Boundary (23 page)

But as I skim through the text, throughout which Latin words are sprinkled, the reassurance turns to grave concern. Here is the real history of New North as we’ve uncovered these past few weeks. No detail is spared, from the Founders’ intentional flooding of the earth, to their creation of The Lex, and the falsity of the Gods found in the pages of The Lex. Even the actual documents upon which the Founders based their fabrications are mentioned: the Bible, myths, and legends.

I don’t think the people can bear this, and it is precisely the revelation of this entire truth I’d hoped to avoid by sharing my Chronicle instead. I have explained all this to Lukas, how we could identify those with knowledge, the New North wrongdoers, by simply reading my Chronicle aloud. We could then take action and perhaps even create the change he longs for quietly and without alarming the people.

I thought he had agreed with me. I obviously mistook silence for acquiescence.

There is something very wrong with this speech, and it’s not just the content. Lukas led me to believe that only he and I know the full truth, that his Boundary comrades know only that the
Angakkuq
is working to support their general beliefs. But someone else had to have created this, someone who’d been told everything.

“Who wrote this?” I demand.

“I did.”

I shake my head. “Come on, Lukas. There’s Latin in here.”

“I wrote it, Eva. Why is that so hard to believe?” He looks offended.

“You know Latin? Don’t deceive me.”

“Yes.”

“But you said you didn’t read Eamon’s journal because it was in Latin. You had me read it to you.”

He shrugs, his bottomless black eyes unwavering. “That’s what you assumed when I asked you to read it to me. I simply did not want to invade his private thoughts without your permission.”

I don’t know why this explanation troubles me so, but I am unnerved. Does he think he can so easily sway me? That he can just hand me a script and I’ll present it to the entire population of New North like some sort of puppet? We have never discussed anything other than finding Eamon’s killer and identifying those within the Triad who know the truth about New North—and only then, if all goes according to plan, maybe making some kinds of changes behind the scenes. Beyond that, we really haven’t formulated or discussed a single course of action. I might indeed agree with his approach, but I deserve to be consulted before decisions are made. Especially if I’m his precious
Angakkuq
.

A fight is brewing between us, and I’m just about to launch into it when I hear a knock at the door. I glance over at Lukas. The Clothing Keeper at this bell? Lukas reaches for my outerwear and leads me to the window. He’s right to get me out of here. It doesn’t really matter who it is; I cannot be found in an Attendant’s chamber tonight of all nights.

Lukas pushes aside the heavy skins covering the opening. If I’m quiet and quick enough, I might slip out unnoticed while he speaks to the person at the door. I grab my gear and ready myself to climb out the window when I spot them. A line of guards from the Hall of Archons standing outside Lukas’s chamber.

Lukas drops the skins.

What are we going to do now? Tears of frustration stream down my face. We are so close to finding out who killed Eamon and finding out the truth—and now we never will.

A voice calls out from behind the front door. “You can come out. Or I can come in.”

Is there any choice? We know what’s waiting outside. But is the alternative really any better?
The gallows
, I think, remembering that pour soul who was put to death as a warning to me. Was there ever really any other possible ending to this prolonged subterfuge? No, the gallows awaited me from the moment I decided to take avenging my brother’s death into my own hands.

Lukas opens the door. It’s Archon Theo.

XXXXII
.

Theo? Of all the Archons to be involved in this terrible conspiracy to suppress the truth, Theo is the last one I’d suspect.

“Archon Eva, are you all right?” he asks. He looks and sounds shocked at my presence in Lukas’s chambers and concerned for my well-being. How did he not know I was in here?

Did he follow us from the Hall of Archons? Does he think that I’m here against my will? That maybe I’m Lukas’s prisoner? My mind squirms with questions, and my survival instincts tell me to play the victim, but I can’t do that to Lukas. He’d get the gallows for certain. I’ve got to try something else.

Theo turns to Lukas with an expression as menacing as he can muster. “Did you hurt her?”

I place a hand on Lukas’s shoulder. “I’m fine, Archon Theo. Truly.”

His eyes widen, and he steps away from us; it’s unimaginable to him that an Archon and daughter of the Aerie would willingly touch the shoulder of a Boundary boy. “What in the Gods are you doing in here, Eva? In … in an Attendant’s chamber?” His confusion is so strong that he can barely stammer out the words.

“This is Lukas,” I reply, forcing him to meet my gaze. “He was my brother’s Companion. I wanted to talk with him about Eamon.”

Theo’s eyes narrow. He will not be easily deceived. “That explanation strains credulity, Eva. A Maiden venturing out after the final bell to chat with a Boundary Companion about her dead brother?”

I have to hand it to him: He is nothing if not logical. I lower my head humbly, as if beseeching his understanding. Even his forgiveness. “It’s true, Archon Theo.”

I wonder if he suspects that Lukas and I are more than master and servant. I doubt it; every member of the Triad has witnessed my genuine affection for Jasper. I feel that all-too-familiar pang of guilt. Does the very thought of a Maiden and a Boundary together alone so offend Theo?

“Is that what you two were doing sneaking around the Hall of Archons tonight?” Theo demands. “Chatting about your dead brother?”

By the Gods, Theo saw us there. He followed us from the Hall to Lukas’s chambers. He knew that someone had broken into the Hall of Archon after-bells with a Boundary person in tow, but he had no idea that it was me. The
Archon uniform must have masked my identity; it’s truly uniform in every sense of the word, after all. No wonder he is so shocked and disappointed to see
me
of all people here. His favorite pupil deceived him. Not only that; I’ve violated The Lex countless times along the way, an anathema to Theo. My near word-for-word knowledge of The Lex was what endeared me to him in the first place; I was one of the few who could interpret and bend it.

He shakes his head in fury and disbelief. “I knew someone was examining the
Genesis
Tech in the Conservation Chamber at night. It was never precisely where I left it. I thought it was my brother … I was certain Laurence was warning you further, trying to sabotage our efforts because of his dislike and fear of you. But I never dreamed that
you
were the one breaking into the Chamber. Never you. Why did you do it, Eva?”

“You say ‘warning me further,’ ” I reply. “Was it Laurence who broke into my
iglu
and stabbed that awful knife through my clothing?”

Theo bows his head.

I could offer other excuses to him, but what is the point? We have both been hiding truths from each other. And unless I tell Theo every piece of the secret history we’ve uncovered—which he may or may not believe—nothing will justify my many Lex violations tonight. But what can he say of the truth he withheld from me?

“What are you going to do?” I ask.

He looks sad. Pleas that prey on his own withholding of truth will not move him. All that remains is our punishment.

“You’ve left me with only one choice. I’ve got to turn you over to the Lexors for judgment. I will pray to the Gods
that you’re sentenced only to banishment.” My hand still rests on Lukas’s shoulder, but I feel him shift slightly. He knows what’s coming. He doesn’t even register for Theo beyond his certain fate at the gallows.

Theo turns away from us and heads toward the door. In a tick, he will summon the guards. All that Lukas and I have worked so hard to discover will be lost, like
natquik
, snow that drifts away in a strong wind.

Before Theo’s hand touches the door handle, Lukas grabs him. He pulls Theo in front of him, wraps one arm around Theo’s body, and uses the other to place the blade of his
pana
under Theo’s chin. My heart leaps into my throat.

“No!” I hear myself gasp. Even though I desperately want to escape from this situation, I don’t want it to come at the cost of Theo’s life. “Don’t hurt him, Lukas,” I beg, my voice trembling.

Theo’s eyes are wide with terror.

“Eva,” says Lukas, “
we’re
the ones left with only one choice. This old man has said so himself.”

A hot tear falls from my lashes. “There’s always a choice.”

Lukas presses his blade against Theo’s neck. Theo stiffens, his belly jutting out, his arm twisted behind his back. “I’ve been raised for this my whole life, Eva,” Lukas hisses. “Find the
Angakkuq
. Place the
Angakkuq
in motion. Uncover the truth. Set New North free. I’ve made so many sacrifices to reach that goal, and we are so close … I can’t let this Archon go.”

Theo stares at me. Maybe he’s given up. Now I can see nothing in his weary, wrinkled eyes other than resigned exhaustion.

“We can find a way to tell people the truth without hurting him,” I say, stepping a little closer to Lukas and Theo with each word.

“If we let him leave here, you and I will be swinging from the gallows. We are going to get you back home without anyone finding out about this.” Lukas tries to sound convincing, but his voice wavers. I know in that tick he doesn’t want to kill Theo, either.

“Lukas, please don’t.” I am crying now, but I feel no shame. “Eamon wouldn’t have wanted anyone else to die for the truth.”

“Eamon.” At the mention of Eamon’s name, tears start to stream down Lukas’s face as well. “I thought your brother was the
Angakkuq
. But it was you. It could only ever be you. And I had to make certain that it was you.”

I finally understand. The sacrifices that Lukas refers to can only mean one thing: Eamon.

I back away, horror creeping in with the revelation. “No, no, no, no. It can’t be you. Tell me you aren’t the one who killed Eamon.”

Lukas doesn’t deny me. He chokes on his words. “Eamon wasn’t the
Angakkuq
; you are. He could not have accomplished what you have with your Chronicles, and he could not have rallied the people the way you have and will again tomorrow. Believe me, Eva, I didn’t want to do what I had to do. I loved Eamon like a brother, but there was no other course.”

“Loved him? You killed him!”

He sighs, his grip on Theo slackening just a bit. “I did love him. I do love him. I did a terrible thing. For the greater good.”

I back into the corner of the chamber, as far as I can get
from my brother’s murderer. “You are no better than the Founders who drowned billions to create a new world!”

He nods sadly. “I suppose it’s fitting punishment. To know that I love you—not just admire your greatness as the
Angakkuq
but truly love you—just as I tell you the one thing which will ensure that you’ll never love me back.”

He drops the
pana
knife and releases Theo. “Goodbye, Eva.”

Theo and I both collapse as he vanishes into the night. The
pana
clatters to the floor.

I’m not sure how much time passes after that. A tick, a bell, a lifetime. I am lost and adrift in this tiny room until Theo pulls me back into the present.

“Eva, I have to order the Guards to go after Lukas,” he grunts, pushing himself to his feet and leaning over to help me up. “We can’t let the murderer of your brother go free.”

He doesn’t need to convince me. All these many, many
siniks
searching for my brother’s killer, and he was standing by my side the whole time. It’s unbearable.

He pulls back the window covering and calls out orders to the Guards. Then he turns back to me. “I’m so sorry, Eva, but I must turn you over to them as well. The Lex demands it.”

I shake my head. No, not this. Not now. Not with the horror of Eamon’s death looming before me. “Please, Theo. Please don’t.”

“The tragedy of your brother’s murder doesn’t excuse your actions,” Theo states plainly.

He’s right. How can I expect leniency simply by begging for it? I owe Theo more. I can’t expect him to take a leap of faith when I haven’t taken one myself. Through my tears, I say, “What if I told you that Lukas and I were in the
Hall of Archons because the
Genesis
Tech revealed something terrible about the creation of New North?”

He sighs, again looking more resigned than angry. “What do you mean?”

“Archon Theo, Tech is not an altar where pre-Healing people worshipped Apple. Tech was a way that pre-Healing people communicated with one another … and did all sorts of other extraordinary things. Apple was not a false god to whom they prayed; Apple was the Keep that made the Tech.”