The Keep

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 21“I’m sorry. I startled you,” Adroyan said. His hand extended as if to help but he did not move forward.

Esyal mimicked the gesture, her hand waving as if to indicate both that he should come no nearer and that she needed no help.

“You did,” she gasped, spitting food. “I thought I was the only one awake.”

Adroyan’s face was expressionless though he was staring at her intently.

As she had mimicked his gesture, so Esyal returned his gaze.

What dark eyes he has, she thought. Almost as though the irises are black.

“I see you’re recovered,” Adroyan said.

“Yes. I just... woke up. I don’t know what happened, but I’m fine. Josyff said you carried me all the way here after I... collapsed,” she said, starting to eat again.

“The surveyor,” Adroyan said, as if momentarily uncertain who Josyff was. “Yes, I carried you. I was the best suited.”

“Thank you,” Esyal said simply and genuinely, natural courtesy briefly setting aside her reservations about this man. “You must be very tired.”

Adroyan seemed to shrink a little and he moved into the room and sat down at the table, partly opposite Esyal, the open door at his back. He looked around Qualto’s kitchen and echoed Esyal’s first impression. “He is an orderly man, our cook.” Then, without pause. “Yes, I am tired.”

“I’m sorry if I disturbed you, walking about,” Esyal said. “I tried to be quiet.”

“You did not disturb me.”

A look flashed across his face that made Esyal start. Was it anger? Hate? Fear, even? It was gone before she could determine, but her hand had casually dropped into her lap to be near her knife.

“This place disturbs me,” Adroyan went on, though seemingly to himself. “It is dangerous. It binds. It must be measured, encompassed, so that...”

His voice faded.

“I don’t understand,” Esyal said awkwardly. “What do you mean, ‘dangerous’. It’s not going to fall down, is it, surely?” She reached out, slapped the wall, and smiled. “I don’t know anything about buildings but it feels solid enough to me.” Then the other words he had used impinged on her and the question blurted out before she could stop it.

“And how can a building bind anything?” she asked.

She was watching him carefully now, uncertain whether to be alarmed or amused.

“Many things can bind,” Adroyan said. “And this place is one such.” His gaze became less distant and he looked at her. She had the feeling that she was being studied as though she was an unusual specimen of some kind.

“But such matters are of no concern to the likes of you — an attractive young woman...”

‘The likes of’ grated on Esyal more than the clumsy compliment, but she gave no outward sign. Adroyan continued.

“I am sure you have far more interesting things to occupy your life. What is your work?”

Esyal gave an insincere smile to acknowledge the flattery and shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve no idea. I still can’t remember.”

“You remember your name.” There was a hint of accusation in Adroyan’s voice. Esyal ignored it and shrugged her shoulders again.

“Yes, I do,” she replied. “It’s all very odd. I can remember some things and not others — I can walk — and eat — and talk, but... how I come to be here, where I live... all gone.”

“You do not seem to be concerned.”

Esyal looked suitably bewildered. “No. I don’t know why that is, either. Josyff thinks it’s probably a good sign... shows that my memory will start coming back bit by bit.”

Adroyan nodded slowly, still looking at her intently. “Yes, the surveyor,” he said again, for no apparent reason.

“I’m surprised you’re having difficulty sleeping after carrying me all that way,” Esyal said, looking to deflect his questioning. “Josyff went to sleep as soon as he saw I was all right. Perhaps it’s just being in a strange place. Or perhaps you’re over-tired, as my mother used to say.”

“Your mother?”

Esyal put her hand to her mouth in hastily feigned surprise, and turned away in case her eyes might reveal the reality of her slip to this searcher.

“My mother, yes... I can see her... tall, blonde... But that’s all.” Her brow furrowed and she stood up, gesticulating earnestly. “I mustn’t be afraid,” she said, apparently earnestly admonishing herself. “I’m safe here. I might have died, but I didn’t. I’m safe. Whatever’s happened to me, my memory will come back, I’m sure. I mustn’t try to force anything, must I?” She looked at Adroyan as if for support.

“I am not a doctor,” he replied after a moment. Esyal noted, with some satisfaction, the hesitation in his manner. “But if you feel well and are apparently uninjured, I suppose time and rest will... resolve the matter.”

“Yes,” Esyal said. She sat down again and began toying with the dish she had been eating from. “Yes, it will. In any event, with all this snow, I suppose that’s all I’ll be able to do. It’ll probably be some time before I can get back to the village.” Then, abruptly, “Do you want something to eat? Perhaps you can’t sleep because you’re hungry.”

“No thank you, I ate with the others.”

Having gained the initiative, Esyal pursued her questioning, affecting naiveté.

“Do you know what this place is?”

“This is the Keep,” came the unhelpful reply.

“Yes, but what is it, out here in the middle of nowhere? And why would anyone want to survey it?”

“It must be measured...”

Esyal interrupted. “You said that before. And encompassed, you said. I didn’t understand then and I still don’t. What do you mean?”

For a moment she thought he was about to get up and leave, but instead he turned his gaze back to her, almost schoolmasterly now.

“We cannot determine what this... place... is, or what to do with it until we know its size, its shape, exactly. When we have that, then... we can put the place to some... good use... for the benefit of the public.”

You’re lying!

The thought struck Esyal so forcefully that she almost cried out. She had no idea where this revelation had come from save that it hung in his last phrase. The New Order always prefaced its intrusions into the freedom of the people with declamations about the public good — particularly the greater good.

Be still. Be calm. Listen. Show nothing. Think.

“How can such a place benefit anyone except the few who like to climb and walk in the mountains?” She allowed a touch of scorn into her voice.

Abruptly, Adroyan leaned forward and spoke urgently.

“Do not concern yourself, young woman. Rest and mend your mind. These are matters beyond you.”

It took Esyal a considerable effort of will to remain silent, but she could not prevent her jaw stiffening and her eyes narrowing.

Adroyan gave no sign that he had noticed this and he pressed on. “There are forces in this land which you cannot understand. Forces that will spread far beyond our borders. Forces that will bring order and security to the disordered lives of peoples across the world.”

Esyal’s caution immediately became fear. Questions tumbled into her mind. What was this man talking about? And who was he? Then, more pressingly, was he dangerous? He was certainly peculiar. And he was between her and the door. Her hand dropped to her lap again, to be near her knife, as her mouth went dry and she began to tremble.

“What are you talking about? Forces! Forces? What forces?” Her voice was hoarse and she gave a grating cough to clear it. “You mean an army? Is this place some kind of fortress?”

Adroyan hesitated and looked around Qualto’s immaculate kitchen. “A war,” he said, though to himself rather than Esyal. “It could be. It could be a war. Yes.”

“Who are you?” Esyal could scarcely believe she had asked the question as it blurted out. She had heard the reply he had given to Josyff. It had been an unequivocal statement of authority. What was he going to say to her now?

“I am Adroyan Sirthied. I am responsible for... the Keep. And for its measuring. It is an important task. That is why I chose the surveyor, Josyff, and his assistant. They are both very able.” He glanced around the kitchen again, almost anxiously, Esyal thought. “And this will need able men.”

Receiving no rebuke, Esyal took a chance. “If they’re able men — competent professionals — why are you here? I wouldn’t imagine they’ll work any harder or better with their boss breathing down their necks. It might even slow them down.”

“This is an important task,” Adroyan said again. “It must be supervised. No detail must be missed.”

Esyal was inclined to pursue her point but sounder judgement prevailed. She shrugged. “As you say, it’s your responsibility. I don’t know anything about surveying.”

“And there may be aspects to this task that are beyond them.”

What’s he justifying himself to me for? Esyal thought.

“Ah, you’re a surveyor too? A senior surveyor?” She smiled to bring a slight taunt into the question. “Three heads are better than two.”

Adroyan blinked and grimaced slightly as though he were being distracted by a slight but persistent pain.

“Are you unwell?” Esyal ventured.

“No,” Adroyan replied. “It’s just that this place is deeply disturbing.”

“You said that before,” Esyal said. “And I still don’t understand what you mean.”

Adroyan stood up, though Esyal sensed no threat in the movement. “Yes, I did.” He looked at her. “I mean you no discourtesy, but it is a measure of how disturbing this place is that I find myself discussing it with you when I know that you cannot help.”

“Knowledge lies in the strangest places,” Esyal said, echoing her father.

“Not this knowledge,” Adroyan replied. “You may be assured that the nature of this... building... is something that you could never understand.”

Esyal’s voice became cold. “Possibly. But while I might have lost my memory for the moment, I don’t think I’m particularly stupid.” She tapped her head. “There seems to be quite a lot up here. Perhaps if you explained yourself better...”

Adroyan put his hands on the table and leaned forward.

“Did you hear the voices?” he asked, quietly, almost as if he were afraid someone might overhear him. “The voices — all around us — when we were outside and the drawbridge was closed against us — did you hear them?”

Esyal’s mind went back immediately to waking in Adroyan’s arms and hearing — or perhaps, just sensing — voices fading into the distance. Was this some trick he was playing on her? Did he know she had been awake for some time? Worse, did he in some way know that she had not lost her memory? She lied without hesitation.

“I don’t remember anything between walking through the mountains with you all and waking up here.” She gestured towards the still open door. “In that room along the way — on the couch.” Then, almost in spite of herself, “You’re talking in riddles. This building disturbs you — it... binds... whatever that means — you talk about ‘forces’ and wars, for heaven’s sake — now you’re telling me you heard voices in the middle of the mountains.” Committed, she decided to play the helpless female. “I’m truly grateful for what you did for me — I’d probably have died without your help — but you’re beginning to frighten me.”

Adroyan studied her thoughtfully for a moment, but as he opened his mouth to speak, a sharp cry rang out.