Falling Ashes (34 page)

‘Why?’ she asked.

‘Well … I’m sure you put two and two together, right?’

‘I know you were responsible for the attack on Korra Waterson and the disappearance of Alastor Newman.’

‘Oh, no, no, no,’ Jack said quickly. ‘It wasn’t my fault they … well … you know what happened.’

‘You aided in the infiltration, did you not?’

‘Yes,’ he said uncomfortably.

‘Then you are partially responsible,’ said Xara.

Well, he had to give her that one. Of course he was partially responsible.

‘Not that it matters, anyway,’ Xara continued. ‘They discovered that the attacker was the Fire-Mage a month ago.’

Jack glanced at R
æven furiously. Of course the Realm knew. Ræven had spread the story.

‘Yeah, I figured,’ said Jack. ‘It was kinda hard to miss the posters.’

‘Indeed. Alastor Newman provided a very thorough description of the Fire-Mage.’

‘Alastor Newman?’ Jack repeated. ‘The guy who ran away?’

During the attack, Avalon had forced Newman to write his own farewell, confessing to the attack on Korra Waterson.

‘He came back a month ago,’ said Xara. ‘He told the Realm everything.’

‘He didn’t tell them about me?’ asked Jack. ‘Surely he must have remembered my involvement?’

‘Perhaps he owed you a debt,’ said Xara. ‘I don’t understand it, either.’

‘
A debt
,’ said Jack thoughtfully, recalling the day of the incident. Alastor had wanted to kill himself rather than be injected with the serum.

‘I’ll leave the Realm, I swear it. I’ll go tonight. I promise. I owe my life to your healer friend.’

Those were the words Alastor Newman had spoken whilst bargaining for his freedom. So, as it turned out, he had returned to convict Avalon and not Jack.

‘I told you it wasn’t my fault,’ interrupted R
æven, the sound of her voice making his heart stop momentarily.

‘Don’t surprise me like that,’ he scolded her. ‘A little warning before you talk please, so I can prepare myself.’

Xara’s attention snapped to Ræven as if she’d only just realised she was there. ‘Your voice,’ she said.

Jack and R
æven exchanged glances.

‘Yes?’ R
æven said, suddenly nervous.

‘It is … different,’ said Xara.

Jack couldn’t help but smile. Poor, emotionless Xara did not know how to describe the feeling associated with the sound of Ræven’s voice. He supposed it must be strange for her, being so robotic.

‘Thank you?’ said R
æven, unsure as to whether it was indeed a compliment or not.

R
æven and Xara stared at each other for a long while, as if trying to figure one another out. Jack, feeling uncomfortable, left them to it, receding back into the crowd.

This was when Cecilia caught up with him.

‘Jack!’ she said happily, thrusting a goblet of beer into his hand. ‘I see you met Xara? It’s really exciting to have her here, isn’t it? I mean, she is a bit strange, I guess, but she works inside the Realm. Isn’t that great?’

‘Erm, yeah,’ said Jack. ‘Did she mention why she wants to help?’

Cecilia shrugged. ‘She said something about statistics and probability … well, I didn’t really understand it. She told me that she does not have access to the cure, however, it should be much easier to infiltrate the Realm with her on our side. She’s so clever, you know? I don’t think her brain works the same as ours do. Far too intelligent for her own good, I think. Everything is numbers and formulas to her.’

‘Perhaps she figured out the Realms inevitable end, and decided to jump ship,’ said Jack with a smile.

‘Maybe,’ Cecilia said, excitedly. ‘We can only hope. It’s great, isn’t it? We have so many members now!’

‘Yeah,’ said Jack, glancing around nervously. ‘Are you sure we can trust them all?’

Cecilia nodded. ‘I interviewed each and every one myself. They all told the truth, and pledged allegiance to H.W.L.’

Jack wasn’t sure how Cecilia’s Power worked, but he hoped she was right.

‘Don’t you think the guards will notice so many people entering a residency like this? Not to mention the noise. They aren’t exactly being quiet, are they?’

Cecilia waved a hand. ‘Don’t worry about that, Dear. We’ve got it all under control.’

‘How?’ Jack pressed.

Cecilia looked through the crowd of people. ‘See that old man over there in the corner, the one with the big moustache?  He’s got a useful little talent that helps us stay hidden.’

‘What is it?’ he asked.

Cecilia winked. ‘It’s a secret, Dear. If I told you, the effect would be broken.’

‘Oh. Okay, then. What about Ræven? How did you find her?’

Cecilia looked over Jack’s shoulder at R
æven, who appeared to be having a staring competition with Xara. ‘That girl is a darling, isn’t she? Voice of an angel. I saw you talking to her before.’

‘Yeah, she’s great,’ said Jack. ‘We go way back.’

‘Oh, excellent!’ said Cecilia, grasping Jack’s arm and squeezing gently. ‘She’s ever so good. Volunteered to spy for us, and deliver messages. Said she was at our disposal.’

‘She said that?’

Cecilia nodded and was about to speak when Anton interrupted her.

‘It’ll come in handy, too, when trying to recruit new members for our army,’ he said, a smirk on his face.

‘Shut up, Anton,’ Cecilia snapped, trying to block him from the conversation by turning her back on him.

‘Army?’ Jack repeated, peering over Cecilia’s shoulder.

‘Yeah. Didn’t Cis tell you? We’re waging a war on the Realm in a fortnight.’

Chapter Twenty-Six

Across Land and Sea

KENNETH REDDING

Kenneth, Robert, Elise, Bran, Tom, and Penny sat around a circular table with maps and documents sprawled across the surface. They’d met up several days ago after travelling across the country to meet in Concord City.

It unsettled Kenneth to see his eldest daughter's face plastered across the city, but it was also a sign that she had not yet been caught. He was sure it would be big news if she had been captured … or worse, killed.

‘We received an invitation early this evening about a human-organisation meeting taking place in the city,’ said Robert.

‘Another group like us?’ asked Penny.

‘Bigger than us,’ replied Robert.

‘How did they find us?’ Kenneth asked at once. ‘And how did they know we are pro-human?’

Robert shrugged. ‘Beats me. Maybe they’ve got spies listening all over the city.’

‘When is the meeting?’ asked Elise.

Robert checked his pocket watch. ‘It was two hours ago,’ he said.

‘Well, why didn’t we go?’ Bran demanded.

‘Because we can’t trust them,’ said Robert. ‘It could be a trap.’

‘What’s this group called?’ asked Kenneth.

‘
Howl
, or something,’ said Robert, waving a hand. ‘I forget what it stands for. Anyway, rumour has it that they have over one hundred members, which,
in my opinion
, is risky business. How can they trust everyone that walks through their door?’

‘Maybe they have a way to weed out the spies,’ said Tom. ‘Perhaps a telepath?’

‘Maybe,’ said Kenneth. ‘I don’t think it would hurt to join forces with another group if we plan on overthrowing the Realm. I mean … we can’t do it with just the six of us.’

‘It would have been seven,’ said Robert, scowling. ‘If Maria were still alive.’

The table fell into sympathetic silence. The memory of Maria’s death was still fresh in their minds. One could not easily forget watching another being decapitated before their very eyes.

‘I think we should talk with another pro-human group,’ piped up Penny.

There was a general murmuring of agreement.

Robert clucked his tongue impatiently. ‘
Sure
, if you all want to get arrested and hanged.’ His tone dripped with sarcasm.

‘If they have as many members as you say, I’m sure the range of Powers would be security enough. Maybe they have silencers, or shields-’ Kenneth began.

‘And what if they’re not a real group?’ asked Robert. ‘What if it’s a hoax, and we get there, and there’s no meeting?’

The six looked between each other, figuring out an answer to the question.

‘One of us goes,’ said Kenneth. ‘That way the others are safe.’

‘Are you volunteering?’ asked Robert. ‘I’m sure they’d love to
recruit
the father of the infamous Fire-Mage.’

Kenneth looked around at the expectant eyes. They waited for his decision.

‘Fine,’ he said. ‘Ill do it. I’ll join
Howl
.’

‘Maybe Penny should do it,’ said Tom quickly. ‘She can shrink if they try to capture her. She would get away easily.’

Penny nodded in agreement, but Ken shook his head.

‘No, I won’t put her in danger,’ he said. ‘I will go to their next meeting and report my findings. If it’s safe … will we join them?’

Everyone around the table nodded, except Robert.

‘Robert?’ Kenneth prompted. ‘Deal?’

Robert chewed the inside of his cheek, contemplating the decision. ‘All right. Fine.’

‘Then it’s settled,’ said Kenneth. ‘When is the next meeting?’

‘The invitation said to rendezvous at midnight, under the Terry Street Bridge.’

‘The canals?’ asked Elise. ‘That doesn’t seem very secret.’

Robert gave her a sarcastic expression that quite clearly stated:
you don’t say
?

‘They must have a reason for it,’ said Kenneth. ‘You can observe from a vantage point as I wait under the bridge. Deal?’

Robert nodded in agreement. ‘Okay, but if no one shows up after five minutes, we’re all getting out of there, okay?’

They all nodded in unison.

~

Twenty-two hours later, Kenneth Redding was staring at the Terry Street Bridge contemplating the situation he’d gotten himself into. The water in the canal was black, and reflected the night sky perfectly, as if it were a mirror. There was a small path, about one foot wide, on either side of the water; wide enough for a man to walk along and hide under the pass. No one stood beneath the bridge waiting for him, and a sense of foreboding had washed over his body.

‘Well?’ Elise whispered, prodding him in the back. ‘Are you going or what? It’s about to hit midnight.’

‘Okay, okay,’ he said, stepping out of the shadows.

She was right; somewhere in the distance, a clock tower sounded its first chime.

One.

Kenneth hurried along the alleyway where he had been hiding with the others.

Two
.

Kenneth walked to the side of the canal and peered over the edge. The narrow path was only a few feet below.

Three
.

He hopped down with ease, though it was barely wide enough for his feet to rest side-by-side.

Four.

He shuffled along the wall, counting the chimes and praying he wouldn’t fall into the black water.

Five.

He was in the shadow of the bridge and knew his comrades would no longer be able to see him.

Six.

Kenneth stood beneath the pass, alone, and wondering how long he would have to be here.

Seven.

He heard footsteps, and craned his neck to get a better look at them, but no one was in sight.

Eight
.

The footsteps sounded closer, their heels clacking smartly along the cobbled stone streets.

Nine
.

Kenneth heard the sound of someone jumping onto the narrow path, the same as he had done, except there was no one to be seen.

Ten.

He swivelled on the spot, squinting through the darkness. The footsteps were mere meters away.

Eleven.

He could feel their eyes on him, watching his every move. His heart quickened, dreading the events that were about to transpire.

Twelve.

‘Hello, sir. I trust you are well tonight?’

Kenneth was given such a fright that he almost fell head first into the canal.

‘Who’s there?’ he demanded, holding out his hands in defence. He daren’t ignite his palms for fear of being discovered by strangers passing.

‘Please, sir, keep your voice down. We do not want to be discovered.’

‘Show yourself!’ Kenneth hissed, ready to attack. ‘Why can’t I see you?’ It was a curt man’s voice, Kenneth knew that much.