Part 8 (1/2)

Peri turned and came face to face with a tall confident woman.

The Matrona no longer wore the cool white of the laboratory coat but a vivid crimson gown. At her throat a circular gold collar highlighted the tones of her rich brown skin.

'You're from the Induction Centre? Rejected, running away?'

'What?' Peri did not understand about the Induction Centre but after the Doctor's betrayal the rejected part sure made sense. The Matrona looked Peri up and down approving of what she saw. Her manner softened. 'I should inform the guards have you returned to Thoros-Alpha.'

'Should you?' Peri's manner was polite but she realiy had little idea what the imposing woman was implying.

'There's an alternative?' A slow smile hovered on the Matrona's wide handsome lips. 'You were brought to serve the Mentors and their favoured creatures. I control the woman servants. I need help to do that. Loyal help.'

'I'd serve you. Why?'

'I prefer some individuality in my household. I like a small number of my personal maids to be unprocessed, you understand?' Peri didn't but nodded anyway. The Matrona took this to be a sign of agreement. 'Should you be discovered as an escaped reject, I will deny ali knowledge of this meeting. What is your name?'

'Peri.' She should have offered an alias but it was already too late.

'Do you wish to serve me, Peri?'

The clatter of returning guards outside the door decided her. 'OK. What have I got to lose?'

'You must address me as Matrona.'

'Matrona.'

'Good. Now quickly, hide. The guards may come in to search for you.'

Peri followed her new mistress to a wardrobe that filled an alcove by the entrance to an inner chamber. She caught a glirnpse of hanging silks, scattered cus.h.i.+ons and low wooden tables.

'Quickly!' the Matrona urged Peri to step inside the wardrobe where a false back panel had opened. Peri stepped inside through the many hanging dresses that she a.s.sumed must belong to the Matrona. A heavy musk perfume still clung to the gowns, making Peri feel that even when the outer wardrobe door was closed the Matrona was still with her. The s.p.a.ce between the false panel and the cold wall of rock was cramped. How many other frightened girls had stood here wondering what lay ahead, and what had happened to them? Peri heard m.u.f.fled voices and decided there was little she could do.

The Doctor and his betrayal gnawed at her mind. Why had he called out? Why hazard their lives?

Hidden within the Matrona's chamber Peri felt more isolated and alone than at any other time in her life.

Nine.

Yrcanos and the Lukoser had soon put distance between themselves and the chasing guards.

'Wait!' Yrcanos commanded. Obediently the half-man, half-wolf slowed and crouched down on to his haunches.

The great s.h.a.ggy head sank down in misery. 'K... kill me...'

the jaw and great teeth finally allowed the plea to emerge.

With a roar of anger Yrcanos pulled his equerry to his feet and shook him violently. 'You are Dorf of Kanval!

Whatever has been done to your body, your spirit must remain intact. Die if you must but achieve that n.o.ble end in battle!'

The head of the Wolfman nodded miserably. His yellowed eyes glared at the fur-covered hands he held up before him. Yrcanos saw the fire of revenge glint within the Lukoser's gaze. 'Keep that hatred burning for when you find the man who has done this to you. There is one who betrayed me and a young girl. I have a special death reserved for him.'

'Wh... who?' the Lukoser asked.

Yrcanos scowled, 'He is a traitor known as the Doctor.'

Serving girls hurried in and out of Kiv's home chamber.

Peri waited outside, expecting the Matrona to call her when Lord Kiv demanded his medication. Peri, lightly veiled, as were the other servants, wore a plain smock that she hoped would give her anonymity should Sil or Frax happen to be present.

'Peri...!' the Matrona's voice summoned her.

'Matrona?' Peri entered the doorway of the chamber.

'Take this.' The Matrona handed her a bowl with a grey coloured fluid inside. 'You will enter when I call. Not before. Wait outside.'

'I understand, Matrona,' Peri said.

The Matrona returned to the centre of the chamber swirling through the hanging silks. Peri saw greenskinned Mentors in a group around the broad pedestal that supported Lord Kiv. Then the multicoloured swathes of silk drifted back and her view was once again obscured.

Seated near to the Mentors, Crozier watched their leader intently. He recognised the puckers of pain that creased Kiv's mottled face. He noted also the slight slurred speech and the increasingly irrational slips of speech to which the Mentor's leader was becoming p.r.o.ne.

'Aah.' Kiv began to shrink away as if trying to escape from the onset of pain that was building inside his head.

'Matrona!' Crozier called and made an urgent gesture to indicate Kiv's predicament. 'Bring Lord Kiv's ambiotic fluid quickly!'

The Matrona hurried to the door and beckoned Peri to bring the bowl of medication. Just as Peri was about to enter, the silk pennants disturbed by the Matrona s.h.i.+fted and allowed Peri a view of those seated near to Kiv. With a tingle of shock she saw sitting chatting amicably with Sil, the Doctor.

'I... I can't go in...' Peri stammered.

'Do you wish me to denounce you?'

Peri shook her head. How stupid, she thought, to be frightened of the Time Lord who had brought her to this benighted planet.

'Obey my order.' The furious tone of the Matrona cut through her thoughts. 'Come, I will go first, there is nothing to fear. Come!'

Perhaps the veil would hide her ident.i.ty. Peri decided there was no option. She followed in the wake of the Matrona through the hanging silks towards the mentors.

Features twisted by the pain inside his head, the Lord Kiv fumbled for a drinking tube and thrust it into the bowl of fluid held by Peri. The grey liquid diminished rapidly.

Kiv did not cease drinking until the bowl was quite empty.