Four Dead Queens(32)
She gripped the table before her. “That’s not possible. All three of us were in court when Iris was killed.”
The inspector nodded. “While a queen may not have held the dagger, it is possible she arranged the assassination. Until I can determine your innocence, the queens are my top suspects.”
Marguerite was not a fainting woman, but right then, she swayed a little.
CHAPTER TEN
Keralie
The House of Concord stole the air from my lungs. I’d never seen this much gold; my fingers itched to savor everything. And break off a bit for later. Within the House of Concord, you could see the start of the palace’s golden dome and the dark structure behind the amber glass. I knew what lay inside: a palace awash in gold and death.
“Come on,” Varin said, pulling my attention away. “We don’t have time for this.”
I shook my head, dislodging the bloody images from my mind.
With the Concord stores now shut, most people had already headed home to their quadrant. The gateway to Eonia was a sleek commuter platform leading toward a tunnel. I’d never crossed quadrants, and the thought filled me with excitement.
An Eonist guard stood at the entrance to the platform, destabilizer hanging from his belt.
“Permit?” he asked as Varin and I approached. I shrunk back behind Varin’s broad frame, hoping to disappear into the background. Perhaps Varin had been right about my outfit.
“I’m recording a message for my employer from Ludia.” He nodded to me, then handed over a translucent square the size of a playing card. As the guard scanned it, the square turned solid, displaying Varin’s picture and his job title below it.
The guard handed it back, and Varin’s picture faded from view. “Go on,” he said, inclining his head as an electronic whine echoed down the tunnel.
That was easier than I thought. He didn’t even question Varin.
“Stand close and step in time with me,” Varin said as we neared the commuter track.
“Step in time?” I looked around. The few travelers at this late hour stood stationary like part of the building. They stared straight ahead, while I watched the commuter appear from the darkness.
As soon as the doors opened, everyone stepped forward. At the exact same time.
I grabbed onto Varin’s arm to ensure I wasn’t left behind. He didn’t shrug me off.
* * *
—
ALL EONIST EYES WERE ON ME. Or rather, my outfit. They thought I was Ludist, and the mere sight of me outraged them. I flashed a wide smile. Let them think I was Ludist. It was safer that way. Mackiel had no connections with Ludia. Hopefully I’d be lost to him.
The commuter picked up speed in the tunnel. Somewhere above us, my father lay unconscious within the Eonist Medical Facility, my mother hovering over his still form, hoping he’d wake. The expansive building connected out from the palace and spread for miles before reaching the research precinct.
When the commuter exited the tunnel, I saw the beginnings of the great sprawling capital of Eonia, extending as far as the eye could see. The illuminated silver buildings blurred past the window, as though I was swimming through a silvery lake. I knew I looked like a slack-jawed gawker, unable to tear my eyes, or hands, from the glass, but I’d never seen buildings as high, or as thin. The structures in the distance looked like needles, poised to blow over in the wind. I wanted to ask Varin how they managed to stay upright at such a height, but his face was turned away as he stared out the other window. I thought he was warming up to me, but perhaps warmth was not an Eonist concept. I’d yet to see any flicker behind his eyes.
While the Eonists didn’t appreciate my presence, no one dared to approach me. Nor did they speak to those around them. It was as though they were traveling alone, completely disconnected from each other. They stared straight ahead, while a few spoke softly into their comm lines.
Was this what Varin’s normal life was like? Did he catch the commuter into the Concord every day, engaging with no one aside from his boss via a comm line? Sure, the Jetée was dirty and smelly, and everyone there had questionable morals, but we acknowledged each other when walking down the street. I knew most people by name, if not by reputation.
“Good evening,” a smooth voice said. I startled as a woman in an off-white dermasuit blinked into being in the middle of the carriage. “Whether you are returning home or visiting from another quadrant,” she said with a robotic, disjointed smile, “we welcome you.”
“Welcome? Yeah, right. And please leave as quickly as you arrived.” I snickered to myself. Eonia was known to conduct what they called “head counts,” searching houses to ensure no one had snuck into their perfect quadrant, intent on making it their new home.
The man sitting beside me glanced at me in disapproval. I smiled serenely.
“Eonia is a harmonious community of wondrous accomplishment and outstanding technological development,” the woman continued. “We do hope you enjoy your stay.” For a quadrant claiming to focus on harmonious community, I’d seen little accord here.
“What is this?” I asked Varin. The woman continued looking ahead, a distant expression on her face.
“A hologram,” he replied. “All commuter carriages have them. They’re for general announcements.” Hmm, still no announcements about the queens.