Incarceron Part 101

"They wouldn't let you." Keiro stepped up to him.

"Once they had their lost Prince, why bother about the criminal Sc.u.m? The dog-girl and the halfman? Once you're back in your palace, why think of us?"

"I swear I'd come back."

"Sure. Isn't that what Sapphique said?"

In the stillness Gildas sat down abruptly, as if his strength had gone.

"Don't leave me here, Finn," he muttered.

Finn shook his head, utterly weary. "We can't keep Claudia here, whatever the rest of us decide. She came to rescue us."

"Tough."

Keiro's blue eyes were relentless.

"She was a Prisoner once-she can be again. I go first. To find out what's waiting out there. And if it works, like I said, I'll come back."

"Liar," Attia snapped.

"You can't stop me."

The Warden laughed softly.

"Is this the hero you think is Giles, Claudia? The man to govern the Realm? He can't even control this rabble."

Instantly Finn moved. He tossed the Key to Claudia; catching Keiro off guard, he grabbed for the sword. Anger roared in him; anger at all of them, at the Warden's smirk, at the fear and weakness in himself.

Keiro staggered back; recovering fast, he whipped the blade up and they both had it; then Finn had torn it from his grip. Keiro didn't flinch as the blade flickered in his face.

"You won't use that on me." Finn's heart pounded. His chest heaved.

Behind him Attia hissed, "Why not, Finn? He killed the Maestra. You know that, you've always known it! He had the bridge cut. Not Jormanric."

"Is it true?" He barely recognized his own whisper. Keiro smiled. "Make up your own mind."

"Tell me."

"No."

His oathbrother held the Key in one fist.

"It's your choice. I don't justify myself to anyone."

His heartbeat was so loud, it hurt. It filled the Prison, thudded down all the corridors, in all the cells.

He flung the sword down. Keiro dived for it, Finn kicked it away. Suddenly they were fighting, all Finn's breath gone in a vicious punch to his stomach, Keiro's ruthless skill flooring him.

Claudia was shouting, Gildas roaring in anger, but he didn't care now; scrambling up, he flung himself on Keiro, grabbing for the Key. Hindered by the fragile crystal Keiro ducked and then punched again; Finn had him around the waist and down, but as he closed in, Keiro gave a kick that sent him reeling back. Keiro roiled, picked himself up. Blood welled on his lip.

"Now we'll see, brother," he hissed.

He touched the black eye of the bird. A light. It was so brilliant, it burned their eyes. It widened around Keiro, it swallowed him, and there was a noise in it, a whine that was painful, a sharp discordant note that cut off instantly. The light spat out. And Keiro was still there. In the shattered silence the Warden's laugh was cool and regretful.

"Ah," he said.

"I'm afraid that means it won't work for you. Probably the metal components in your body render the process invalid. Incarceron is a closed system; its own elements can never leave."

Keiro stood stock-still.

"Never?" he breathed.

"Not unless the components are removed."

Keiro nodded. His face was grim and flushed.

"If that's what it takes."

He stepped toward Finn and said, "Get your knife."

"What?"

"You heard"

"I can't do that!"

Keiro laughed sourly-

"Why not? Keiro the Nine-Fingered. I always wondered what Sapphique's sacrifice was all about."

Gildas groaned. "Boy, are you suggesting-"

"Maybe more of us are born of the Prison than we thought. Maybe you are, old man. But I won't let one finger keep me here. Get the knife."

Finn didn't move, but Attia did. She brought a small blade she always wore and held it out to him. He took it slowly. Keiro laid his hand on the floor, the fingers spread out. The metallic nail looked just the same as the others.

"Do it now," he said.

" I can't..."

"You can. For my sake."

They looked at each other. Finn knelt. His hand was shaking. He put the edge of the blade to Keiro's skin.

"Wait," Attia snapped. She crouched.

"Think! It may not be enough. As you said, none of us know what we are made of inside. There must be another way."