Karigan shrugged.
“Now, you can keep your name to yourself,” Dr. Silk said, “but in time we’ll have it from Mr. Harlowe.”
Karigan jerked upright. Her mouth dropped open, but once again she could not speak.
Dr. Silk leaned forward to study her. “You thought he was dead, didn’t you.”
Her heart pounded. Her head pounded. “He’s—alive?” She hated revealing herself this way to this man, but she could not help it.
Dr. Silk leaned back into his chair, a slight smile on his lips. “For now. I cannot say the same for Josston’s old carriage driver, however. My dear, now that you know Mr. Harlowe is alive, your answering of questions could make things much easier on him. You see, he is with an Inquisitor. Inquisitors are not gentle questioners, and they will use whatever methods they require to extract the information they seek. It can go badly for the one being questioned. Do you understand?”
Karigan licked her lips and nodded. Oh, yes, she understood. They were torturing Cade.
“Good. I had hoped you would cooperate, which would only lighten the burden on Mr. Harlowe.”
“I want to see him,” she said. “Prove to me he is alive, or I won’t answer any questions.”
“I am afraid you are not in a position to make demands. You will have to take me at my word. If you choose not to cooperate, we will get the answers out of Mr. Harlowe, and I guarantee he won’t find it a pleasant experience.”
Karigan considered her circumstances, the manacles on her wrists. She could leap across the desk and throttle Dr. Silk, manacles or no. He would not be expecting it, not from a female. But that wouldn’t help Cade, nor would she be able to overcome every guard in the palace. No doubt they would execute Cade as soon as they got whatever information they wanted from him. He had betrayed the empire. He had started an uprising in Mill City. They would make an example of him.
The only course she saw was to make an ally of Dr. Silk. There was no reason to hide her identity or where she was from, not anymore. She would gain his confidence and maybe make things easier on Cade. She would buy time to figure out what to do. She took a deep breath trying to gather her composure. “I assume you are a man of some influence in the empire,” Karigan said.
Dr. Silk preened. “I do have some influence. My father is second in power to the emperor. It is not openly acknowledged; it is understood in the emperor’s inner circle.”
“And you are an archeologist? Like the professor?”
He frowned. “I oversee all archeology throughout the empire. The professor was merely one of many who answer to me. I am the emperor’s special consul on antiquities and true history.”
Here was a man, Karigan thought, who was obscured by his father’s shadow, who wanted to be regarded as important on his own merit. “We both know,” she said, “that the empire’s true history is, in fact, false.”
“Those words are heresy.” But Dr. Silk was not angered by her statement. He looked intrigued. “What makes you believe such a thing?”
“Did you know I was born here?” Karigan asked. “Right in this very area, which was once known as Corsa, the province of L’Petrie. You see, I was born over two hundred years ago.” Dr Silk was a rapt listener. “I attended school in Selium, and then I went to Sacor City to serve King Zachary Hillander. You want to know my name? In my time, I am known as Rider Sir Karigan G’ladheon, a Green Rider of His Majesty’s Messenger Service.”
Dr. Silk paled, looked shaken. He gripped the armrests of his chair. She had caught him off guard. He must not have expected her to be so forthright, or maybe it had something to do with the information itself. She smiled to herself. Instead of feeling like she had given away a part of herself, announcing her name and title made her feel more powerful. She no longer had to hide.
“Well,” Dr. Silk said, visibly trying to regain equanimity, “that would certainly explain a few things.”
Karigan relaxed in her chair, her shackled hands resting on her lap. She had him now. If he was anything like the professor, he’d be overcome by his curiosity of the past. He would not even realize she had taken control of the situation.
“I have so many questions that I hardly know where to start,” Dr. Silk said, the eagerness in his voice confirming her thoughts.
“I would be happy to answer your questions,” Karigan replied. “There is no reason for me not to, except for the matter of Cade Harlowe.”
“I told you—”
“Hear me out, please. You told me you are a man of influence, and I’d wager you can influence how Mr. Harlowe is treated.”
“He is your lover,” Dr. Silk said with distaste. “Do not try to deny it.”
Imperial spies must have found out about it somehow. She tried to suppress a shudder of revulsion. “All right, I won’t deny it.” Her easy admission once again appeared to surprise him. The next part was not as easy to say. “We both know that Mr. Harlowe will be executed.” Not if she could help it, of course. “I will answer your questions, but I expect to have your personal assurance of his well being until . . . his execution.”
“Well—”
“Furthermore, I will want to see him one last time.” Before Dr. Silk could interrupt, she hastily continued, “I know you said I wouldn’t be able to see him, but I have something to offer in exchange.”
“Oh?” He could not seem to help himself but look intrigued. “And what would that be?”