Raiders' Ransom (25 page)

“What are you going in there for?” I shout, but they don't even look back. How can Lilly and Lexy be out here? How come they ain't locked up? And running into my father's rooms, they'll get killed for sure if anyone catches them!

“Stop!” I shout, running after them. “Don't go in there!” But they don't listen, just slam the door shut behind themselves. My feet pound on the deckway, and I crash open the door, into a corridor lit by smoking rushlights. Ahead, a small bare foot disappears round a corner. I leg it down after, skidding to a stop and peering round. There they are at the end of the corridor, where it's crossed by another passage. If they head that way, they'll end up at father's Talking Room. And they'll get themselves killed for sure.

“Where are we going?” I hear Lexy ask.

“I don't know. I don't know what to do!” Lilly answers. I've gotta get them out before they get spiked. I'm just about to call them when a door swings open. “You! What are you doing?”

An arm whips out, grabbing hold of Lilly and dragging her in. Lexy and the mog go tumbling after.

“You're going to get yourself killed, Lilly. And this little girl as well. What do you think you're doing, running about in Medwin's chambers?”

It's the raider woman, from before, when they were questioning me. Medwin's wife or something.

“We're running away,” says Lexy. “Lilly's going to take me to her boat and then we're going to sail to my home.”

“Shush,” I say, but it's too late. The Scottish woman's eyebrows arch up, and she crosses her arms at me.

“Were you indeed? And where were you thinking of finding your boat? In Medwin's bed? “

She's wearing some kind of floaty robe, all shiny and pink, shimmering and sparkling in the lamplight. And the room we're in is like her: plush, padded, shiny. There's velvet cloths on the walls in different shades of red, a chest of drawers with
a twiddly mirror on top, a big carved wardrobe, and a cushiony armchair with tassles all round the bottom. But the bed! It's the biggest, softest-looking thing I ever seen. First thing Cat does is hop right up on it, kneading himself a sleep spot and purring like he hasn't for weeks. But Cat never knows when it's safe to go sleeping, just does it wherever.

“What are you going to do with us?” I ask.

The woman watches Cat for a moment, then shrugs.

“Now
that,
I don't know. What I ought to do is start screaming this minute for Medwin, for I can't risk even a hint of suspicion against me.” She takes a deep breath and opens her mouth. Me and Lexy both flinch back, waiting for her to scream. But what comes out is a big huffy sigh.

“But I can't say I much fancy the idea of two little lasses being spiked. I was a young lass like you once, back home in Leeds. I didn't care a thing about raiders, they were just bogeymen to keep us good. In those days no one thought the raiders would strike so far north. But then the raiding party came, and it wasn't long before I knew more than I ever wanted to about them.” She looks at Lexy. “I'm going to think about it.”

She leads Lexy over to the bed and sits her on it. Cat pads over the cushiony bedding and settles down on Lexy's lap. She smiles, and starts stroking him.

“This is like Mummy's bed.” She looks up at the woman out of her pale blue eyes. “Please let me go home, Mrs. Medwin.”

The woman winces. “Don't call me by that man's name. I'm Aileen, and that's what you should call me.”

Aileen turns back to me.

“Sit down, then.” She points at the bed. I sit right at the edge, wanting to be ready to start running if I need to. But the bed's so soft, it's like my body's got its own mind, pulling me down into the pillows.

Aileen moves the chair in front of the door, then sits down, arms crossed.

“You know, if I hadn't seen you, you'd have been killed before you'd gone another ten yards. The way you were headed, you'd have run right into Medwin's war council. What on earth were you thinking?”

“We saw Zeph,” says Lexy, before I can stop her. “We were running away.”

Aileen's eyes widen. “Zeph? Did he see you? Is he following you? Because that's bad. He's bound to go straight to his father.”

“I don't know,” I say, thinking about his eyes flickering and the knife just missing me. “Anyway, I think we lost him.”

“But he'll raise the alarm. Everyone will be searching for you. At least, everyone Medwin can spare from the battle preparations.” She looks at me with narrow eyes. “This changes things.”

I get ready to run. “Just let us go. Please. Let us get to my boat. No one'll ever know we were here.”

She frowns, shakes her head. “Even if I wanted to, there's no way you can get to your boat now — the whole eastern deckway's moored with dragonboats, and there'll be a hundred warriors there ready to chop you into pieces as soon as they see you.”

I get a tight feeling in my throat. She's going to turn us over to Medwin, I can see it in her face. I look about, but there's no other door, no way out. Only the wardrobe to hide in.

Then comes a sound. Like a bird singing, or a bell chiming. Aileen startles. Cat's ears flick back.

“What's that?” says Lexy.

“It's nothing,” snaps Aileen. But the chiming sound carries on. It's coming from the chest of drawers, from a small silvery box that's shivering and shaking.

“What's that?” I ask.

Aileen flicks her hand at it. “Oh, it's nothing. It's just … a music box.”

“A music box?” cries Lexy. “I love them!” In an instant she turfs Cat off her lap and jumps over the bed, straight to the chest. She's got her hands on the little box before Aileen even has a chance to stand up.

“How does it work? How do you make it do tunes?”

The box keeps on chiming.

“Leave it alone!” hisses Aileen, getting up from the chair. But Lexy's already trying to see if it will open; she fiddles for a catch, and the box springs out into two flat halves.

Suddenly I know what it is.

Aileen grabs the box, slapping it out of Lexy's hands.

“I just wanted to listen!” wails Lexy.

And then there's another voice, a man's voice.

“Hello? Hello? Aileen, are you there?”

Me and Lexy both jump and look at the door.

“Aileen, can you hear me?”

But the voice ain't coming from the door. It's coming from the box. Aileen glares at us, with a face that says she'll throw us to Medwin first chance she gets. Then she fiddles with the box, and holds it to the side of her head.

“Now is not a good time,” she says harshly. Lexy's staring at her openmouthed.

“Yes, I know I told you I'd be on my own. But it turns out I'm not.”

Lexy turns to me, her eyes wide.

“Of course it's not Medwin. If it was, I'd hardly be answering you, would I? More likely lying on the floor with my throat slit.”

“Who's she talking to?” asks Lexy. “Is it a ghost?”

Aileen gives Lexy a sharp look. “If you start screaming, you'll bring a dozen warriors running in here.” She shakes her head. “No, I wasn't talking to you!”

I edge over to Lexy and take her hand.

“It's a talking box,” I whisper. “I saw one in your aunty's study. The Scottish Ambassador had one.”

Lexy looks frightened. And I ain't too happy about the whole thing, either.

“I really can't have this conversation now,” says Aileen. “I've got Alexandra Randall hiding in my room, as well as some idiot child who wants to save her.” She switches the box to her other hand.

“There's not much I can do,” she says. “Medwin's already getting battle-ready.” She opens the top drawer of the chest and lifts out Mrs. Denton's jewel. It sends out sparkles all over the room, but there's no sign of the head.

“No, I don't know what his plans are! Medwin doesn't let his slaves into his Talking Room.” She pauses. “But I've got the computer. So you can report that back to Edinburgh if you want.”

She knows what the jewel is!

“Of course I've tried. But it must not be working, I can't get it to start up at all. Look, I have to go. I have to work out what I'm going to do with these children.” She snaps shut the two halves of her talking box, then she turns a cold stare on me and Lexy.

“It looks like your luck has turned, although whether for better or worse, I don't yet know. I was thinking about simply turning you over to Medwin. But now you know too much for me to do that safely.”

“Know too much? What do we know?” says Lexy.

“We know she's a Scottish spy. Like the Ambassador.”

“Not like him!” Aileen snaps. “Not full of empty promises that he'll help me get free, get back home, but never actually doing it. Not like Jasper.”

“The raiders wouldn't be happy if they found out what you're up to,” I say, and I get a bit of hope, like we've got a chance.

Aileen goes and stands against the door. She seems to get taller, and dangerous-looking, even in her pretty dress.

“No one will believe you,” she says. “I may be only a slave, but I am still Medwin's favorite.”

“What about the jewel?” I say. “You're hiding it.”

“I'm not hiding it. Medwin let me keep it for a while. I'm doing nothing wrong. In any case, it's only a jewel, Medwin has plenty.”

“It ain't just a jewel, and you know it!” I cry, and before I can stop myself being so stupid, I make a grab for it. Aileen pulls her hand away, but not in time to stop my palm brushing across the jewel.

There's a little flash, a click, and a voice says, “Primary user identified. Welcome, Lilly Melkun.”

The head pops out into the air, looking grumpy. Lexy shrieks and Aileen gasps.

“How did you do that?” she hisses.

“Unfortunately for me, the girl is my primary user,” says the head. “I am programmed to activate on contact with her DNA.” The little spots are glowing on the jewel now, and Aileen touches them gently with her fingertip.

“That won't work,” says the head. “I have to be operated by the irritating child.”

Next to me, I can feel Lexy shaking.

“What is that?” she asks.

“I am the Sunoon Technologies Play System AI. You can call me PSAI, if you like.” Lexy squeaks, and Aileen looks like she's in love.

“The military computer,” she breathes. “It really exists. I never quite believed someone could have found one working. Oh, you almost make everything I've been through worthwhile.” She gives a little sigh. “There are a lot of people looking for you.”

The head looks pleased.

“I'm touched. And glad you recognize how very important and valuable I am.” It gives me a sour look. “Not like some. You have to help me. This child wants to trade me to some savages known as raiders. But I really need to get to the nearest Sunoon Technology technical facility as soon as possible.”

Aileen smiles.

“I'm afraid you're already with the savages,” she says.

The head looks scared. “Already with the raiders? Where are they?”

“Don't worry,” says Aileen. “You're safe with me. And even though I can't take you to your technical facility, I can take you to Greater Scotland. Would you like that? It isn't full of savages, like here or the Last Ten Counties. They have scientists who know all about antique machines like you.”

“Well, that sounds better than nothing. I've been trying to persuade the girl to take me to Scotland, but she won't. When can we go?”

“As soon as Medwin leaves for his battle. I was planning to leave then, anyway, it's the best chance I'm ever going to get. And with you as well …” She frowns. “Except I couldn't get you started. How did the fishergirl do it when I can't?”

“As I said before, I am DNA-activated by the primary user.” It nods in my direction. “Her.”

Aileen pauses. “Only she can work you?” The head nods.
“You
couldn't even put the screen saver up.” Aileen looks irritated. “Does she have to be alive?” I feel cold, Lexy squeaks again, and even the head looks shocked.

“Well, of course,” it says. “The DNA must be contained within living flesh. It is a security feature, after all.” Aileen scowls, and the head looks a bit scared. “I could add you as a secondary user. With her permission. Then you could interface in a rudimentary fashion.” Aileen turns to me.

“Give the computer permission to add me as a user,” she commands.

“No,” I say, even though I'm shaking nearly as much as Lexy. Cos I reckon the computer's looking like my best chance of getting us out of here.

“I will turn you over to Medwin if you don't help me,” says Aileen, “and think what he will do to you for trying to escape.”

“No,” I manage to squeak. “You let us go, then I'll help you.”