Selene, his kin, had betrayed him. And Venera Fanning, who owed him nothing, had risked her life to save his.
He pushed himself off from the wall and struggled to catch up to her.
A man ran down the broad steps of the Justice ministry. He waved his arms over his head. Dont go that way! Not safe!
Venera paused and glanced at him. Youre one of Bryces.
That I am, Miss Thrace-Guiles. Garth half smiled at the mans bravado; these democrats refused to address people by their titles. Venera didnt seem to notice, and they had a hurried conversation that Garth couldnt hear.
There you are. He turned to find the preservationist, Thinblood, sauntering up behind him. He grinned at Garth. You ran off like a startled hare when she came out of the council chamber.
Garth grunted. Thinblood seemed to have decided he was an old man who needed coddling. It was annoying. He had to admit to himself that it was a relief to have him here, though. The rest of this motley party consisted mostly of Veneras other freed prisoners and they made for bad company, for much the
same reasons as Garth supposed he did. They all looked apprehensive and tired. It didnt help that their presence at council didnt seem to have made a dent in Sacruss support.
Garth and Thinblood had been talking under an awning across the street when Venera Fanning appeared at the officials entrance to the council chamber. She backed out slowly, her posture strange. As she emerged further it became clear that she was holding a gun and aiming it at someone. That someone had turned out to be Jacoby Sarto.
Before he knew it Garth was by her side. What are you doing? he heard himself shouting. Shed merely grimaced and kept backing up.
Things didnt go our way, shed said. Past Sarto, the council guards were lining up with their rifles aimed at her. At the same time, the commoners doors around the long curve of the building were thrown open. A hoard of people spilled out, some of them fighting openly. Veneras supporters ran to her side as Bryces agents appeared from nowhere to act as crowd control. And then a gasp went up from the watching crowd as Principe Guinevera and Pamela Anseratte pushed the council guards aside and came to stand at Veneras side.
The lines have been drawn, Anseratte said to the council guards. Sacrus is not on the councils side. Stand down.
Reluctantly, the guards lowered their rifles.
Garth leaned close to Venera. Did he tell them your secret? But she shook her head.
Maybe it was having Thinbloods reassuring hand on his shoulder, but as Venera argued now with Bryces spy, the fog of fatigue and pain lifted enough for Garth to begin to wonder about that. Jacoby Sarto had not told the council who Venera really was? That made no sense. Right now Amandera Thrace-Guiles was the darling of the old countries. She was the resurrected victim of Sacruss historical arrogance; she was a champion. If Sarto wanted to deflate Sacruss opposition all he had to do was reveal that she was a fake.
Why did she do it? he wondered aloud. Thinblood laughed.
Youre trying to second-guess our Amandera? He shook his head. Shes got too much fire in her blood, thats clear enough. Obviously, she saw a chance to take Sarto and she went with it.
Garth shook his head. The woman I know wouldnt see Sarto as a prize to be taken. Shed think him a burden and be happy to be rid of him. And if hes a prisoner why doesnt he seem more concerned? Sarto was standing with his arms crossed, waiting patiently for Venera to finish her conversation. He seemed more to be with her than taken by her. Garth seemed to be the only one who had noticed this.
Attention! Venera raised her pistol and for a moment he thought she was about to fire off a round. She already had the attention of everyone in sight, though, and seemed to realize it. Buridan is under siege! she cried. Our ancient house is surrounded by Sacruss people. We cant go back there.
Garth hurried over. What are we going to do? Theyve moved faster than we anticipated.
She nodded grimly. Apparently, their ground forces are moving to surround the elevator cablesthe ones they can get to, that is.
Most of our allies are on Greater Spyre, he said. If Sacrus isolated them up here in the city, they would have to rely on the preservationists, and a few clearheaded leaders such as Moss, to organize the forces down there.
For a moment that thought filled Garth with hope. If Venera was sidelined at this stage, she might be able to avoid being drawn into the heart of the coming conflagration. A checkmated Buridan might survive with honor, no matter who won.
Clearly Venera had no intention of going down that road. We need to get down there, she was saying. Sacrus doesnt control all the elevators. Pamela, your countrys line, where is it?
Anseratte shook her head. Its two wheels away from here. We might make it, but if Sacrus already has men in the streets theyve probably taken the axis cable cars as well.
Guinevera shook his head as well. Our line comes down about a mile from Carrangate. Theyre an old ally of Sacrus. They could use us for target practice on our way down.