The Malice. Peter Newman

in public, though it practises often in private. Nevertheless, Samael feels the intent to smile. A brief flush of smugness washes over him, not his own.

      ‘What is it?’

      ‘Perhaps I was too hasty before. Yes, I see it now.’

      ‘See what?’

      A second wave of smugness comes, more emphatic. ‘The answer to all our problems.’

      *

      Inside the sky-ship, there is little sense of movement. Gyroscopes and energy fields work hard to maintain peace, buffering, adjusting. Padded straps hold Vesper close; she in turn holds the kid and a bottle of milk. Greedy sucking sounds loud above the hushed song of the sky-ship’s light drives.

      Above and around her, others sit, the lines of seats describing a dome. Men and women, squires mainly, their armour highly polished, their weapons ready, all trying not to stare.

      Genner sits opposite, holding himself in a position of authority.

      Vesper glances round at the serene faces, then frowns. She takes a breath to speak, glances again and lets it out, noisily.

      ‘What is it?’ asks Genner.

      ‘Are we actually flying?’

      ‘Yes.’

      ‘Where are we going?’

      ‘That depends on you. This –’ he spreads his hands outward ‘– is all to protect you. Tell us what you need and we’ll provide it. Tell us where you need to go and we’ll take you.’

      Vesper scratches the kid behind its ear, contemplating. ‘Well, do you think I could have a torch?’

      ‘We are all your torches.’

      ‘Oh. Does that mean I can’t have my own?’

      Genner’s expression flickers between amusement and irritation. ‘No – I mean, yes, you can have one but that’s not the point.’

      Nuances bounce off the girl’s smile. ‘Then I’d like a torch please. And some more milk for my goat.’

      ‘We’ll see you get them. Now tell us, what are Gamma’s orders?’

      Her smile falters. ‘What do you mean?’

      ‘Ever since your father returned Gamma’s sword to us, we have been watching, waiting for it to act. Our sole purpose here is to facilitate your mission. So tell me, what are Gamma’s orders?’

      ‘I don’t know about any orders.’

      ‘Yes, you do. Something made you take up the sword. That was Gamma.’

      She shakes her head. ‘I just wanted to bring the sword to one of the knights. Then you could use it against the demons and my father’s life would go back to normal.’

      ‘But the sword didn’t call to me or a knight, it called to you. And if you let it, the sword will communicate its wishes to you. All you have to do is listen.’

      Vesper’s smile falls away completely as she thinks. The sword is quiet. No sound comes form it, no edicts spring into her thoughts. After a pause, she says, ‘You said the problems were in the south?’

      ‘Yes.’

      ‘Then we need to go there.’

      ‘Where in the south? Does Gamma mean to return to the Breach?’

      Vesper looks down at the sword for a moment before mumbling something ambiguous.

      ‘I knew it! And she intends to destroy the infernals there?’

      A blush creeps across Vesper’s cheeks, and she nods.

      ‘And the Breach itself, she’s going to seal it, isn’t she?’

      Vesper’s nod, tiny, timid, is more than enough for Genner.

      ‘This is incredible!’ he exclaims, and takes a deep breath, freckles fading on reddening skin. ‘Forgive me. We have waited a long time for this. You should ask your questions now. There may not be much time to talk when we land.’

      ‘Why is it so important to seal the Breach?’

      He looks at her for a moment, calculating, making her worry. ‘Outside of the Shining City, the world is very different. It’s going to be a shock for you, Vesper, but I’ll do my best to prepare you for it. There is a thing called the Taint. Sometimes it can be seen as a kind of smoke but mostly it’s invisible to the unaugmented eye. It changes everything it touches – plants, animals, people – mutates them. It’s like a poison being pumped into our atmosphere and it all comes from the Breach. And then there are the infernals. The smaller ones will hurt you if you’re lucky, eat you if you’re not. The larger ones possess people, make them their slaves. An infernal is stronger and faster than we are. They don’t get tired and they can twist and break you from the inside. I don’t mean to scare you …’

      Vesper pulls a face at the suggestion. ‘You aren’t scaring me. My uncle told me about the infernals, but he said they weren’t all bad.’

      ‘Yes, well. They’ve taken control of the south, more or less, and their reach is getting longer. There are thousands and thousands of them and every single one has come from the Breach. The only way for the Empire and humanity to survive is if we close it. And only one of The Seven –’ his eyes go to the sword ‘– has the power to do that. Gamma was chosen for the task and you have been chosen to bear the sword that holds Her remains, to bear Her.’

      Vesper opens her mouth to protest but Genner continues regardless. ‘But remember, you’re not alone. Each person on board is within the top one per cent of the Empire’s finest and all of us are ready to fight, and die if need be.’

      ‘Are there knights here?’

      ‘Twenty-five are with us, all veterans hand-picked by the Knight Commander himself. Each has three squires. In addition, we have a small infantry unit packed into the base of the ship.’

      Vesper begins looking around again, then points excitedly at the people either side of her. ‘Are they knights? Are you knights?’

      One stares straight ahead, contemplating infinity. The other looks back at the girl, catches herself and looks away.

      ‘This,’ says Genner, gesturing to the two women, ‘is Duet. She’s a Harmonised, which is incredibly rare—’

      ‘Is that a special kind of knight?’

      ‘Well, no, not exactly. The Harmonised are a subset of the Order. They’re guardians, specially trained to protect against infernal influence.’

      Vesper nods, disappointment peeking through the gesture. ‘That sounds good.’

      Despite the girl’s lack of enthusiasm, Duet remains stoic beneath her visors.

      Genner’s reply is earnest: ‘It is. Where we’re going it won’t just be your body at risk but your mind and spirit. Any contact, even just being close to an infernal, is dangerous and there are a lot of infernals between us and our destination. That’s why we’re travelling fast and light. We should be able to sail straight over the enemy’s forces. If the Winged Eye wills it, we’ll be able to set you down right next to the Breach.’

      Minutes tick by and Genner settles back like the others, meditative. Vesper bites her lip and strokes the kid, who has fallen asleep in her lap. ‘How long till we get there?’

      ‘Four hours.’

      She tries not to be sick. A lip receives further mauling. Toes wriggle, heels tap repeatedly against the wall. Everyone else remains still.

      Nerves overwhelm her. She contemplates confessing but dares not, nearly asks Genner to turn the sky-ship around, but between mind and mouth, the question wilts into something mundane. Anything to fill the silence.

      ‘So we’re actually flying?’