Nishi. The sound of her name is like a shot of adrenaline, and I feel myself coming back to life with purpose.
Nishi hasn’t given up. She’s doing what I asked of her. Now I need to do my part—whatever it takes to convince the Guardians to believe me.
“We admire your good intentions,” says Neith, “but the myth of Ophiuchus is a lovely work of art. And here on Libra, we deal in facts.”
Behind me, the dignitaries sigh, seemingly with relief, so I twist in my seat and face them. “Please listen. The Psy weapon is real. Your own envoy knows the truth. Hysan Dax. Ask him.”
“Hysan Dax,” Lord Neith repeats, and the dignitaries titter. “Hysan loves his pranks. He’s useful, but very green.”
As the titters die down, two Zodai Guards enter through the rear doors, and Lord Neith lifts his hands. “Again, my thanks for your visit. My Guards will escort you to our banquet hall, where many in my court are eager to greet you.”
I clench my fists. That’s it? We came all this way, and the grandiose Lord Neith just dismisses us? And where is Hysan?
“We can’t,” I say. “We have to warn Virgo.”
“Very well. Do come again.” With a bow, he steps backward into the cube, and the liquid surface closes over him.
I turn and stomp out, too angry for good manners. I’ve probably broken some dire rule of state protocol, but I don’t care. Mathias and Caasy follow, flanked by the Guards, and Caasy says, “I wouldn’t mind a taste of fried larks. It’s House Libra’s signature dish. Have you ever tried it?”
Mathias touches my back. “Let’s go to the banquet.”
“Are you serious? We don’t have time for a formal dinner.”
He gives me a subtle nod, and I sense this isn’t about protocol. He’s up to something.
“Okay,” I tell the Guards. “I guess we’re hungry after all. Please lead us to the banquet.”
20
OUR FOOTSTEPS ECHO AS THE Libran Guards escort us down
another wide corridor glistening with plexifoam tiles. We’re going to the
banquet hall, though I can’t imagine why. Mathias glances behind us, and so do I. The dignitaries haven’t followed—we’re alone with Caasy and the two
Guards.
I catch Mathias’s eye and notice he’s clutching his silver weapon. He gives me a subtle signal with his eyes. It seems like he’s telling me to hang back.
I slow down, and when I’ve put a little space between myself and the Guards, he moves like a bolt. He fires first at one Guard, then spins to shoot the other. His weapon discharges an arc of electricity, and I realize it’s a Taser. The Guards fall unconscious, and Caasy shrieks.
“What the Helios did you do?” he asks.
“They’re not injured. They’ll revive soon.” Mathias glances around and listens, but when no one else appears, he says, “Something’s wrong here, and I want to look around. You and Rho can go on to dinner.”
I square my shoulders. “Forget dinner. I’m coming with you.”
Caasy rises up in his levitation boots and sputters, “I’ll not be part of this. We’re abusing the hospitality of this House.”
“Then enjoy your meal, Guardian,” says Mathias. “We’ll find you when it’s time to leave.”
“Humph.” Caasy pivots on his levitated heel and marches off like an indignant child.
Mathias seizes my hand, and we run back the way we came. When we hear footsteps, he pulls me into a shallow alcove. “Our collars,” I say. “Should we veil?”
Mathias presses me farther into the shadows, and he’s so close I can feel his heart pounding through his tunic. Or maybe it’s mine.
“We’re Cancrians,” he says. “We don’t use deception.” The distinction strikes me as ironic since we’re creeping around like a pair of thieves, but I don’t argue. I’m enjoying being near him too much.
A few courtiers pass by without noticing us, and then we slip down the hallway and steal into the room where we’d been earlier. It’s now dim and deserted. Onstage, the white cube looks as inert as a block of salt.
Mathias puts a finger to his lips, then pulls a thumb-sized laser torch from his belt. Its beam scintillates across the cube’s white surface. The walls look like they’re solid glass, but when we touch them, our hands pass right through.
Mathias turns to me with raised eyebrows. Then he steps through the wall and vanishes. I watch the surface ripple for a second. Then I follow him.
Inside, the cube is much larger than it appears, and it’s empty. Mathias shines his light around the glassy walls, casting tiny rainbows everywhere. He brushes his fingers over one side, and I follow his example. It feels solid now, and I wonder how we’ll get out. When I rap it with my knuckle, it rings like glass. Mathias bends to examine the floor, and I ask, “What are we looking for?”