The Traitor and the Thief

by Gareth Ward

  Groans arose from the West Wingers.

  “And I expect them to make a better job of it than yesterday because they are also going to be sleeping there until one of them does something worthy of redemption.” Eldritch turned to the four East Wingers and began clapping. “You are to be applauded for your cunning, ingenuity and audacity.” He motioned to the other candidates. “Please join me in congratulating them.” A smattering of applause started from the East Wingers.

  “Everyone,” commanded Eldritch and the West Wingers reluctantly joined in.

  Sin sensed his three accomplices relaxing, relieved by Eldritch’s praise, but he knew this wasn’t going to end well for them.

  “Silence,” barked Eldritch. The clapping stopped. “It was an audacious plan, and also a bloody stupid one.” He approached the four candidates, his fists clenched. “We live under constant threat. There’s been an assassination attempt on our founder, and you think it’s a spiffing idea to start shooting out windows in the middle of the night?”

  Sin kept quiet, his head bowed. He’d seen this kind of rage in the Sisters. Whether you were right or wrong there was no point in arguing your corner. The questions asked weren’t meant for answering, and besides, Eldritch was right. They had been bloody stupid.

  “You will join the West Wingers sleeping in the stables until I see fit to pardon you. Now back to bed all of you.”

  Sin turned to leave. “Not you, COG Sin,” said Eldritch.

  His heart pounded while he waited, stood at attention as the other candidates left. Eldritch glowered at him but it was clear no conversation would be engaged in until they were alone. Finally, as Beuford ducked out of the door, Eldritch spoke. His voice was quiet and measured, and all the more menacing for it. “Do you really think you have the skills to better me?”

  “I’m not sure what you mean, Staff,” said Sin.

  “Nimrod had me find you, but I found more than he’d bargained for. You have no idea how important those notes could be. I know they’re in your keeper so you will return them by the end of the day or I will take the keeper and its contents from you.”

  Sin had no doubt Eldritch could wrest the keeper from him physically but it would be no use to Eldritch unless he had the combination.

  Sin squared his shoulders. “I don’t think Nimrod would approve of you stealing from me.”

  “Nimrod’s not in the equation. The Major’s in command now, and he and I have fought together on all five continents.” Eldritch pulled a pocket watch from his waistcoat and checked the time. “Twenty-three hours and change, COG Sin. The clock’s ticking.”

  CHAPTER 27

  HITTING THE WALL

  Sergeant Stoneheart paraded along the line of candidates, her riding crop tucked neatly under her arm. “The last time you did the assault course, it was an embarrassment. COG Von Darque was the only one who acquitted herself with any distinction. I expect better things today.”

  Stoneheart removed the oblong metal key from her pocket and jammed it into the post, activating the obstacles before removing it. “COG Chubb and COG Shank front and centre.”

  Velvet snorted. “This should be fun.”

  “Zonda’s not the girl you think she is,” said Sin. “If she can get over the wall at the start, she’ll get round. In fact, I’ll wager you she completes the course.”

  “Mummy’s the third-richest woman in England. What could you possibly have that I’d want?”

  Thanks to Beuford’s rooftop conversation, Sin knew what she wanted – to be friends – but he had to be subtle, he needed to lure her in. Once she was hooked, he could play her for answers and maybe find out who the hell in COG he could trust. “I bet you my pride.”

  Velvet flicked her hair. “How can you bet your pride? That’s ridiculous.”

  “If Zonda doesn’t complete the course, I’m yours for a day to humiliate as you wish. I’ll muck out the stables or perform other menial tasks. You never know, we might even be friends. If she does finish, the roles are reversed.”

  Velvet held out her hand. “She’s got no chance. You’re on.” Sin gripped the slender fingers, Velvet’s skin pleasantly soft and warm as they shook, sealing the deal.

  That had been too easy. Now he just had to hope Zonda had done enough preparation. Sin relaxed his hand. Velvet tightened her grip and pulled him closer. “I know you’re up to something, but this one’s mine.”

  Stoneheart zeroed her watch as Zonda and Isla readied themselves on the start line.

  Velvet stood to attention and raised her hand. “Staff? May we run the course in reverse today?”

  “And why would we do that COG Von Darque?” said Stoneheart.

  “So COG Chubb might complete one obstacle before failing, Staff.”

  The West Wingers sniggered.

  Stoneheart appeared to contemplate this, eyeing Zonda. “Candidates, today you will be running the course in reverse. Three, two, one, MARK.”

  Sin’s demeanour of cocky optimism deserted him. This was a disaster. Now Zonda would hit the wall when exhausted, if she even got that far. He watched, fingers crossed, as both girls dived under the boxing net.

  Zonda dismounted from the monkey bars several minutes behind Isla. However, time was not part of the bet. All Zonda had to do was complete the course. She stumbled, her legs looking like rubber, but now she only had one obstacle to go. The wall.

  Despite her betrayal, Sin found he genuinely wanted Zonda to finish the course, and not only because of his bet with Velvet. He could tell she was spent yet she staggered towards the wall, committed to finishing. This wasn’t about COG or the King’s Knights – it was about a girl he’d once counted as a friend, digging deep and battling the odds.

  Zonda ran at the wall and jumped. There was no power in her legs and she slid to the bottom in a repeat performance of the first time she’d faced the obstacle. However, unlike the previous encounter, she pushed herself up and away from the wall, readying herself for another attempt. She stretched her arms and legs and loosened her neck. Her gaze sought out Sin. “You can do it,” he shouted. She may have played him for a fool but he’d keep up the pretence of friendship to find the answers he needed.

  Zonda thundered forwards and sprang. She kicked at the wall, pushing upwards, and heaved her shoulders and chest onto the top. For a moment, it looked like she might fall back, then she reached over and lugged her legs clear before toppling down the far side.

  “To the finish, Zon, to the finish,” yelled Sin.

  Zonda gained her feet and staggered over the line. “COG Chubb completing the course, Staff.”

  Sin rushed to Zonda and threw his arms around her. “Proud of you, Zon,” he said, as the East Wingers surrounded them in a joyous group hug.

  “Candidates, you have been doing the practice course,” said Sergeant Stoneheart. She inserted the metal key into a post by the wall. “This will be the obstacle’s height on test day.” Steam hissed from the wall’s base, and it rose another two feet.

  * * *

  Sin huddled over his maths books, the chemlamp’s rays bright on the square-lined paper. He raced through the sums, determined to finish them before heading down to the stables. It was funny, but now the numbers made more sense, the shapes had meaning and values. It was simple really; he didn’t know why he’d struggled so much before. His tutors seemed amazed by Sin’s improvement in both maths and English, and Sin wondered if it was possible to have Super-Pangenes for learning.

  A knock at the door broke his concentration and his hand went to his keeper. He’d avoided Eldritch all day, and as the deadline neared, he found himself more and more on edge.

  “Can I come in?” shouted Zonda.

  Sin swivelled in his chair. A pale purple envelope poked out from beneath the door.

  “Just a minute, it’s locked,” he lied. He padded silently to the door and retrieved the envelope. It was sealed with wax, into which a motif of three intermeshing cogs was stamped. A faint aroma of lavender wafted fr
om the paper. Sin thrust the envelope under a pillow on his bed then walked noisily across the room. He rattled the key in the door then pulled the door open.

  Zonda flounced into the room and collapsed into a chair. “It’s not fair. I’m never going to get over the wall now.”

  “You did it before, you can do it again.”

  “I appreciate the vote of confidence, even if I have got all the chance of an ice-cream in a steam furnace.”

  Sin suspected she was right. He was short for his age, probably a side effect of years of malnutrition, but he was still taller than Zonda. Unless she grew considerably over the next few weeks, she was going to fail.

  “Then we do it the hard way: double your training.” Before, he’d forced Zonda to exercise out of concerned friendship. Now, the part of him that felt betrayed looked forward to making her suffer. “Don’t worry. I’ll push you harder, you can count on it.”

  Zonda extracted herself from the chair. “Anyway, I only came over to see if you’re ready to go to the barn. Mercy and Stanley are waiting in the common room.”

  “I’ve got to sort a few things. I’ll meet you there in a minute.”

  Zonda moped from the room and Sin locked the door behind her. He pulled the envelope from under his pillow and broke the seal, peeling the flap open and teasing a folded note from inside.

  Rendezvous. The fountain at midnight. V.

  CHAPTER 28

  A MIDNIGHT RENDEZVOUS

  The smell of horses pervaded the barn. Livestock had been cleared from several of the stalls to make room for the candidates. In the warm glow of the chemlanterns, the straw-covered flagstones and rough wooden walls held a certain rustic charm, although not necessarily for the candidates who had to sleep there.

  The East Wingers claimed a stall near the door. Sin suggested the air would be fresher and the smell would be less as they were furthest from the animals. He didn’t mention it would also make it easier to slip out for his midnight rendezvous. For similar reasons he made his “bed” nearest the stall’s entrance. They had been allowed to bring a blanket and pillow, but despite these luxuries, Zonda fidgeted and harrumphed, unable to get comfortable.

  Stanley’s head poked out from under his blanket, a huge grin on his face. “Just like old times, ay Sin.”

  “You mean apart from the blanket, the pillow and the clean hay,” answered Sin.

  Stanley pulled his blanket closer around him. “Yeah, this is like a five-star stable. I bet even the rats are clean.”

  Mercy sat upright. “Rats! You think there are rats in here?”

  “Bound to be.” Stanley patted his blanket. “Don’t worry, you can always cuddle up to the Nobbster if you’re scared.”

  Mercy reddened. “I’d rather cuddle up to the rats.”

  “You say that now, but when the rat king scurries in and he’s bigger than your head, you’ll not be so brave.”

  The chemlanterns dimmed and the candidates’ banter lessened as sleep took hold. Sin dug the prong of his belt buckle into his palm to keep him awake. Before meeting the others in the common room, he’d checked in his dictionary to make sure rendezvous meant what he thought. It originated from Fromagian meaning “present yourself”, although now the more common usage just meant “to meet”. He was certain the note was from Velvet, but why would she arrange a secret meeting? He had wondered if it was an elaborate rouse by Eldritch to lure him into an ambush. It didn’t really seem like the soldier’s style, but to be sure Sin had resolved to wait for Velvet to make the first move before he left the barn. After all, it was apparent there was no love lost between Lilith and Eldritch, so Velvet would never be part of his scheme.

  Hay rustled further along the stalls. Through half-closed eyelids, Sin watched Velvet creep through the barn and out of the door. He checked the pocket watch COG had issued him – ten to twelve. He could go confront her now but the note had been clear: midnight at the fountain. He delayed another few minutes then slunk from under his blanket and padded into the night.

  He drifted through the grounds, insinuating himself from shadow to shadow, ever vigilant for the watchmeks. From the edge of the formal garden, he saw Velvet waiting at the fountain, hands on hips. She glanced up at the clock tower and scuffed her boot through the gravel. Why at the fountain? It was a terrible place to meet, exposed with no cover and no easy escape routes. And what did she want? There was only one way he was going to find out. He stopped skulking and strode to the fountain.

  Velvet scowled at him. “You won the bet so I’m here. But the fountain at midnight is just a little melodramatic, don’t you think?”

  “You’re the one who wanted a secret meeting. I got your note.”

  They exchanged confused glances. “RUN!” shouted Sin, grabbing Velvet’s hand.

  Spotlights flooded the garden with their chemical glare. Guards armed with steamrifles sprang out from behind the hedges.

  “Do not move. You are under arrest,” said a voice through a megaphone.

  Sin scanned the gardens for a means of escape but all the exits were covered.

  “On your knees,” commanded a guard, jabbing the muzzle of his steamrifle into Sin’s back.

  Sin dropped to the ground, noting that Velvet was not subjected to such rough treatment. The guard pulled Sin’s hands behind him and clasped them in irons.

  Major C clunked across the formal garden, gravel crushing beneath his brassanium foot. “I don’t know what disappoints me more. The fact that we haven’t caught the spy we were waiting for or the fact that we have caught you. I have no choice but to retire you both from training for breaking a Cast-Iron Rule,” he said.

  “Sir, it weren’t our fault. We was tricked,” said Sin.

  “No excuses, you both broke the rules. Ex-COG Von Darque, you will be released into your mother’s custody until she can facilitate your departure from this establishment.” The Major’s head jerked towards Sin. “Ex-COG Sin, you will be held in the brig until we can arrange your removal.” With a hiss, the Major about-turned and marched away.

  There was something about the way the Major had said “removal” that sat uneasily with Sin. He remembered the Major’s words when he’d returned with Zonda and the poisoned Nimrod: loose ends need to be tied up or removed. He had no doubt he was a loose end. Zonda had tried to tie him up by pretending they were looking for a spy and when that hadn’t worked they had decided to remove him. If he was lucky he’d be dumped back on the streets of Coxford to carry on his life of crime, but he wondered if the Major’s tone suggested a more permanent solution than expulsion.

  He strained against the irons. He’d once been caught by the Sheriffs after a botched robbery of a mail wagon. They’d put him in cuffs then, but he’d been younger and his skinny hands had slipped easily through the steel hoops, allowing him to escape. He heard the tick of clockwork from behind his back and the irons ratcheted tighter. Pain shot through his wrists, his body tensed and he stumbled forwards. A thickset hand secured his arm, stopping him from falling.

  “Don’t struggle, boy. Those are no ordinary bracelets,” said the guard. “They’re the Nimrod Barm Prisoner Retention System, or as we like to call them, the manglers.”

  If he wasn’t in agony, Sin might have smiled. That about summed up his week. His captivity was being ensured by the man he was trying to save.

  CHAPTER 29

  THE EUGENESIS PROJECT

  Sin stood to attention in the brig, his hands still cuffed behind him. It was small but comfortable. Compared to how Sin had lived much of his life, it bordered on luxury. There was a bed, a toilet and a sink, which even had hot running water. Nevertheless, the iron bars at the end of the cell left no doubt that he was a prisoner.

  He was flanked by the two guards who had cuffed him and ahead stood Eldritch, a look of disappointment on his face. “I had such hopes for you,” he said. Sin shrugged, a gesture that sent bouts of pain through his shackled wrists. He wanted to explain about the spy and Major C, but if Eldritc
h was in on it, that might prove fatal.

  “You’ve thrown it all away, and over what? A girl?” said Eldritch.

  “It weren’t like that.”

  “So what was it? I’m fascinated to know.”

  “Don’t matter now. You’re going to chuck me out anyway.”

  “Yes, we are. Guards, take his shoelaces and belt, then uncuff him,” said Eldritch. A triumphant smile curled his lips. “Oh, and you’d better take his keeper too.”

  Sin backed away. “No, that’s mine; you ain’t having it.”

  “There could be anything inside – weapons, a means of escape. We can’t possibly let you hang on to it.” Eldritch held out a hand. “Unless of course you want to show us the contents.”

  Sin’s cuffed wrists pressed against the cell’s stone wall. “I’ll bloody kill you,” he snarled and kicked out sideways. His foot connected with the nearest guard’s knee who staggered backwards. A fist slammed into Sin’s side and he crumpled to the floor. A hand secured a toxic-smelling cloth over his mouth and nose. He thrashed his head and legs wildly but, constrained as he was, his efforts were futile. Finally succumbing, he sucked in a breath of chemical-laden air and darkness overcame him.

  * * *

  Daylight streamed through the cell’s high window. Gingerly, Sin eased himself upright, unsure of his surroundings. They’d removed his cuffs but deep grooves still marked his wrists. His hand went to his chest. They’d taken his keeper. He inhaled deeply, the events of the previous evening flooding back like a bad dream. Had Eldritch manufactured the whole thing so he could steal from Sin without reproach?