Menagerie - Martin Day [59]
Twelve
Acting Grand Knight Zaitabor stared down at the dishevelled figure lying prostrate on the floor. He had ordered that Araboam be stripped of his clothing and brought to him under guard. Two knights stood to attention behind the shivering man, staring forward impassively.
'And how did so feeble a creature outwit a Knight of Kuabris?' asked Zaitabor, pushing Araboam's head back towards the floor with his boot when the young man dared to look up.
'I was . . . compromised, my lord.'
'I should have you flogged for that alone,' said Zaitabor.
'Your shameful behaviour has led to the escape of two prisoners. It is perhaps just as well that I ensured that the wizard's boy should be kept elsewhere.'
Araboam risked an upwards glance. 'I am told that the jailor too had —'
'Silence!' Zaitabor kicked the young man in the face, sending him spinning across the room. 'After all that I have done for you, your repayment is most unkind. Do not even say a word in my presence!' Zaitabor paused, trying to remain calm, his fingers drumming on his scabbard. 'The jailor is indeed becoming a liability,' he said quietly.
'Perhaps I should expel him from Castle Kuabris. Perhaps my advisers are right. The loss of a few fingers or a hand might ensure that all people remember the power and authority of the knights.'
'I throw myself upon your mercy, Commander,'
exclaimed Araboam.
'Indeed you do,' said Zaitabor. He nodded to the two knights. 'Get him up.'
The knights dragged Araboam to his feet. The young knight stared back at his master. 'My lord?'
'Take a group of knights and track down our prisoners.
You said that the boy remembered the fat man. Perhaps they have gone to see Argaabil.'
'And Defrabax?'
'Leave the mage to me,' said Zaitabor. 'In your absence you were unable to lead the knights out in pursuit of that evil man. But I am sure that they will succeed without your help.'
'And Defrabax's ultimatum?'
'Damn his ultimatum! The man has no real power!'
Jamie and Kaquaan watched the explosion from what they hoped would be a safe vantage point. When it came they instinctively ducked down behind a ridge in the hillside. A wave of hot air rushed past them. Moments later bricks and small scraps of metal began to fall from the skies like rain. Jamie protected his head with his arms and winced as he felt fragments cut into his back and legs.
When he raised his head the city was lit up by the flickering flames of the now-destroyed Furnace. The streets and houses of the rich, however, had been plunged into total darkness. He turned to the woman. 'Are you all right?' he asked.
Kaquaan looked up and nodded sourly. 'I thought you said we'd be safe here?'
'How was I supposed to know? I'm no cleverer than you!'
Kaquaan watched the Furnace workers as they darted from place to place trying to extinguish the smaller fires.
Even from their distance they could hear Argaabil laughing.
'It looks like the whole place has been destroyed,'
commented Jamie.
'So there'll be no electrical power,' said Kaquaan. 'Not that the poor folk will notice the difference.' She got to her feet, and stared at the castle on the far side of the city. Dim lights were now flickering into position at its various windows. 'Perhaps in the confusion we can slip back into the castle.'
'And do what?' said Jamie.
'Araboam is one of the Brothers of Rexulon. He must have Cosmae imprisoned somewhere.' Kaquaan smiled.
'You both came to my rescue. Now it's my turn to help rescue Cosmae.'
The explosion was felt even deep underground in the old city. The Dugraqs looked around in alarm. The Doctor nodded as if he had been half-expecting such a development.
'I assume that you've told me all that you have so that I can help you,' said the Doctor over the nervous squawks of the Dugraq council as the tremors subsided. He smiled modestly. 'I