Secret of the Giants' Staircase (16 page)

“Watchers find them, ambush them,” he suggested.

“One of them will be on guard at all times, night or day,” Jesse said. “And they're brutal.”

“Besides,” Parvel said, “I doubt all the Watchers will be as enthusiastic as you to put their lives at risk for their former prisoners.”

“I ask them,” Castor said, hurrying out the door. “Help the Amarians who found the treasure.”

It was a good angle to use, at least, but Jesse agreed with Parvel. As much as he wished the giants would attack and subdue Captain Demetri, he had a feeling they would be doing this alone.

“We have no hope of rescuing the other two,” Silas said, shaking his head. “Captain Demetri knows we're coming. You said so yourself. They will be waiting, ready to kill their two hostages if we do not surrender to them.”

“Silas is right,” Rae said.

Now
, Jesse thought,
life is back to normal. Rae and Silas against Jesse and Parvel.

“Either we die trying to save two, or the six of us escape alive,” Silas reasoned, as if the situation were a simple mathematic equation. “We can't save everyone, Parvel.”

We can't save Leisel
. The thought brought a familiar ache in Jesse's stomach. There were so many names in the Forbidden Book, so many young people they could no longer save.
What if Nero and Talia are two of them?

But Parvel was not convinced. “We have to try,” he insisted. “As long as they are alive, there is still hope. And we are that hope.”

“We can't do it alone,” Barnaby said. “It's impossible.”

“What about your family?” Parvel reminded him. “Is there not a chance they will join us?”

“His family?” Jesse asked, confused.

“He released Zora. She's trained to return to the Kin, then come back to her master,” Parvel said.

Jesse and Owen exchanged glances. “I knew that stupid bird was up to something,” Owen muttered.

“They will not come,” Barnaby said flatly.

“You don't really believe that,” Parvel said.

Jesse didn't share in his optimism. He remembered Tomas' words: “Maybe he
did
know exactly what would happen when he left. Maybe he wanted to be cut off from the Kin—from us.”

“Why would you send Zora away if you had no hope that your family would come?” Parvel pressed.

“Because I didn't want her to die with us,” Barnaby practically shouted in his face.

Parvel fell silent.

“Don't you understand?” Barnaby asked, fists clenched at his side. “When I joined the Guard, I left the Kin. They are not my family anymore. I am dead to them.”

“We met your family,” Jesse said, not sure whether now was the right time to bring that up. “Some of them wanted you to come home, and—”

“
Some
of them,” Barnaby said. “So you say. But none of them came with you.”

No one had anything to say to that. Jesse felt as if their last hope had been taken away from them.

He glanced over at Owen, who was being uncharacteristically silent. “What about you, Owen?” Jesse prompted.

Owen looked uncomfortable as they all stared at him. “I want to leave here,” he said, “but I don't want to leave
them
here.”

“Three for, three against,” Rae said, sighing loudly. “Of course.”

“We need to get some rest,” Silas said, giving a significant look at Parvel. “All of us. We can decide then what we will do.”

Rest sounded good to Jesse. Perhaps when he woke up, his head would stop pounding and everything would seem simpler. Somehow, though, he doubted it.

Barnaby was the last to leave the room. “Wait,” Jesse said.

Barnaby stopped, still staying as far away from Jesse's bed as possible. “Yes?”

“I have something of yours,” Jesse said, taking the token from around his neck. “Your family gave it to me.”

For a moment, Barnaby just looked at it. Then he put it around his neck. “The only family I have left is Zora, if she even comes back.” He started to leave again.

Jesse took a deep breath. “I just want to say that I shouldn't have shouted at you back in the prison. What I said…you didn't deserve it. I'm sorry.”

“Don't be,” Barnaby said, turning away. “You were right. I abandoned you, just like I abandoned them.”

Somehow, Jesse knew it was as close to an apology as he would ever get from Barnaby. “I've already forgiven you for that,” he said, and as soon as he said it, he knew it was true.

“They won't forgive me,” Barnaby said bitterly. “The Kin never forgives—especially not Tomas. Everything to him was about following the rules, about being loyal to the Kin. Even when we were younger, he was the responsible one, the one everyone depended on. He's determined to be an elder in the Kin someday.”

Jesse could picture that: Tomas making decisions and enforcing the laws.

“He'll be good at it too, I suppose,” Barnaby said, shrugging. “He's good at everything.”

How sad
, Jesse thought.
Both Tomas and Barnaby were jealous of each other
. He started to say, “Your brother—”

“No,” Barnaby said, turning away. “He's not my brother anymore.”

When Jesse woke up, he found Owen talking to Castor in the front room, as if nothing had happened in the past two days, although he knew the opposite was true. “More Amarian lessons?” he asked dryly.

Owen nodded. “I taught him another new word.”

“What was it, ‘annoying?'” Jesse asked.

“No,” Castor said. “Report.” He looked warily at Owen. “Report means I say what I do and see?”

“Yes,” Jesse said. “For once, Owen taught you the right thing.” Owen made a face at him.

“My report is Head Watcher said no to attack on evil men,” Castor said. “I go out anyway, watch them all last night. See their camp, count evil men.” He paused. “There are three. One is a woman.”

Something about the woman had clearly disturbed Castor, because he shivered. “She sayed to other two men—”

“Said,” Jesse corrected automatically.

A glare from Castor told him that it was not the time for a grammar lesson. “She said that someone was watching.”

“But she didn't find you?” Jesse asked, although he was sure Castor would not be standing there if she had. Riders didn't seem to care who they killed.

“No,” Castor said. “I ran away. Watchers are silent as the swamp frog.”

Owen laughed at that. “I think you mean fog,” Jesse corrected, stepping on Owen's foot.

“I tell Silas and others where they are, and everything about the camp and people in it,” Castor continued. “It is out in swamp.”

“How far out?” Jesse asked.

Castor bit his lip, clearly trying to remember words for distance. “Hour of walk? I cannot remember how to say far in lengths, except Westlund lengths.”

“Very good,” Jesse said. Silas and Parvel would come up with a plan. That's what they were best at. For now, Jesse was content to follow their instructions.

Castor stood, looking around the room sadly.

“You're leaving, aren't you?” Owen asked.

It wasn't a hard conclusion to make. Castor's quarters were bare. He, like the other Westlunders, had packed his things, ready for the long trip back. All that was left was one pack that came up to Jesse's neck.

Castor nodded. “Caravan leaves soon. All Watchers go back to Westlund. We will no come back.”

He picked up the pack from the ground. “I carry this my own,” he said, hefting it on his back with a grunt.

“Myself,” Jesse corrected.

Castor nodded and pointed to the pack. “Books, paper, key and food,” he explained.

“All very important things,” Jesse agreed.

He was just about to ask where
his
key was, when a giant ran into the room, blurting something in agitated Westlundish. He and Castor spoke for a while, then the man hurried away. Castor turned to them. “The Lidians return,” he said. “The Watchers must leave. Protect people in Westlund, for if they attack us.”

“The Lidians?” Owen said, confused. “Not…ghosts?”

Castor apparently didn't know this word, because he only shrugged. “We leave now, with treasures. You go up and meet Lidians. They asked for you. For Barnaby.”

Barnaby. Of course
. The Westlunders would call the Kin by their old name, the Lidians.
So they did come!
Jesse felt something like hope growing in him.

“Good-bye, Owen,” Castor said, patting him on the head. “Careful. Listen to Jesse.”

“Not all the time,” Owen said, grinning. “Then I'd never have any fun.”

Then it was Jesse's turn. “Good-bye, Jesse,” Castor said, nearly crushing him with a hug. “I read the book. Maybe, when I learn to write Amarian, I send a letter from Westlund!”

Jesse laughed at the thought that a letter written by a giant would manage to find its way to him, as he wandered around the kingdom as an outlaw. “Maybe,” was all he said. “Good-bye, Castor. We wait for the circle moon.”

“No,” Castor said, shaking his head. “I am not a Watcher now. I wait for no moon. I wait for the dawn.”

He waved good-bye one last time before shouldering his pack and backing into the tunnels.

Jesse hated knowing he would probably never see Castor again. He wasn't even sure he and the others would live to another dawn.
But, I suppose that's part of being a member of the Youth Guard.

By the time Jesse and Owen went up the stairs and out of the palace, Silas, Parvel and Rae were already waiting on the porch. Down the steps, a small crowd of men stood at attention, perhaps three dozen of them, all wearing the patterned clothing of the Kin, and all armed. Jesse knew that if he were close enough to see, each of them would have a token around his neck.

Jesse studied them. None of them seemed openly hostile, but some didn't look happy to be there. He followed their eyes to see what they were looking at.

It was Barnaby, Zora on his shoulder again, surrounded by a circle of older men.

A shake of Parvel's head told him to stay away, but Jesse pretended he hadn't seen it, edging closer to the group. He had to know what was going to happen.

“There are two innocent young people being held prisoner in the swamps,” Barnaby was saying. “I respectfully ask your aid in rescuing them.”

“We cannot risk our lives for the sake of the king's Youth Guard,” one man snapped. “It is not the Kin's way.” Apparently, someone—Barnaby, or perhaps Parvel—had explained what had happened.

“We elders will discuss among ourselves,” the oldest of the men said. “You have put us in a difficult situation, young man.”

“I know,” Barnaby said, shame creeping into his voice, though he made no apology. Jesse tried to imagine what it would be like to face the group of people you had abandoned.

All of the men except Ravvi left and sat in a group on the steps. “Not all of the elders came,” Ravvi said. “A few of them refused to have anything to do with the rescue.”

“To be honest, Father, I'm surprised to see you here,” Barnaby said.

Ravvi put his hand on Barnaby's shoulder. “I knew you would send Zora only in a time of greatest danger. And you are still my son.”

“And Tomas?” Barnaby asked, scanning the faces in the palace courtyard.

Ravvi shook his head. “He stayed with the rest of the Kin.”

For a moment, Jesse saw an expression of sadness pass over Barnaby's face, but then it hardened. “Of course.” He raised his hand in a kind of salute to his father. “I will leave and let the elders decide.”

Strange that he would give up so easily
, Jesse thought.
After all, these are his people
,
and he doesn't seem the type to surrender in an argument
.

Then again, Barnaby's squad didn't seem to be as loyal to each other as Jesse's.
Maybe he doesn't really care what happens to Nero and Talia.

“Please,” Parvel said, stepping forward, “if you will let me explain the seriousness of the situation—”

But Ravvi just shook his head. “If you would speak further, you must speak to the elders of the Kin,” he said, gesturing to the group on the steps. “I do not have the power to decide.”

Jesse knew from the look in Parvel's eyes that he would speak further. He loved any chance for debate, even in front of an audience.
Especially in front of an audience
, Jesse thought.

“If I may, I have something to say,” Parvel said, stepping toward the elders, but speaking loud enough for the crowd to hear. “There are two young people, barely more than children, who need your help.” He gestured to the gathered Kin. “Here, I see forty strong, able-bodied men. Will none of you come to their defense?”

“In our laws, you do not have permission to address the elders, young Amarian,” the one elder said in a thin, reedy voice.

“Besides, you speak foolishness,” a sour-faced elder added, glaring at Parvel. “We should leave at once, with or without the boy.”

“Surely you can see that this is an injustice,” Parvel continued, ignoring him. “Will you let innocent blood be shed in your land?”

“It is not our land anymore,” an elder said, shaking his head sadly. “It fell from our hands long, long ago.”

“You mean we gave it up,” another voice said. Jesse turned. It was Barnaby, Zora perched on his shoulder. He was leaning against one of the pillars, looking down at the people. “Our fathers abandoned this place. They ran away when they should have fought.”

“How dare you speak of our ancestors that way!” the sour-faced elder said, shaking his fist. “We never should have come to the aid of this impudent boy!” A muttering from the crowd told Jesse that many agreed with him.

“Barnaby…” Parvel said in a warning tone.

“Trust me,” he said quietly. Then he turned back to the Kin. “I mean no disrespect to those who have gone before us. They did what they thought was best, but there is no need for us to repeat their mistakes.”

“What do you mean, son?” Ravvi asked, stepping forward from the crowd.

“Don't you see?” Barnaby said. “The Watchers of Westlund have left Lidia behind. Here, we have a chance to reclaim what was once ours. We can rebuild. All groups of Kin, scattered around the kingdom, can join and become what they once were: Lidians. United.”

The crowd began to mutter again, but this time, their hushed words were tinged with excitement. Even some of the elders appeared to be listening.

Is it really possible?
Jesse wondered, looking doubtfully around at the ruins. The tunnels, at least, seemed to be past repair, soon to be destroyed by the rising waters. The rest of the city was in disrepair. He wondered if Barnaby actually thought Lidia could be rebuilt, or if he was merely using the idea as bait to manipulate the Kin.

“Amarias has rejected us. The Amarians have done nothing to welcome us, but let us wander their land, barely surviving,” Barnaby said, his voice growing stronger as he paced along the porch. “We owe them no debt. Let us leave them and become a nation once again. Let us restore Lidia to her former greatness!”

A few of the Kin actually cheered at that. “The boy's right,” Jesse heard one voice shout.

“That attitude was what caused the fall of Lidia in the first place,” a new voice said, this one from behind them.

While all of the people watched, Tomas stepped forward, next to Barnaby, barely giving him a glance before addressing the people again. “What my brother seems to have forgotten is that this talk of rising as a great nation led the Lidians of this city to neglect its defenses, to ignore warnings of attack. It led to our downfall.”

A visible conflict broke out among the people. Some sided with Tomas, while others seemed unconvinced, still excited about the prospect of rebuilding the old city.

Jesse stepped forward and spoke quietly to him. “Tomas, is this really what you want? Two could die because of your pride!”

But Tomas only brushed Jesse aside, carefully watching the crowd below.

“Is this what you young people have brought to us?” the sour-faced elder bellowed, shaking his fist at them. “Disorder and conflict to tear the Kin apart, we who have stayed together for two hundred years of exile?”

Barnaby started to speak, but Tomas cut him off. “No,” he said, raising a hand to silence the people. Amazingly, the clamor of voices died down. “I agree with my brother that we must return here.”

Now even Jesse wanted to join the mutterings of disbelief.
What does he mean?

“No, I'm saying we must not focus on our glory and pride,” Tomas continued. “Doing so would distract us from danger. But this was our city, our home, and with hard work and time, we can make it so again.”

“And what about these invaders, these three agents of the king who bring evil into our land?” Barnaby challenged him. “We cannot wait for hard work and time to get rid of them. We must act now.”

“With caution, following the tradition of the Kin, we will drive them from here,” Tomas said, speaking more to the crowd than his brother. “According to our laws, we can go to war against anyone who threatens even one of our own.”

“He is not our own anymore,” a dissenter shouted. “When he joined the Guard, he left the Kin.”

There was silence in the crowd. Not even Ravvi protested.

Jesse remembered all that Tomas and Barnaby had said.
“Maybe he wanted to be cut off from the Kin.” “The Kin never forgives.” “I am dead to them.”

Then the oldest elder stood shakily. “No,” he said. He climbed the stairs with effort and stood between Barnaby and Tomas. “We have a law—rarely used, but present from the earliest days of our people. A son of Lidia can always return.”

There was no sound of any kind from the crowd. Everyone was watching, waiting. The elder turned to Barnaby. “The only question is: do you choose to return?”

For a moment, Barnaby hesitated. Then he stepped forward. “My brother is right. Pride can only destroy. It was because of pride that I left the Kin. But now I return, and so can this fallen city!”

More cheers this time, and Jesse noted there were very few skeptics left in the group.

“Zeal, order and wisdom on the same platform,” one of the other elders mused, once the noise had died down. “Never since the day of Jardos, Vincent, and Hyram.”

It was true, Jesse realized. The three men addressing the people looked very little like the three men of the statues, yet they fulfilled their roles: Barnaby to inspire, Tomas to plan carefully, and the elder to offer counsel.
Lidia has found its leaders again
.

“I, Tomas, son of Lidia, call a ruling session of elders in keeping with the laws of the Kin,” Tomas said. Immediately, all of the people began to sit down.

Out of respect
, Jesse guessed.
He must be invoking some official procedure
. Parvel made a motion for his fellow squad members to sit, and Jesse did so, even though the marble of the porch was still wet with rain.