Free Tyrant's Stars: Parts Three and Four by Hideyuki Kikuchi Page A

called?”
    The girl finally remembered what he was referring to. The count must’ve heard her singing from his car so far away.
    “It doesn’t have a title. My mother used to sing it all the time.”
    “Hmm. Very well, then. Off we go. He’ll be coming.”
    “Good,” Sue said, feeling relieved. Her rescue could be concluded without Braujou and Seurat having to fight each other.
    “Good? What’s good?” the count inquired.
    “I—I don’t want to see either of you get hurt,” the girl replied, feeling safe.
    But the count’s response carried a force and hostility that made Sue grow pale. “Oh, so the abducted lass is concerned for the well-being of her abductor? How interesting! Now I shall have to stay and see what this fellow is made of.”
    “That’s not what I meant to—” Sue countered desperately. “It’s just—he’s really not a bad person.”
    “Bad or not, he’s the enemy. He’s out to take your life. And we must defend you.”
    Sue didn’t notice the anger and envy running through the Nobleman’s words.
    “Where might the enemy be?” Braujou asked.
    The car’s female voice responded, “Six hundred and nine yards north-northwest of here, milord, and he’s currently wandering the periphery.”
    “Very well, take us there.”
    “Wait!” another voice interjected. It was the left hand sitting on Sue’s shoulder. Its forefinger pointed straight up at the ceiling—in Braujou’s direction. “I could’ve sworn you just said defending her is your job. Stay and fight, and you’ll only be courting disaster. You’d also be betraying your own promise.” Its tone was rather dignified.
    After a momentary silence, Braujou’s voice rang out. He sounded somewhat crestfallen as he said, “Disregard that last order. Return to the fortress.”
    As relief settled over Sue once more, the left hand tapped her lightly on the shoulder.
    Seurat could make out the sound of the car’s engine in the distance. Though he’d been running after it at full speed, he hadn’t caught a glimpse of the vehicle before he could no longer hear it. Determined to set out after it again immediately, he went back for the cyborg horse he’d left behind, but the mount had vanished, most likely the work of whoever had taken Sue—the same person who’d beaten the iron walls of his maze.
    He stood still in defeat.
    “Messed up, didn’t you?"
    Seurat looked to the right. A form in a crimson, hooded robe stood among the interwoven trees. The figure sounded vaguely like an old woman, but neither its face nor its hands could be seen.
    “I am Kima—an instrument of the grand duke’s power,” the crimson figure said. “The load you bear is too heavy for you to bring the rest of the way. So I have orders to assist you.”
    The giant didn’t know how to respond to this.
    “I won’t act directly. I’m here strictly in a support capacity for you. You should keep that in mind. Now, as to the car you’re after—I’ve arranged so that Count Braujou won’t make it back to the fortress. Once you’ve thought of a way to slay him, you may pursue him at your leisure.”
    He sensed someone entering the room. It was probably Sue. Matthew opened his eyes. His eyelids didn’t sting as much as they had before.
    “My, but you’ve been hurt badly.”
    Every inch of the boy stiffened immediately, and not because the hoarse voice reminded him of D’s left hand. Rather, it was due to the malevolence of its mocking tone.
    “Who . . . are . . . you?” he managed to squeeze out in a thread-thin voice. Due to the strength of his medicine, his lips wouldn’t move.
    “An instrument of the grand duke’s power,” the voice continued. “And my job is to bring you and your sister back to the grand duke’s domain. You see, those initially sent to do this proved unexpectedly inept or else got themselves slain . . . though that does reflect the power of those guarding you. Don’t move, boy. You’ll split your skin open again