Menagerie - Martin Day [46]
Time to open his eyes.
They remained closed. His eyelids felt as if they'd been glued together. He was lying uncomfortably on one half-numb arm. He moved what he hoped to be his hand into position, and began to rub his eyes.
The blood flowed back into his arm, surging with little pinpricks of pain. He groaned as his eyes fluttered open.
There was a lot of light bouncing into his eyes from the floor. He stared at a whorl in the grain of the wood, observing the dark cracks and fissures and pathways, and then raised his head.
In that moment the memories came flooding back to him.
One of the Knights of Kuabris stood over him, impossibly tall and swaying from side to side. Cosmae blinked, and the image stabilized.
'Welcome back,' said the voice. A hand extended down towards Cosmae, which he instinctively reached out for.
The young knight hauled Cosmae to his feet. 'Your friends will recover shortly. And then perhaps you can tell me what you're doing in the castle, and how you managed to hide the girl from us for so long.'
Cosmae tried to reply, but his throat felt parched. He licked his lips and tried again. 'Girl?'
'You did well to liberate her from the dungeons. A pity you couldn't escape from the castle.'
'We didn't rescue her.'
'No?'
Not from the dungeons.'
'Who did?'
'The brotherhood.'
'Say that to Zaitabor,' snapped the knight urgently, 'and he will spill your guts for heresy.'
'Zaitabor is their leader. We followed him and the jailor into a secret chamber beneath the castle.'
'Zaitabor? That's ridiculous.' The knight helped Cosmae to a low leather-covered couch in the corner of the room.
Cosmae noticed for the first time that he was in some kind of office. He saw Jamie and Kaquaan still unconscious on the polished floor, and then closed his eyes until the splashes of colour receded. 'I feel awful,' he said. 'What happened to us?'
'You were found in one of the corridors that connect the towers. Unconscious, in a heap on the floor.'
'A kind of gas affected us. A pellet. The leader of the brotherhood . . .'
'You'd better come up with a better story than that if you ever want to leave the castle.'
'There's a concealed stairway in that corridor. I'll show you. It's behind —'
The knight laughed. 'Do you think the brotherhood would dare to hold their meetings below Castle Kuabris? How absurd!'
'But it's true!' said Cosmae. Jamie began to stir, groaning loudly. 'He'll tell you. I'm not lying.'
The knight's voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper. 'I have had certain suspicions about Zaitabor for a while,' he confided. 'I think he senses my unease. He's always sought to demote me or have me expelled. I think perhaps we will take a walk back to this corridor of yours.' He reached out a hand and smiled warmly. 'My name's Araboam, by the way.'
Zaitabor strode grandly into the main chamber of the knights and surveyed the assembled advisers. 'I'm told that the expedition to the sewers has met with failure,' he said.
'A single knight has returned,' said one of the aides, coming forward and bowing. 'He tells of an attack by terrible creatures. He is sure that none of the party will survive.'
'With some regret I find myself in agreement with the knight's conclusion,' said Zaitabor. 'Himesor's death is deplorable. He was a fine and noble leader. We shall of course allow a suitable period of mourning and reflection, but I see no reason why I should not be installed as Grand Knight by the end of the month.'
'Indeed, Commander,' said one of the old men. 'And until that time you are entitled to all the functions and privileges of Grand Knight.'
'I shall accept my new tasks with all due humility and fortitude,' said Zaitabor. 'And although the selection process is complicated, I do have one very faithful lieutenant in mind for the next Commander.'
'My lord,' said another adviser, shuffling forward, 'your direct exaltation to the position of Grand Knight is most irregular.' The man's eyes were downcast and his hands twisted the hem of his long robe nervously. 'Precedent dictates that —'