Incarceron

"Put the weapon down," Gildas snapped.

"She's trying to take him. And leave us here.

"I'm not—"

"Stop talking about me as if I was some object!" Fi

And then he knew he was falling into it, he must be, because behind Gildas the wall shivered away, and looking out of it, huge and shadowy, was Blaize.

The Sapient's gray eyes surveyed them; his image was enormous in a white room of clean walls. "I'm afraid," he said, "that

Escape is not as easy as my daughter seems to think."

They were still. Keiro lowered the sword. "So that's it," he said. "And look how pleased she is to see you."

Fi

Claudia looked up at it. "Don't call me your daughter." Her voice was hard and cold. "And don't try to stop me. I'm bringing them all out and you—"

"You can't bring them all out." The Warden held her eyes. "The Key will bring only one person out. Their copy, if it works, will do the same. Touch the black eye of the eagle. You will disappear, and reappear here." He smiled calmly. "That is the gate, Fi

Appalled, she stared at him. "You're lying. You brought me out.

"You were a baby. Tiny. I took a chance." There was a voice in the room; he turned, and

Claudia saw Jared behind him, standing pale and tired. "Master! Is it true?"

"I have no way of knowing, Claudia." He looked unhappy, his dark hair tangled. "There's only one way to find out, and that's to try."

She looked at Fi

"Not you." It was Keiro who moved. "Fi

She gripped the leather hilt tight, but Fi

He was looking at Keiro; as she lowered the blade she saw him step closer and say, "Do you really think I'd go and leave them? Give her back the Key.

"No way."

"Keiro ..."

"You're stupid, Fi

"I would."

"They wouldn't let you." Keiro stepped up to him. "Once they had their lost Prince, why bother about the criminal Scum? 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, Fi

Fi

"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 Fi

Keiro didn't flinch as the blade flickered in his face. "You won't use that on me."

Fi

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, Fi

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

Fi

"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."

Fi

I can t...

"You can. For my sake."

They looked at each other. Fi

"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."

Keiro's eyes were blue and blank with desperation. He hesitated.

For a long moment he stood there unmoving, and then he closed his hand and nodded slowly. He looked down at the Key and held it out to Fi

"Then I'll have to find it. Enjoy your kingdom, brother. Rule well. Watch your back."

Fi

"What's that?" Claudia asked.

Jared said quickly, "It's here. Evian made his attempt and is dead. The Queen's guards are at the door."

She stared at her father. He said, "You must come back, Claudia. Bring the boy. I need him now."