"Wait. Slow down! Why will he die?"

"They seem to have some sort of ritual in this Wing. He has to face the Beast. Is there anything you can do? Some magic from the stars? You have to help us!"

The girl had the filthiest clothes Claudia had ever seen; her hair was dark and hacked into a rough, jagged cut. She was clearly worried sick.

Trying to think, Claudia said, "How can I do anything? You have to get him out of it!"

"What makes you think we can?" Keiro asked calmly.

"You've got no choice."

A shout out in the inn-yard made her glance around nervously.

"Because Finn is the only one I'll talk to."

"Like him, do you? And who are you anyway?" She glared.

"The Warden of Incarceron is my father."

Keiro snorted. "What Warden?"

"He ... oversees the Prison."

She felt cold. His scorn chilled her. Quickly she went on.

"Maybe I can find charts of the Prison, a map of its secret ways, its doorways and corridors that will show you the way out. But I won't tell you a thing until I see Finn."

It was a lie that would have made Jared groan, but she had no choice. She didn't trust this Keiro; he was too arrogant, and the girl seemed angry and scared.

Keiro shrugged. "What's so special about Finn?"

She hesitated. Then she said, "I think ... I think I recognize him. He's older, he looks different, but there's something about him, his voice ... If I'm right his real name is Giles, and he's the son of... a fairly important person out here."

She shouldn't say too much. Just enough to get him to act.

Keiro stared, astonished.

"Are you telling me all that guff about coming in from Outside is actually true? That mark on his wrist means something?"

"I've got to go. Just get him."

He folded his arms.

"If I can't?"

"Then forget the magic of the stars."

She looked at the girl, their eyes meeting briefly.

"And this Key will just be a useless lump of crystal. But if you're his brother, you'd want to rescue him."

Keiro nodded. "I do."

He nodded toward Attia. "Forget her. She's crazy. She knows nothing."

His voice was low and earnest. "Finn and I are brothers and we watch each other's backs. Always."

Attia gazed at Claudia, her face bruised. Doubt moved in her eyes.

"Is he related to you?" she asked quietly. "Your brother? Cousin?"

Claudia shrugged. "Just a friend. A friend, that's all."

Hurriedly, she switched the field off. The Key glimmered in the fetid darkness. She shoved it into the pocket in her skirt and ran out, desperate for fresh air. Alys was loitering anxiously in the pa.s.sageway, servants bustling past her with trays and dishes.

"Oh, there you are, Claudia! Earl Caspar is looking for you."

But Claudia could already hear him, the thin annoying bray of his voice, and to her dismay she saw that it was Jared he was talking to, and Lord Evian, the three of them sitting on benches in the sunshine, the hostel dogs sprawled in an expectant row at their feet.