“Will they follow a man who ran away from his duty?” Cahill said, jerking his mount to a halt in front of Timon.
Chapter 37
“I didn’t run away,” Timon said. He glanced at Orpheus. “How did you get him here?”
“We...convinced his guards to let him come with us. We thought you’d want to speak to him.”
“They were ready to blame me for the virus,” Greg spat. “But I had nothing to do with it. It was Amos all along.”
“What?” Jamie asked, riding up beside Timon. “What are you saying, Greg?”
“He’s behind all of this—infecting us with the virus at the Enclave, covering it up, conspiring with Opiri to destroy the Conclave.”
Jamie felt the blood drain from her face. She and Timon had discussed the possibility, but she’d never come close to accepting it.
“How can you possibly know this?” she asked Greg.
“There were clues,” Greg said. “I put them together.”
“Then you have no proof,” Timon said.
“What possible motive could he have?” Jamie demanded. “Amos has always supported the Conclave. He would have no reason to undermine it.”
“I only know that there’s some kind of conspiracy,” Greg said, “and he’s part of it.” He turned to Orpheus. “I’m grateful for what you did,” he said, “but I’m not going back to the encampment. Jamie, since you’re free—
“Thanks to Timon,” Jamie said, defiantly grabbing Timon’s hand.
“Don’t go back there for any reason,” Greg said, his jaw set. “Anyone in our delegation could take the fall for Amos, and I know they were looking at you, too.”
“Nothing will happen to Jamie,” Timon said.
“Of course not,” Greg said. He spat to the side, and then rode away.
“Looks like we wasted our time bringing the human to you,” Orpheus said.
“It doesn’t matter,” Timon said. “We have more important things to think about now. Orpheus, the Freebloods have agreed to help me release the detainees and the rest of Jamie’s delegation.”
“What do you want us to do?”
“Get the other Riders’ attention away from the quarantine tent. But only if you’re sure you want to set yourself against Cassius.”
“Our decision is made,” Orpheus said. “We’ll do as you ask.” He glanced at Jamie. “And Ms. McCullough?”
“She’ll be carrying out her own mission.”
Artemis rode up behind them. “Is there a problem?” she asked.
Timon quickly made the introductions, and after a moment of sizing each other up, Orpheus and Artemis seemed to approve of being allies.
“We’ll find out what’s going on,” Artemis said. “And we’ll make sure this Committee knows about it.”
Timon nodded, took hold of Lazarus’s bridle and led Jamie away. “Are you sure about this?” he asked.
“More certain than ever,” she said, holding his gaze. She longed for him to do what he’d almost done before the Riders had come...pull her close and kiss her, to remind her what she was fighting for.
But it seemed that he had retreated even further away from her. Even his voice was distant.
“Be careful,” he said.
“And you.” Timon nodded and rode back to the Riders. Artemis returned to the Freebloods. The Riders left first, heading back for the tent city, and the others followed five minutes later. Artemis and Jamie rode toward the front, ready to break off just before the Freebloods reached the perimeter of the encampment. Jamie blinked when she saw Garret hidden among his people, clinging to his horse’s back with obvious difficulty. She knew he wouldn’t want Artemis to know that he, too, was risking his life.
But he would give that life for Artemis’s sake, as she would give hers for him. And Jamie knew she’d give anything in the world to save Timon. She already knew he would do the same for her.
* * *
The Conclave was indeed in chaos. No one seemed to notice when Jamie, Artemis and a small contingent of Freebloods rode into the encampment. Starving Opiri roamed about, as sickly as zombies under their hoods, and humans huddled in their tents. In both precincts, Opiri and human bodies were strewn in the street. Where the skin was exposed, the Opiri bodies were so badly burned that the causes of their deaths couldn’t be determined.
Riders were in evidence, but they seemed detached, uninterested in the deaths or the squabbles. None of them recognized Jamie under her hood. When they saw Freebloods ride boldly into the tent city on Artemis’s heels, they made no attempt to stop the intruders. Instead they dispersed, leaving Jamie and Artemis free to approach the Committee tent while the Freebloods rode straight for the quarantine tent.
Guarded by their small escort, Jamie and Artemis dismounted some yards away from the tent entrance, leaving the horses with one of the Freebloods. At once they were confronted with eight Riders who had been set to guard the tent.
“We need to see the Administrative Committee,” Artemis said, her hooded, assessing gaze sweeping over the men.
“We were ordered not to let anyone in,” the leader said, looking Artemis up and down. “Who are you?”
“Newcomers to the Conclave,” she said, gesturing toward the Freebloods behind her. “I must speak to your leaders on behalf of my people.”
“You’ve come at a bad time. The Committee is not seeing anyone.”
“Who runs this camp?”
Before the leader could answer, horsemen rode up behind Jamie and Artemis. Riders, armed with rifles and accompanied by none other than Cassius himself.
“Who are you?” he demanded, addressing Artemis.
“As I told this man, a newcomer to the Conclave,” she said, keeping her gaze averted. “They will not allow me to speak to the Committee.”
“Are you blind? The Conclave is finished.” Cassius said, kicking his horse closer to her in a threatening fashion. “Where are the horsemen who entered after you?”
“I know nothing about them,” Artemis said. “I believe they are Freebloods, but I have no idea—”
“You’re lying,” Cassius said. He turned his gaze on Jamie. “Who are you?”
“My vassal,” Artemis said. “She is of no importance.”
But Jamie knew the game was already up. Cassius had recognized something about her—her scent, the way she moved. It didn’t matter. He reached over and flipped the hood off her head. Sunlight burned into her eyes, but her skin wasn’t affected. She was still virtually human.
“McCullough,” Cassius snarled. He gestured to his men, a dozen of them, who crowded in close. The guards at the tent door circled Artemis and Jamie from the other side. Jamie prepared to resist.
“Surrender yourself,” Cassius said, “and I may let you live.”
“You have no right to her,” Artemis said. “She is mine.”
Cassius hesitated, and his men stilled. “Whoever you are,” he said, “you could not have Converted her so quickly. She is obviously still human, and we will—”
“You will do nothing. By Opiri law and custom, a vassal belongs to her patron. If you wish to break law and custom, you will have to fight me.”
Dismounting swiftly, Cassius faced her from inches away. “You have no proof.”
“Taste my blood, and then taste hers. That will be proof enough.”
“I will fight you myself,” Jamie said, stepping forward, “if my lady permits. We’ll soon see if I’m human or not.”
Cassius laughed. “Try me, little girl.”
Chapter 38
But Artemis moved faster. She attacked Cassius with hands and feet, fighting roughly and fiercely. With an effort, Jamie held herself back, knowing that her interference would change this from a one-on-one battle to an outright mele
e that would sweep over her and Artemis like a storm.
As it was, Cassius’s Riders kept their distance, and she was forced to watch, her nails biting into her palms, while Artemis defended her. She was certain that Cassius had every advantage in weight and height, but she had underestimated Artemis. While Cassius fought like a wolf, the Freeblood darted in and out like a striking snake imbued with wings, weaving under Cassius’s fists and dodging his kicks.
Cassius was clearly taken aback. He had obviously not expected such resistance, and Jamie could see when he began to falter. The moment he did, Artemis pressed her advantage and cut his legs out from under him, falling on his chest and pressing her arm against his neck.
“She is mine,” Artemis panted.
With a pounding of hooves, another Rider drew up among the observers. He flung himself out of the saddle.
“Opiri are attacking the quarantine tent,” he said breathlessly. “We don’t recognize them. We think they’re trying to free the prisoners.”
His mouth curled in a silent snarl, Cassius raised his hands above his head in a gesture of surrender. His men shifted and murmured. Artemis rose and backed away. Cassius scrambled to his feet.
“This is not over,” he said. “You protect a criminal, and therefore you are one yourself. We will be back.”
He leaped into his saddle and summoned his men with a sharp gesture. The eight guards remained by the tent, as implacable as ever, while the others set off at a rapid pace toward the quarantine tent. Artemis glared at the guards, but Jamie could see her decide not to take them on.
“Thank you for defending me,” Jamie said. “But we can’t just stand here. We may be able to help at the quarantine tent, provide some kind of distraction.”
To Jamie’s great relief, Artemis didn’t argue, and they headed across the Hub. A huge crowd was gathered around the quarantine tent, mainly hostile Opiri. They were held back by a battle between Timon’s Riders and Cassius’s, though neither Timon nor Cassius was in sight. There was violent movement and shouting from inside the tent.
Jamie and Artemis looked at each other. As one they rode into the battle, charging in among Cassius’s Riders and sowing confusion wherever they could.
It was soon apparent that Cassius’s men were less than enthusiastic. As vicious as the fight had looked from a distance, both sets of Riders seemed to threaten and circle each other rather than engage, and though a few were wounded, there was no sign that any had died. Maybe Timon has more Riders on his side than he realized, Jamie thought.
Maybe there was still hope after all.
* * *
Timon and the Freebloods burst into the tent through the huge rent cut into the back, slicing through the crude repairs someone had made and expanding the opening to accommodate their mounts. They rode in among the detainees, Timon barking orders and reassurances as the prisoners huddled among the risers, frozen in fear and indecision. He saw no sign of Amos.
Timon sent the Freebloods to herd the detainees into the center of the tent, noting for the first time that Garret was among the Opiri. Timon made no effort to confront his father; Garret seemed to be having more success than most in reassuring the humans.
The sound of battle outside the tent told Timon that their time was almost up. Soon either Cassius’s men or the Opir gang would break through. The Freebloods hustled the prisoners out the back of the tent, where spare horses waited. Each Freeblood took a human up with him, and soon they were riding pell-mell toward the edge of the encampment.
Timon stayed behind and rode around the tent to rejoin his Riders. Orpheus was exchanging threats with a Rider on Cassius’s side, but their horses stood yards apart. Timon was encouraged by the impasse. Cassius’s men didn’t want to fight, even though the captain had surely given them a direct order.
“Stand back,” Timon ordered as he joined Orpheus. “We have no quarrel with you if you stay out of our way.”
“You’re a traitor!” the opposing leader, Philokles, shouted.
“Are you so sure Cassius isn’t the traitor?” Orpheus called. “He’s doing everything possible to help destroy this Conclave!”
“Go back to Cassius, if you believe what he’s doing is right,” Timon said. “If you have doubts, if you wonder how the Riders have fallen so far while Cassius makes no move to protect the people of this Conclave, then join us. We will discover the truth and expose the real traitors.”
He had barely finished his appeal when Artemis and Jamie pushed through the Opir mob. Timon’s heart leaped into his throat, but the Opiri were listening intently to what he was saying, momentarily distracted from their hatred and suspicion.
All at once Philokles and perhaps a dozen of his Riders turned their horses about and trotted away. Eight of them remained.
“We’ll join you,” one of them said. “We want the truth.”
“Then you’re welcome,” Timon said. He looked down as Jamie approached.
“We couldn’t get in to see the Committee,” she said. “Not without a battle we probably couldn’t win.”
“Then I’m glad you didn’t risk it,” Timon said, reaching down to grip her hand while he looked for injuries. “You’ve been fighting,” he said to Artemis.
She shrugged. “Cassius came to take Jamie. He didn’t believe she was my vassal.”
“I could have defended myself,” Jamie protested softly.
“Thank you, Mother,” Timon said. “Where is Cassius now?”
“Perhaps he’s fled,” Artemis said.
“Not Cassius,” Timon said. “Artemis, will you take Jamie out with the—”
“Will you let me stay with Timon, Artemis?” Jamie interrupted.
Artemis looked from her stepson to her vassal. “I’m sorry, Timon, but she has the right to be with you.”
Timon closed his eyes. “Yes,” he said. He helped Jamie mount behind him, his body coming alive at the touch of hers, and rounded up his Riders. One of them took Artemis up behind him.
“We don’t have the element of surprise on our side now,” Timon said, addressing his men. “But one way or another, we’re going to get to the Erebusian camp and search their tents.”
Murmurs of agreement answered him. Jamie locked her arms around Timon’s waist, and he felt the softness of her breasts against his back, her thighs locked to his.
“We may die,” Timon said quietly, for Jamie’s ears alone.
“I’m not afraid,” she said.
He covered her arms with his and squeezed her hands. “I know you aren’t,” he said.
She pressed her face into the back of his shoulder. He signaled to his men.
“Let’s go,” he said.
The Erebusian tents seemed to be deserted. A small group of Opiri wandered in the vicinity, but none of them belonged to the delegation. They turned hostile faces toward Timon and his Riders.
“Where is the delegation?” Timon demanded, leaving Jamie on Lazarus as he dismounted.
“We don’t know,” one of the Opir said sullenly.
“When did they leave?”
The Opir didn’t answer, only stared at Timon—and Jamie—with contempt and a glimmer of fear. Striding toward the largest tent of the Erebusian camp, Timon pushed Opiri out of his way and entered the tent. The camp furnishings were in place, as if their owners had left in a hurry. Jamie and other Riders followed him inside.
“It’s seems they’ve fled the Conclave,” Orpheus said. “Should we pursue?”
“Not yet,” Timon said. He left the tent and began to search another, Jamie at his side. They had still found nothing when they reached the last tent.
Timon cursed.
“Timon,” Jamie said. She pointed at a lump in the simple woven carpet that covered the dirt floor. Timon flipped the carpet back to find the earth disturbed.
He kicked the loose dirt aside and found a trapdoor to a square hole dug deep into the earth.
“Something was stored here,” he said. He ran outside and found solar panels neatly and competently disguised against the back of the tent.
“It could have been a refrigeration unit,” Jamie said, coming up beside him. “How could we not have seen the panels?”
“We never expected to see them,” Timon said. He took her hand and returned to the Riders.
“I believe the Erebusians have the virus,” he said. “They’ve taken it with them. We need to bring them back to the encampment.”
“Our pleasure,” Orpheus said with a tight grin.
“I’m coming with you,” Garret said, his horse appearing beside Lazarus. He looked even more sickly than before, his body bent and his eyes red rimmed.
“Father,” Timon said, hiding his despair over Garret’s appearance, “you must rest.”
“And what if the Erebusians have the cure with them?” Garret asked.
“Let him go,” Artemis said, her usually confident voice nearly breaking. “He has little time left.”
Timon knew she was right. And if Garret had to die, he’d want to go down fighting.
He took advantage of the momentary confusion to pull his parents aside. After a whispered conversation, Jamie came to join them. But the plans had already been laid. Timon spoke separately to Orpheus, making his wishes clear.
“Let’s ride,” he said.
Chapter 39
Before Jamie could protest, Artemis mounted a spare horse and ordered Jamie to ride behind her. She made it a command Jamie couldn’t disobey, no matter how much she fought it. Timon could see her trying to resist and felt a momentary rush of guilt, quickly set aside. Artemis had to get back to the Freebloods...not just for Jamie’s sake, but because her people had to be ready for another fight.
While Artemis broke away at a gallop, Timon led the others toward the shadows of the bosk, Orpheus and Garret right behind him. He soon found what even the Erebusians couldn’t conceal: multiple hoofprints curving away south along the river. They were moving fast, without any wagons to slow them.
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