Free The Margrave by Catherine Fisher

fancied a castle, and we found this one.” He poured out more wine, and some for the Sekoi. “Took a bit of planning. Infiltrated the place for weeks.”
    Galen looked up. “What about your prisoners?”
    “Prisoners?” Alberic spat. “The Watch riff-raff? Who cares?”
    “I care.” The Relic Master stood. Suddenly he looked angry and dangerous. “There are about sixty men herded in a filthy cellar below here. They need surgeons and food and by God, Alberic, you’ll provide them.”
    Alberic stared. Then he jumped onto the chair and up onto the table, kicking plates out of the way. He brought his face close to Galen’s. “You owe the Watch no favors. Let them rot. And don’t threaten me, Relic Master.”
    “I haven’t. Yet.” Galen ignored Sikka’s sword quietly unsheathing. “I’m asking you to do it for your own sake.” His voice was hard with sarcasm. “People will be only too glad to surrender to you if they think they’ll be treated well. Word will get around. When you release them . . .”
    “ Release them! You addle-headed . . .”
    “Uncle!” Milo was fidgeting nervously in the doorway.
    Without taking a breath or his eyes from Galen, Alberic roared, “What?”
    “It’s all ready. For the hangings.”
    Galen’s face darkened. “What hangings?”
    Alberic moved back and smiled sweetly at him. “A few deserters from my war band. Discipline has to be kept up, keeper. You’d know nothing about it. If you want, you can come and watch.” He shoved plates aside and leaped down, marching out to the balcony, his whole entourage hurrying after him.
    Galen stood up. The Sekoi muttered, “Be careful. We could all end up with a knife in the back.”
    On the balcony, horn players were blowing an elaborate fanfare. A box had been carefully hidden behind the low parapet; Alberic leaped up onto it lightly. Then he looked down. It was a mistake. The keep was enormous, the courtyard far below crowded with his ragtag army and all the Watch’s released workers. They cheered when they saw him, an eruption of noise.
    Alberic went white. He turned hastily and tottered off the box; his face was ashen. “You blundering fool!” he snarled at Milo. “It’s too high!”
    “But, Uncle. You said—”
    “I don’t like heights!” For a second he looked so sick, Raffi almost felt sorry for him. Then Galen had pushed forward. “Stop him,” the dwarf croaked.
    It was too late. Galen was already addressing the crowd. “Friends! Some of you may remember me.” There was a murmur below. “I’m very grateful to our chief for allowing me to be the one to break the good news. As part of his deeply felt and powerful conversion to the beliefs and truths of the Makers, Alberic has ordered that every hanging is to be called off, and every deserter is to be given mercy. And his life.” A puzzled silence answered him. Then disappointed, muted applause.
    “For Flain’s sake, get him down!” Alberic raged. “Can’t you see what he’s doing!” None of his people moved. Turning in utter fury, he found out why. No one had seen the Sekoi pick up the crossbow. Now it was pointed straight between his eyes.
    “Let’s hear what the keeper has to say, shall we?” the creature whispered pleasantly.
    “Every one of you,” Galen yelled, “will be given a fair share of the plunder.” The crowd whooped. They liked that. Alberic swore ferociously. “Also,” Galen went on recklessly, “the chief intends to treat the Watch prisoners with the utmost courtesy and set them free! No one will say Alberic is mean-spirited.” A roar of laughter.
    “Get on the box.” The Sekoi jerked the bow. “Wave. And smile.”
    “Drop dead,” Alberic snarled.
    The creature’s finger tightened on the taut trigger. “I’m a teeny bit tense,” it whispered. With a glare of hatred, Alberic obeyed. But he didn’t look down.
    “Every man, woman, and child brought here by the Watch is to go free.” Galen’s voice rang out, echoing