Part 97 (1/2)
”Did you think I didn't feel it? Do you think I didn't suffer, not knowing what to do, how to change it? Aware that with every word I spoke I was deceiving her; every day, just by being there, by letting her think she was mine.”
”She ... that is what she will not forgive.”
”Don't tell me how she thinks!”
John Arlex came and stood over him.
”I have always been jealous of you. Is that not foolish? A dreamer, a man without family, so fragile a few blows would kill him. And the Warden of Incarceron is sick with envy.”
Jared managed to say, ”I... am very fond of Claudia ...”
”You know, of course, there are rumors about you.”
The Warden swung away abruptly and sat down again.
”I don't believe them; Claudia is willful but not stupid. However, the Queen does, and let me tell you Jared, at the moment the Queen is screaming for revenge. On anyone. Evian is dead, but the plot obviously included others. You, for one.”
He s.h.i.+vered. ”Sir, you know well that is not so.”
”You knew about it. Didn't you?”
”Yes, but...”
”And you did nothing. Told no one.”
He leaned forward. ”That is treason, Master Sapient, and could easily have you hanged.”
In the silence someone called outside. A fly buzzed in and droned around the room, hitting the gla.s.s and fumbling against it. Jared tried to think, but there was no time.
The Warden snapped, ”Where's the Key?”
He wanted to lie. To make something up. Instead he kept silent.
”She's taken it with her, hasn't she?”
He didn't answer. The Warden swore.
”The whole world thinks Giles is dead. She could have had everything, the Realm, the throne. Did she think I would let Caspar get in her way?”
”You were in the plot?” Jared said slowly.