‘Of course I am; I’m not a two-faced liar.’
Aila looked away; the venom in Bekha’s eyes too much to bear. ‘Maybe you could look at it from my point of view. Imagine never dying, but being trapped. I wanted to help the people of the Circuit, but I spent two centuries of imprisonment after the Civil War, and if I was caught doing it again, they might have thrown away the key. The only way I could do good was by using my powers, and I’m sorry that you hate me for it, but I would do it again. Do you remember those children we freed from the gangs a few years ago? Should we have left them where they were, to save you from getting hurt?’
Bekha said nothing.
‘There was another reason I had to tell you,’ Aila went on, ‘which would explain how they found us. My sister Vana can sense the location of other demigods; she can home in on their self-healing powers.’
‘So we’ve been in danger all this time?’
‘To be honest, I thought being down in that cellar might hide me from her. She was in Ooste, last I knew, working in the Royal Palace for Khora, but I’m guessing Marcus summoned her to Tara, and forced her to search the City for me. The good news is that searching tires her out. She’s fine if you’re in the next room, but looking through the Circuit would have taxed her, and it’ll be a day or so before she’ll be able to do it again. That’s the bad news; I’m going to have to keep moving from now on. I can’t risk staying in the same place again. If I do, they’ll catch me.’
Bekha glanced at her. ‘What will they do to you, if they catch you? Will they kill you?’
‘No. Worse. I can handle dying; right now, I’m not even sure what to live for.’
‘What’s worse than dying?’
‘If Prince Michael had survived the Civil War,’ Aila said, ‘then his plan was to pair me with Marcus. He wanted the demigods to breed a new generation of gods, and had a whole scheme worked out. The new Prince of Tara wants to revive his father’s plan.’
‘Marcus wants you?’
‘He wants me to bear his children. I’d rather die.’
‘But isn’t your brother Marcus’s Adjutant? Wouldn’t he protect you?’
‘Kano’s lost to me; he’s not my brother any more, not after what he did to Khora.’
‘What? I thought he tried to defend her against that renegade champion?’
Aila’s anger rose. ‘No. Marcus is spreading lies. What you heard happened is not true. Kano murdered Khora; Corthie was trying to protect the princess, and me, when he was killed. I was there, Bekha, I saw it all.’ Tears welled in her eyes, and Aila gave up trying to suppress them. She felt as if a dam was bursting, but didn’t care. Her breath became ragged as wracked sobs were ripped from her chest. Corthie. She stopped trying to block his image from her mind, not caring what Bekha thought as she dissolved into tears.
She had lost everything, and the City had become a prison. Compared to having to endure a life on the run, death seemed almost preferable.
A hand was placed on her shoulder. ‘Does Marcus know it was Kano?’
‘Of course he does!’ she cried, her eyes streaming; ‘they planned the whole thing, don’t you see? They sent Corthie to kill Khora, knowing he wouldn’t do it, and arrived in time to ensure he could be blamed for her death. And that “evidence” showing Khora was trying to kill him, it’s all lies too, it was Marcus who was trying to kill Corthie.’
‘This changes everything,’ Bekha said. ‘Marcus killed Khora? He’s making out that he only took power because the princess had been murdered. We need to get the truth out there to the people.’
‘And who would believe you? The only thing I want is vengeance; it’s the only reason to stay alive. Vengeance for Khora, and vengeance for Corthie.’
‘Did this Corthie mean something to you?’
For a second Aila hesitated, then she plunged in. She was already a weeping mess, and was tired of the lies. ‘I loved him.’
‘But he was mortal.’
‘I know; I tried not to get involved. I knew it was stupid, but I couldn’t help it.’
‘Did he love you?’
‘Yes.’
There was a long silence. Aila closed her eyes and wept, her head on her knees, almost oblivious to Bekha’s presence, as every long-suppressed emotion came flooding out. The minutes blurred as the light from the canal outside began to fade into evening.
‘How can I help?’ said Bekha.
Aila took a breath. ‘Have you got a hanky?’
She heard a rustle of clothes and a soft piece of fabric was placed into her hand. She wiped her face.
‘I’m sorry about before,’ Bekha went on; ‘it was the shock. I loved Stormfire; idolised her a little bit, if I’m honest, and it felt like you’d tricked me.’
‘I did trick you. You don’t need to apologise; I get it.’
‘I know over a dozen safe houses within the Circuit. We can start moving between them. One overnight stay in each, just like you said, so we can keep one step ahead of your sister Vana. At the same time we’ll start to spread the truth. There’s a printing press in one of the locations that I’ve used to make up pamphlets, we can post the truth at every junction. The people will rise up against Marcus if they know what really happened.’
Aila glanced at her. ‘Why would you do this?’
‘I remember the children we saved. Apart from Yendra and her daughters, you’re maybe the only demigod who’s ever cared about the mortals of the City. For all the help you’ve given us, I think we owe you a little in return.’ She turned and peered out of the grille. ‘It’s getting dark; we should make a move soon.’
Aila nodded, but her spirits were deflated. She had thought that crying might have helped her in some way, but it had only made her feel more hopeless and miserable.
‘What was he like?’
‘What?’
Bekha attempted a smile. ‘The champion?’
‘Annoying,’ Aila said; ‘one of those guys who is irrepressibly good-natured and cheerful, no matter how bad things get. He told me everything would be fine, but it wasn’t. He was also the only person who could see through my powers; he saw me, regardless of whose appearance I’d taken.’
‘Did your brother kill him?’
‘He’s not my brother any more; I told you. But yes. Kano ordered the Blades to loose, and they did. Corthie took four bolts and went down. He’d charged them so that Khora and I could get away, but I blew it. I just stood there, staring at his body on the gravel, and the Blades grabbed us. His last thoughts would have been that his sacrifice had been in vain, because of me.’
‘It wasn’t in vain; you’re still alive.’
‘Only because my cousin Naxor rescued me.’
‘Lord Naxor? Wanted posters of him are all over the Circuit, alongside yours. Can he change his appearance as well?’
‘No. I guess if Vana is looking for me, then she’ll also be looking for him.’
‘Maybe we should look for him too.’
‘There’s no point. If Naxor doesn’t want to be found, then he won’t be. He has something, a secret device of some kind that he used to rescue me. I don’t know how it works, but he can use it to hide. He might be out of Vana’s range for all I know.’