She was talking now as though she wouldn’t be there. As though he would no longer be her apprentice. It scared him a little, sparking yet more unanswered questions, but all he could do was nod in agreement.
Her stare lingered for a moment, and Waylian struggled to read what was going through her mind. Was she concerned for him? Was that compassion? She’d certainly never shown anything like it before. All she’d ever done was put him in harm’s way. It was a bit late to be worried about him now, when the city was about to fall and they were all going to be slaughtered.
‘What now, Magistra?’ he asked, desperate to divert her attention.
‘Now we do what has to be done,’ she replied. ‘The only option left open to us.’
Gelredida turned and headed for the door. Waylian didn’t have to be asked — he knew he should follow wherever she led.
They made their way down through the tower, down below the entrance hall to the dungeons that lay beneath the tower’s foundations. They passed the cells where Waylian had witnessed a man being tortured to death by Gelredida’s own hand. The cold of the place suddenly made him shudder, or was it the memory? Either way he gripped the sleeves of his robe, pulling it about him tighter like a cloak.
Gelredida continued down through the tower, deeper than Waylian had ever gone before. He could barely find his footing in the scant light, desperately trying not to trip on the slick stairway and bowl into his mistress. Deeper they went, and as they did so the presence of Raven Knights seemed to increase. Two at the corridor entrance, two more in an antechamber, two others guarding a door that led through to a row of cells.
Waylian wondered what could be in those cells that would be such cause for concern. What could they house that would require six Raven Knights, men who were so sorely needed on the wall protecting the other magisters against the unstoppable enemy?
When he followed Gelredida through the doors and down the corridor he saw that every cell was empty. He counted nineteen in all, each one vacant until they reached the very last. By the dim torchlight Waylian could see little inside. As he looked and his eyes slowly adjusted to the gloom he realised there was a single body lying on a cot in one shadowed corner. The place stank of damp and rot and piss and Waylian had to grit his teeth rather than gag.
‘It’s time,’ said Gelredida in a stern voice as she came to stand next to the cell.
At first the body on the cot didn’t move, and Waylian wondered if she were talking to a corpse. Perhaps she had finally been unhinged by the pressure of protecting this damned city. Perhaps her last-gasp attempt to rescue every soul in Steelhaven was to rail at a rotting carcass.
Then the body moved.
Waylian peered through the dark as the figure sat up and stretched, dark, lank hair covering his face. Then the dishevelled form stood and slowly walked forward. There was something in his gait that Waylian recognised but he couldn’t quite place it. As the figure reached the bars he shielded his eyes with one hand against the glare of the torch, masking his features.
Then Waylian saw him smile behind a mass of dark, wispy beard.
‘Hello, Grimmy. It’s been a while.’
Waylian felt his bollocks clench at the sound of that voice. It was a voice he’d never wanted to hear again. One that struck him with terror. With memories of pain and death.
It can’t be him. He’s fucking dead. You fucking killed him.
The figure moved his hand, pressing his face up against the bars and smiling that friendly, amiable smile. He was still handsome despite the mass of hair and beard.
He was still Rembram Thule.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Janessa had not spoken since Kaira brought her back to the palace. She merely sat in her chamber, staring out to the north of the city, looking beyond the wall to where lay Amon Tugha’s army.
Kaira had no idea what to say. It had been her duty to protect the queen and she had come close to failing, more than once. Not that Janessa made it easy for her. Kaira could never be blamed if Janessa gifted her throat to the enemy, but it wasn’t blame she was concerned about. She had grown fond of this girl. Grown to love her, even. She had been thrust onto the throne, given the role of a warrior queen when she was no more than a child. No wonder she had taken it on herself to sacrifice everything to save the city. Kaira couldn’t say whether she would not have done the same in the queen’s position.
‘I have failed,’ Janessa said quietly.
Kaira moved to her side, placing a hand on the girl’s shoulder.
‘You have not. You yet live. The city still stands. While you breathe there is hope.’
Janessa shook her head. ‘He will come and he will destroy this city. You should have let me die.’
Kaira grabbed Janessa by her arms, hauling the girl to her feet.
‘No,’ she said, staring Janessa in the eye. ‘You are a queen. You are stronger than this. You have survived worse than this; every attempt on your life has failed.’
‘And how many have died to protect me?’ Janessa shouted back. Tears welled in her eyes. Kaira didn’t know whether to be sorry or encouraged by the sudden fire inside the girl. ‘How many more will die before Amon Tugha’s victory?’
‘Hundreds,’ said Kaira. ‘Thousands, maybe. But they will die on their feet, in defiance of him. They will not kneel before him and offer themselves like sheep to the slaughter.’
Janessa looked to the ground and Kaira sensed her shame.
‘I’m not strong enough. I can’t beat him.’
‘Not on your own.’ Kaira lifted the girl’s chin. ‘But you are not alone. You stand at the head of a loyal army. You stand queen of all the Free States. And self-pity does not become you.’
Janessa nodded. ‘I know. You’re right.’ She wiped the corner of her eye. ‘I almost destroyed everything. Almost gifted Amon Tugha the victory he seeks. I have to make it right.’
Kaira smiled. ‘Your only mistake was naivety. To trust the word of a man with no honour. But you will make that right.’
‘I will,’ said Janessa. ‘And I will do it now. My sword? My armour?’
‘I’ll see they are brought immediately, Majesty.’
She gave Janessa one last smile before leaving her chamber. Kaira was encouraged by the girl’s sudden fire but also knew it did not mean they could win. Janessa may well have been right about not being able to beat Amon Tugha, but there were worse things than defeat. Kaira knew that all too well. She could only hope Vorena would keep them strong when the final battle came.
Kaira had not reached the end of the corridor from Janessa’s chamber before she saw Seneschal Rogan waiting patiently. He smiled when he saw her and took a step forward.
‘I trust the queen is well after last night’s … excitement?’ he said.
How could he know so soon? But then he always knew. His eyes and ears were everywhere, within the palace and without.
‘She is quite well,’ Kaira replied. ‘And eager to join the fight once more.’
‘Such a relief. The city needs her now more than ever.’
‘And she will serve it as any queen would.’
‘Of that I am sure. I trust you have enough men to keep her safe? Should you require more I have servants of the Inquisition who would be only too happy to join her retinue.’