The Broken Cage (Solstice 31 Saga Book 2) (29 page)

Po asked, “Why does he let people think he is vain? Some think he is the worse Keeper of them all.”

They didn’t answer. But, Po finally understood. She saw how he lived in the East Isles. This was a façade, to help as many as he could, within the rules he was allowed.

***

Ronan and Ulric returned just as the final tray of biscuits came out of the oven. They laughed at something Ulric said, making a voice that was not his own.

They ate chili with cheese and fresh biscuits from beautiful, ceramic bowls. They must not have eaten much at the feast because both Ulric and Ronan had seconds of the chili.

Jacob joined them late. Ronan, Teek, and Ro all tossed him a biscuit at the same time. Somehow, he caught them all, and juggled them as he walked to the pot of chili. While juggling the three with one hand, he ladled up a bowl for himself.

He expertly faked tossing the full bowl into the mix, but just lifted it up and down in the circle to good effect.

Smoothly, he sat, caught one biscuit in his mouth, placed one in the bowl and placed the last on his napkin as if it was nothing. A typical day.

The ladies cheered; Jimbo, Barcus and Rand applauded.

“Thanks for not throwing me that awful knife, again, Ronan. Its balance is horrible for juggling.”

After Jacob was done eating, he and Ronan retired to his private study, to catch up on some things.

“I will still be awake when you return. We’ll talk, then.”

They didn’t get to speak with him again, until it had all gone wrong.

***

The streets were crowded in this upscale section of Exeter. The crowd parted as they moved through. Worthington, Barcus, and Rand were a full head taller than most of the people and they intimidated people by more than just their size. Their clothes, apparently, were typically worn by elite trackers and bodyguards used by Ronan; few could afford them.

Po might as well have been invisible, as she walked a half step behind Ulric, wearing a full black habit and veil.

The Flask and Anvil was huge, for a tavern. There were already 300, maybe 400, people there. Ulric was taken to a booth a half level up from the main floor. It was like a small side alcove, like box seats, that looked down onto the main floor, opposite a stage where two men played string instruments. The crowd talked among themselves. There were a lot of women present, most in habits of modest colors, some with their heads uncovered and their long, braided hair showing.

“The acoustics are fantastic in here,” Ulric said, as he, Grady and Po sat. Worthington and Rand took positions just on the inside of the booth alcove, on each side. The instruments the men on stage played sounded like guitars, but had more strings, a deeper tone, and a wider range.

Barcus went to look for the man named Mason. Ronan had given a detailed description of the man.

AI~Em spoke to Barcus via HUD,
“I believe I have found him.”

A HUD image opened and his face was there in a window. Barcus found him quickly, sitting at the bar with a mug before him, talking to a woman with a long, black braid and bare arms. She also had bracelets on her biceps and wrists, which was highly unusual for Exeter. Her dress had the single button at the nape of her neck, but it was made of far finer material that flattered her body instead of concealing it.

She clung to Mason, even though he was an unremarkable man. He was bookish and soft-looking.

Barcus approached as the musicians finished and the crowd began to applaud. He walked up behind the man.

“My Lord, Mason,” Barcus said, from behind him. “Keeper Ronan sends his regards. My name is Barcus.”

The woman spoke first. “Ronan surely knows how to grow them in the East Isles. Can we take this one home?”

Her hand traced the muscles on Barcus's chest. He looked at her hand, and then up at her face.

She took her hand away.

“Ty, leave this one alone. He might eat you,” Mason said.

“Why is he so angry?” she asked, looking closely into his eyes.

“Ty. No,” Mason said, and she heeled like a dog, sitting back down.

Barcus wondered why she wasn't completely covered like the rest of the women present. All the others were, basically, in burkas.

“If you'd follow me, sir.” Barcus gestured with his arm. “I will show you the way.” His gesture opened his cloak a bit and revealed the massive Raptor blade. The handle was wrapped in fine leather, but was still clear.

Fear showed on the woman’s face when she saw it.

Mason followed him through the increasing crowd to the next level up, where Ulric sat.

“
Barcus, we now have ten BUGs set to follow Mason back to the Citadel. We will be able to obtain his credentials the next time he logs into the system,”
AI~Em said, in his head.

Mason and Ty entered and sat inside Ulric's booth. Worthington and Rand stepped out, for privacy, before words were spoken.

Barcus watched the meeting in two windows.

“Greetings, Mason. My name is Ulric. I am a friend of Ronan's,” Ulric said. “He tells me there is a favor to be paid, or offered, or asked. I am not too clear which it is,” Ulric said, pouring wine.

“I think you and I are just the conduits for a favor of this size,” Mason said.

Applause began as the two musicians finished the tune with a flourish. They moved their chairs farther apart and, once again, took their places on stage.

“Then, all accounts become even, tonight.” Mason stared down at the stage as the crowd became quiet.

***

The men played a sad sounding tune, as three women stood in between them in full habits, cloaks, and hoods, but no veils.

Rand touched Worthington's arm as he froze. “Do you hear that...?”

When the three women raised their black flutes, they played a familiar tune. Barcus whispered, “Adagio in G Minor.”

They looked at each other.

The harmony of the flutes was heartbreaking in its beauty. The musical arrangement was perfect, better even than the original by Tomaso Albinoni.

The crowd was silent when the woman in the center lowered her flute, and her hood, and stepped forward to sing. Her hair was bright red and in a thick braid.

Her voice filled the room vocalizing. She used her voice like an instrument. No words. Just beautiful, heartbreaking sound.

“What does this mean?” Jimbo whispered to Barcus. They all recognized the music was from Earth. He got no answer.

The flutes and guitars played as her voice ached with emotion. The black flutes were impossibly pure. People covered their mouths with their hands.

The flutes wept to a silent crowd.

Barcus looked at the audience now. There was a table of armed men on the floor below. They were the only people not silent. They whispered in harsh tones to each other.

The music continued with the audience enthralled.

Barcus saw Grady slowly moving through the crowd below. At that, the men on stage stood, and the five of them played, making it sound as if they were an entire orchestra. The lead singer, the woman with red hair, played a solo of such complexity, Barcus would not have believed it to be possible.

They played in perfect harmony and with high intensity. Their hands flashed as they plucked the strings and even drummed on their instruments as they played.

The final stanzas she sang, alone, in volume.

And then, quietly, soulfully, sorrowfully, while looking directly at Barcus, she sang the ending, as if she knew him. The crowd was frozen by the echoing silence as she finished her last note. No one moved on stage.

Then, the applause crashed in like a wave, as she drew her hood back up, still looking at Barcus.

Po was at his elbow. “What's wrong?”

Barcus looked at Worthington.

Then, Mason was there at the railing, between Barcus and Jimbo.

“That is Wex,” Mason said, as he watched Grady slowly approach the stage, as people, now on their feet, continued to applaud. “It's the only way she could get here. She doesn't want to go back.”

Ulric said, over the crowd, “Grady carved the flutes. He was right. They are amazing.”

“You must take her with you,” Mason added.

“Mason, we have to go,” Ty said, urgently. “Now. Please.” There was fear, almost panic, in her voice.

Wex saw Grady then, and stepped off the stage, directly into his arms.

Barcus noticed that a commotion was beginning. Two armed trackers argued with the male musicians. There was yelling and one of them was dragged off the stage by the two men.

Worthington was about to speak, when he noticed Barcus, moving through the crowd below. He must have gone over the railing. Po followed then, her cloaks billowing.

“Dammit,” Jimbo said to Rand. “Get them out of here.” He pointed at Mason, and Ulric.

Rand moved, without a word, and they followed.

Worthington brought up the rear.

Barcus heard what the man was yelling over the crowd. He had a gruff accent.

“This music is heresy. They are using magic. These women must be punished.” He dragged the man off the stage. “If you won't. I will.”

He threw the man down, crushing his instrument beneath him where he fell, and climbed on stage, drawing a knife.

Barcus saw the two women crouch and back away, separating, with their flutes in their right hands.

They were in a fighting stance. He wasn’t sure the tracker saw it. He acted as if they were cowering. Nothing was further from the truth.

The man rushed at one of them. Her movement was fluid and circular. Her clothes hid her feet and arms, and there was no warning as she dodged, spun, and landed the flute with a horrible impact on the bridge of his nose. It broke his nose and both eye sockets. His brain would never survive. He dropped like a wet bag of sand.

Screams went up and a panic started, as people began to run. More of the High Keeper's soldiers seemed to appear out of nowhere, scanning for the problem and not yet finding it. Knives cleared sheaths. The soldiers had followed Wex there. They were to ensure her return.

Suddenly, Grady was at Barcus's elbow with Wex. She stood face-to-face with Barcus, looking him right in the eyes, measuring him. She seemed to recognize him. She said, as the chaos increased around them, “Barcus, I have waited so very long to meet you. Hear me. We have little time.” She drew closer, spoke directly into his ear, “Tell him the cage is broken.”

“Tell who?”

“You’ll know. He’s been waiting for you,” she said, and then she noticed Po. Wex gasped, at the sight of her, she leaned down and whispered, “Never stop. Ever.” And then, she was gone.

Po began pulling Barcus. People were screaming.

The two small women jumped from the stage and moved through the crowd like dozens of other women dressed like them. The male musicians disappeared behind the stage, leaving the body alone on the floor there.

Barcus made brief eye contact with Jimbo. “Jimbo, get them out. We will meet you back at the ship,” Barcus said, over HUD comms via EmNet, to Worthington, still calm.

Jimbo was already out the door. The crush of people stopped Barcus from going the same way, so they moved to the back. Barcus turned to see a man, with the bloody sword raised over his head.

Grady, from behind the man, shot the man in the head.

They had room, suddenly, because everyone ran, in every direction, away from them. Barcus could see blood on Grady’s chest as he and Wex moved into the crowd as they fled.

“Barcus, this way,” AI~Em said.

A line displayed in his vision that led to a side door. He grabbed Po's hand and moved. The gun she was holding disappeared into her cloak.

The door opened into a narrow alley that ran towards the back. The directional line led them at a run. Barcus, then Po, and finally the two women with flutes ran into the alley. This led to a paddock in the back, where individual horses were tied up. Three stable boys stared at them. The line he followed led along the wall and over a fence into deeper darkness.

Barcus paused, for a moment, once everyone was over the fence and asked, “Where's Grady? He’s been wounded!”

AI~Em replied, so he and Po heard. “Grady got out with Wex. He will be fine. Worthington and Rand got out with the others. Now. Run,” AI~Em yelled, into their minds. “They’re coming.”

CHAPTER FORTY

They Ran

“Suddenly, it was chaotic. We were separated. But, Em was tracking us all. We were sure we’d gotten out but Em was either glitching or lying or both. None of us knew what was really going on.”

--
Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: Captain James Worthington, senior surviving member of the Ventura's command crew.

<<<>>>

They ran.

Barcus had no idea where they were. The woman named Jude was leading now. She stopped running when running began to draw more attention than they wanted.

A maze of alleys eventually led out to a crowded market square.

Jude whispered, “This is the night market. It allows households to get their fresh goods before the day starts. Move slowly through.”

They merged into a lane that bustled with fish carts and crates of fruits and vegetables.

“This way,” Jude said, quietly.

They traversed almost the entire length of the market and were headed for the western exit, when AI~Em chimed in on comms, “
There are soldiers converging on the market. Follow me.”

AI~Em appeared and turned away. She left a virtual vapor trail behind her, in their HUDs. Barcus turned, stopped Jude, and indicated for her to follow him. AI~Em entered an alley and moved ahead quickly.

Jude said, “I am sorry, my Lord. I don’t know you well enough to follow you. Cine.” It was the other woman’s name. She hesitated, lowered her hood, and stared at Barcus. “He has a rider.” And, the two flute players turned and disappeared into the market.

“Where are we going?” Po asked, still holding Barcus’s hand as they fast walked down a series of dark alleys and courtyards. The sounds of the night market faded behind them.

They finally entered a large cross street. Instead of instantly following the vapor trail in his HUD, Barcus and Po moved to the center of the large area. There was a watering trough for horses and a utilitarian fountain. They quietly, ran to it.

“I want to orient myself,” Barcus whispered, as he looked up at the bright, moonlit sky.

They were moving closer to the Citadel, not away from it, back towards Ronan’s estate.

“
Barcus, you must hurry.”
AI~Em’s voice became urgent, in his head.

Just then, they both felt AI~Em’s presence wink out.

The vapor trail disappeared. His HUD went dark. He was hailed on his direct HUD channel.

It was Chen’s personal ID code. Chen was dead. Chen was under a pile of rocks on the side of a lonely mountain.

Barcus opened the channel, but said nothing, putting his finger to Po’s lips, so she said nothing.

“
Barcus, I only have a few seconds! There is no way I can prove to you what I say is true. Use your gut.”
It was Chen’s voice, in a near panic. “
Em is lying. Her AI has been corrupted, seized. Don’t trust her. She is running another…”

The comms terminated.

EmNet was back up and the vapor trail was back. AI~Em was in mid-sentence, “…w
ater and then we need to get moving again
.”

Po looked at Barcus with wide eyes and said nothing. Barcus looked away toward the vapor trail path.

Barcus moved, as he thought.

“Em, slow this down. We got away. I need a recon BUG straight up 100 meters. I need to know where I am. And, give me a tactical map of the city, showing the route we will take.” His HUD clock showed 1253 hours.

They paused in the deep shadows of a new side street that smelled of dung, and angled up a slope.

The tactical map came up first. It showed a meandering route that would have them back at the estate, by dawn.

He thought to himself,
plausible
.

“Where are Jimbo and the others?” Barcus asked.

“
They are having problems just now, and I should not distract them,”
AI~Em replied.

Just then, Po’s cloak fell away from her suppressed handgun. She still held it, pointed down, in her right hand.

“Barcus, I hear running.”

A moment later, Barcus heard it, as well.

He let go of her other hand, and said, “Go,” in a quiet, urgent, voice.

He drew his own gun, and moved with her, walking backwards, covering their retreat. Po hurried to the mouth of the street, holding her gun in both hands.

She was about 100 feet ahead of him, at the next intersection; she waited until Barcus looked at her, so he would see the direction she went.

When he looked, she moved, both of them losing line of sight.

This movement continued for several minutes. At times, Barcus would lead and Po would cover their backs. But, the sound
s
of feet got closer in the maze.

For a few minutes, they flat out ran, at AI~Em’s encouragement. They paused in another set of shadows, listening. The running feet grew faint.

Without a word, they began another covered retreat. Po led this time. There were so many alleys in this city. Without the vapor trail, they would have constantly hit dead ends.

It happened, again.

AI~Em seemed to wink out. Chen’s voice said, “
You’re being driven to a
…” AI~Em winked back in, as if nothing had happened.

A moment later, Barcus heard two quiet shots. Po shot at someone. He turned to run toward her.

Two crossbow bolts entered his right leg, at almost the same moment, one six inches above his knee and one six inches below. It sent him sprawling onto his face, before he reached the corner. The hard impact on the cobbles drove the wind from him, and made him lose his grip on the gun.

It slid away.

The Telis blade cleared its sheath and severed a man’s arm clean off just below the elbow as he reached for Barcus. Another, leaning down, was stabbed under his chin into his brain so far it protruded from the top of his head. His body collapsed onto Barcus and against the crossbow bolts in his leg. He heard the snap as he drew out the blade and rolled over on top of the corpse.

The club to the back of his head brought him darkness, before he could drag himself within reach of his gun.

***

Po turned the alley corner and approached an opening to a wider road. A soldier, with a crossbow, entered the alley in front of her. He raised the crossbow, but before he could fire, she shot him in the face and the heart. He was dead before he hit the cobbles.

She looked both ways into the street; it was clear. She waited. Then, the vapor trail disappeared. Barcus didn’t come. She kept looking, to make sure it was still clear.

He didn’t come.

A Citadel soldier rounded the corner, where she expected to see Barcus, followed by another, and another. The first two died never even seeing her, her black clothes hid her in the darkness. More soldiers poured out.

She ran.

She wanted to come back around, behind them. She took the next right without pausing and ran. Then, the right again, and again, expecting to find them.

It was a dead end.

She ran back and took the next right. It ended in a pig sty.

She was panicked now, running full tilt. She took rights and lefts, looking for something familiar, as the buildings became shabbier and more deserted.

“Barcus, where are you?” she paused. “Em, please help me!” She knew she was loud. There was no reply.

She ran. She had to find him.