The Spider Key by Jacquelyn Hagen

Author:Jacquelyn Hagen [Hagen, Jacquelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mastmarner Books

Outside the office, Seherene and Pallaton stood at a circular railing which looked down on five floors of prison cells. The shield enchantments separating each level gave off the faintest hint of blue light. Seherene grasped the railing as though she would tear it in two.

“Money. Why is it always money?”

“I like it as little as you,” Pallaton said, “but I think we must do as he suggests.”

She looked at him in dismay. “How can you say that? Only yesterday you advised us to let Josephina’s illness finish her off! This scheme of his is nothing but a bribe to protect the Assembly’s reputation, not least of all his own, and all through some very thinly-veiled threats.”

“You know I bear no love for the Cassrians, but we can’t afford to lose any connections. There has always been a level of reluctance in their dealings with us.”

“And yours with them,” Seherene added.

“True enough. But raising our standing in their eyes can only help our cause. Now that we know the Colonists have the ability to travel by air, we might gain the use of the Cassrians’ air fleet to track them down. We need every last resource at our fingertips, now more than ever. Bill Stone is an ignorant ass, but . . . he does deliver from time to time, though we may not agree with his methods. Rather like your little friend, Inkwell.”

“Do you suppose mockery will change my mind?”

“Sparing the sisters for now does not save them indefinitely. Appease the old man and his incompetent Assembly so long as it will serve us. Then, when that time is over, we expose them for what they are.”

“That is not justice.”

“Then call it temporary mercy. If only for . . . political reasons.”

The Entress's gaze dropped to her hands, almost in shame. “You’ve never asked my reasons for sparing her—”

“Seherene,” he interrupted, his tone becoming gentler. “We’ve been hammering away at this wearisome work for nine years now, side by side nearly every step of the way. And while I’ve sometimes been quick to argue, I have never doubted your judgment. I am wrong to disparage your deal with the boy. Forgive me. In fact I should very much like to meet him at the next opportunity. As for the librarian, she is under your protection, and that is reason enough for me. I only ask that you extend that same security to the sisters, if only for a little while. Or is it too much to hope that you trust my judgment in turn?”

Her eyes searched his face as she wrestled with her feelings. She did not like the fact of Marlas’s deal, but Pallaton was right. They could not continue the campaign alone. More than this, she'd begun to remember Mavie's final warning before they had parted ways at Mastmarner. The old woman knew the great secret Seherene kept and had claimed she would not reveal it. But she had also advised “the utmost caution” in the event of another Colonist arrest.

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