June nodded, her face reflecting her worry. Albert looked at her, trying to catch her eye, but she was looking away, at Father, as they strode briskly towards Ucho and the man from the Collegium. A moment later they were gone, disappeared through the silk curtains of the partition, leaving Albert alone in the room.

23

Albert sat there for a few seconds, wondering what he should do. Easy decision. There was only one thing to do. Jumping to his feet, he ran through the partition, after them.

Emerging from the tent, he stood there, looking around. They were nowhere to be seen. From around the corner of the tent, Colby appeared, spotted Albert almost instantly and waved at him. ‘Albert!’

‘Where are they?’

‘Who?’

‘Father and the others! Did you see them?’

‘Yes, I just passed them,’ he said pointing. ‘I think they’re heading to the Square. Some—’

But Albert was already gone. He remembered the Square from when Castor had pointed it out. He had no idea what was happening, only that suddenly everyone—from the Collegium to the Council—was anxious, and that somehow Vail was involved. He wasn’t surprised they were worried. Vail worried him too. What could he have done now?

‘Here, Albert, hold up! Hold up!’

He turned, and saw Colby jogging up behind him, and slowed down enough to let him catch up. ‘What’s gotten into you?’ said Colby. ‘Was the news, um …’

‘No,’ said Albert. ‘I mean, yes, but that’s not it. There’s something wrong. Something to do with Vail.’

Colby frowned, a shadow passing across his face. ‘Vail?’

‘Yes. The Praetor sent for Father and all of a sudden everyone ran off.’

Colby looked at him, and whistled. ‘He wouldn’t—no, he couldn’t have! No way!’

‘What?’ said Albert. ‘You know what’s happened?’

‘We’d better hurry up.’

Together, they sped down the path, on to the valley floor and towards the Square, which was already beginning to fill with people. Forcing their way through the crowd, they moved towards the front. Even before they got there, Albert could hear a voice, loud and hoarse, unmistakably the Praetor’s, shouting at someone. When they finally got to a point from where they could see, he spotted Father, June and Ucho standing at the exact centre of the Square. A few feet away from them was the Praetor, looking most unhappy. Around him was clustered a group of a dozen or so people, and at their head stood the tall messianic figure Albert had seen announcing Vail’s arrival at the Arena.

‘—is highly irregular, Gideon, and shows complete lack of respect for the conventions, besides!’

‘Vail is merely exercising his right under the law, Praetor,’ said Gideon, smiling insolently back at him from within the depths of his bushy beard.