Or ought to, in any case.
And they lived happily ever after.
He was now in the Citadel, next to the Citadels copy of the Crucible, which sat on a pedestal at the exact center of the dimly lit library. He slipped between the shelves.
The doors opened, and in came Alectuss voice. And here we are, the library. Very soft lighting, exactly as Madam Inquisitor requested.
Titus held his breath.
It will do, said the Inquisitor coldly. You may leave us.
Who were us ?
Titus had hid himself behind the end of a set of shelves. He peered around the edge, but could only see Alectus bowing and scraping on his way out.
You should not have been so solicitous, sire, said the Inquisitor, her tone so soft and deferential Titus barely recognized it. I would have handled the Inquisition at the Inquisitory itself.
But we both know how sensitive a mind mage is to her surroundings, my dear Fia, replied an extraordinarily mellifluous male voice. The Inquisitory still holds too much pain and fear for you.
But it is a far safer place for you, my lord High Commander.
Tituss knees buckled. My lord High Commander . The man was the Bane .
I am already overwhelmingly in my lord High Commanders debt for wresting me from deaths grasp and restoring me to full health. How can I forgive myself exposing my lord High Commander to the likely perils of this place? Hesperia built itit must be full of traps and snares.
Fia, Fia, speak not from fear. Our mages have already inspected the library from top to bottomsometimes a room is just a room. Now stop worrying about me and concentrate. To think, all these years weve misapplied your rare and wonderful talents, using you like a hammer when you are a fine scalpel. We will waste no more time. Tonight we slice past all the layers of magic Haywood had applied to hide his memories. Tomorrow, our young prince.
Titus shuddered.
I cannot wait, my lord. And to think, since his mind will be perfectly whole afterward, he wont even be able to raise a diplomatic ruckus.
Titus leaned against the shelf, unable to support his own weight.
The doors of the library opened again. Wont you care for some refreshments, my Lord High Commander, Madam Inquisitor? said Lady Callista.
She held the large tray herself, sauntering toward the Bane and the Inquisitor.
We have only just now enjoyed your bounteous banquetmy compliments to you, Lady Callista, the Citadel has the worlds finest cooks. We might need a little time to recover our appetites.
The Bane was the ideal guest, honey-tongued and suave, not at all what Titus had expected.
If only wed had a little more notice of my lord High Commanders visit, wed have put on a more suitable feast.
The Bane probably had not arrived until the Inquisitor sent news that she had failed to secure Iolanthe Seabourne with her ambush. Between the two of them, they were determined not to fail again.
I will set the tray here, said Lady Callista, and let my lord High Commander and Madam Inquisitor continue their preparation.
She withdrew. Not a minute later an Atlantean soldier entered and, two steps inside, knelt. My lord High Commander, Madam Inquisitor, we have the detainee Horatio Haywood.
The Oracle had foretold that Haywood would not remain long in Atlantiss grasp. Did it mean Titus must be the one to whisk him to freedom? But then who would kill the Inquisitor? He could not do both at once.
The blood oath called for him to do his utmost to help Fairfax in her goal of freeing her guardian. He clenched his teeth.
The duration of the time-freeze spell decreased steeply when more than one mage was on the receiving end. What would last three minutes on one person would last only thirty seconds covering three mages. And if he had to cover four mages, hed have at best ten seconds.
Would that be enough time to drag Horatio Haywood to the Crucible and disappear inside?
Haywood shuffled in with two guards. Four mages to cover. Tituss wand shook. Did he dare? Would his gallantry get himself caught, and result in Fairfax being yanked out of her bed in the dead of the night?
Titus saw his wand lifting. He could not believe what he was about to do. One. Two. Thr
Haywood vanished before his eyes.
CHAPTER 
24
Sleeping Beautys castle did not look terribly distant from the meadow, but to reach it on foot, even running at full speed, took far too long. And shed already wasted enough time earlier, looking for a safe spot, worrying about the Crucible possibly bleeding again, before finally realizing that at this hour of the night, the Crucible could bleed a bucket and no one would notice a book lying in long grass.
But as the castle drew nearer, her impatience turned to fear. The thought of facing the wyverns alone turned her lungs weakand the single moon in the sky was a relentless reminder that this was no make-believe. But she had to have a steed. Either that, or walk an entire day to reach Black Bastion.
At the edge of the briar forest, she saw the tunnel the prince had left behind. So he had been here. Had he got a wyvern too?