Incarceron Part 9

"There was no one else. And Keiro needed an oathbrother; you can't survive here without one. He thought my... visions ... -might be useful, and maybe he recognized I was reckless enough for him. We cut our hands and mixed blood and crawled under an arch of chains together. It's what they do here-a sacred bond. We guard each other. If one dies, the other takes revenge for him. It can never be broken."

She glanced around. "He's not a brother I would choose. And the Sapient?"

Finn shrugged. "He believes my flashes of memory are sent by Sapphique. To help us find the way out."

She was silent. Quietly he said, "Now you know my story, tell me about the skin-mark. You spoke of a crystal..."

"I offered you kindness." Her lips were tight. "In return I'm kidnapped and likely to be murdered by a thug who believes he can store lives up for himself. In silver rings!"

"Don't joke about that," Finn said uneasily.

"It's dangerous. "You believe it?" She sounded astonished.

"It's true. His father lived for two hundred years ..."

"Total rubbis.h.!.+" Her scorn was absolute.

"His father may well have lived to old age, but probably because he always took the best of the food and clothing, and left any danger to his stupid followers. Like you."

She turned and glared at him. "You played on my compa.s.sion. You're still doing it."

"I'm not. I put myself at risk to save you. You saw that."

The Maestra shook her head. Then she caught his arm and before he could pull away, pushed the ragged sleeve up. His dirty skin was bruised but unscarred.

"What happened to the cuts you made?"

"They healed," he said quietly. She let go of his sleeve in disgust and turned away.

"What will happen to me?"

"Jormanric will send a messenger to your people. The ransom will be your weight in treasure."

"And if they won't pay it?"

"Surely they will."

"If they won't?" She turned.

"What then?"

Unhappy, he shrugged.

"You end up a slave here. Processing the ore, making weapons. It's dangerous. Little food. He works them to death."

She nodded. Looking straight out into the dark emptiness of the stairway, she took a breath and he saw its mistiness in the cold air. Then she said, "In that case we make a deal. I get them to bring the crystal and you release me. Tonight."

His heart thumped. But he said, "It's not that easy ..."

"It is that easy. Otherwise I give you nothing, Finn Cell-born. Nothing. Ever."

She turned and her dark eyes watched him steadily. "I am the Maestra of my people and will never submit to Sc.u.m."

She was brave, he thought, but she had no idea. In less than an hour Jormanric could have her screaming to give him anything he wanted. But Finn had seen that too often, and it sickened him.

"They must bring it with the ransom."

"I don't want them to have to. I want you to take me back to where you found me, today, before lockup. Once we get there-"

"I can't."

He stood up abruptly. Behind them the clang of the signal bell sent a flock of the sooty doves that infested the Den flapping out into the dark.

"They'd skin me alive!"

"Your problem."

She smiled sourly.

"I'm sure you can invent some story. You're an expert."

"All I've told you is true."

Suddenly he needed her to believe him.

She put her face close to him and her eyes were fierce.

"Like the hard-luck tale at the ambush?"

Finn stared back. Then he dropped his gaze.

"I can't just free you. But I swear, if you get me this crystal, you'll get home safely."

For a moment the silence was icy. She turned her back on him and hugged herself. He knew she was about to tell him.