"Of course I b.l.o.o.d.y 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, amba.s.sadors, Sapienti, dukes, and d.u.c.h.esses. 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. But this-"
"This is not the day to discuss religion."
"Yes it is." Jared"s eyes were sharp and clear. "And we have very little time. Does he have another name, this hero of yours?"
Evian breathed out angrily. "I really can"t say."
"You will say, my lord," Jared said pleasantly, "or I"ll make such an outcry right now about your a.s.sa.s.sination plan that every guard in the Palace will hear it."
Evian"s brow p.r.i.c.kled with sweat.
"I think not."
Jared glanced down; the fat man had a dagger in his hand, the blade hard against Jared"s stomach. With an effort, he met the man"s eyes.
"Either way, my lord, you would be discovered. All I ask is a name."
For a moment they were face-to-face.
Then Lord Evian said, "You are a brave man, Sapient, but don"t cross me again. As for the name, yes, indeed there is one, hidden in time, lost in legend. The name of the One who claimed to have escaped from Incarceron. In the most mysterious of our rites he is known as Sapphique. Does that satisfy your curiosity?"
Jared stared at him for a split second. Then he shoved him aside.
And ran.
KEIRO WAS wild with anger; he and Gildas were yelling at her.
"How can you abandon us?" the Sapient scorched.
"Sapphique Escaped! Of course there is a way out!"
She was silent. She was looking at Finn. He sat huddled up against a smashed angle of decking, stiff with misery. His jacket was torn and there were cuts on his face, but now more than ever she was sure he was Giles. Now that it was too late.
"And you"re marrying him," he said quietly.
Gildas swore. Keiro gave his oathbrother a scathing look.
"What does it matter who she marries!"
Perhaps she decided she likes him better than you.
He turned, hands on hips, and faced her arrogantly. "Is that it, Princess? Was this all a little diversion for you, a pretty game?"
He jerked his head.
"Such lovely flowers! Such a sweet dress!"
He came up so close to her that she almost felt he would reach out and grab her, but then Finn said, "Shut up, Keiro."
He got up and faced her. "Just tell me why. Why is it so impossible?"
She couldn"t. How could she tell them that?
"Jared found some things out. You have to believe me."