Renegade by Kerry Wilkinson Read Free Book Online Page A

rooms in which we now live.’
    I start to speak but the words get stuck on my tongue as I realise the significance of what he said: ‘Your name is Knave?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘You escaped too.’
    Before we left the castle, Hart helped me access the Minister Prime’s office. I stole the list of the names of every Offering that had been made to the King. Everyone was categorised by
where they were now. Most were dead but one name was marked as ‘AWOL’.
    Knave looks at me, his head tilted in confusion. ‘How do you know that?’
    ‘I read your name on a list in the Minister Prime’s office.’
    His eyes narrow in suspicion before I tell him the story of how I managed to see the names and how we escaped. I miss nothing out, telling him about Hart, Imrin, Jela, Pietra, Faith and the
parts they all played.
    ‘You worked together?’ he eventually says.
    ‘It was the only way.’
    Knave turns to Vez and touches him on the arm. ‘Can you give us a few minutes? Check on the others and make sure the injured one is all right.’
    Vez nods and strides past me, closing the door behind him.
    ‘Where are my friends?’ I ask.
    ‘Vez thought it best if we talk to you directly, rather than have everyone else involved. He’s right.’
    ‘What about Frank? His leg is really bad.’
    ‘We have a few medical experts and some meagre supplies. We’ll do what we can.’
    I nod, relief spreading. ‘How did you get out?’
    Knave takes a chair from the side of the room and sits opposite me. At first he just stares, eyes scanning me up and down. He begins slowly: ‘It was on the supply train that comes once a
week. I worked in the kitchens and figured out the schedule. Each week, I would sneak out when we were busy and go to the door that leads to the platform. One day it was left open slightly. I
didn’t know if there were going to be Kingsmen at the bottom of the steps but didn’t really care. There were only three of us lads left by then – everyone else had been killed or
traded. I ran and hid in a sack at the back of one of the compartments.’
    I can’t hide my surprise: ‘That was our first plan but someone else got there first. He was caught and I’ve never seen him since.’
    Knave apologises. ‘I suppose they started checking when they realised how I got away. I waited for an hour and then jumped as soon as the train reached a patch of grass that looked soft
enough to land on. I broke an arm falling but at least I was out.’
    ‘How long ago was that?’
    ‘Four years.’
    He looks a lot older than twenty, lines already wrinkled around his eyes. ‘Who are you people?’ I ask.
    It is hard to tell whether I should trust him – or whether he trusts me. We both have our secrets. He ignores my question and asks his own. ‘Did you come here by chance?’
    I’m not very good at trusting others and know I potentially have the fates of so many people in my hands. For a few moments neither of us says anything but he continues staring at me, his
blue eyes hardening.
    ‘When I found everyone’s names, there was also a map,’ I say. ‘It showed locations of rebel groups. I didn’t know if it would be useful but downloaded it onto my
thinkwatch. We didn’t know where else to go after we got out so headed here.’
    Knave’s top lip twitches as he tries to figure out if I am telling the truth. ‘Show me.’
    My arm is aching but I raise my watch for him to see and flash through the screens until I find what he wants to see. His fingers are warm on my skin as he holds my wrist and zooms in and
out.
    ‘Why does your watch still work?’
    ‘I don’t know.’
    It is a half-truth – I don’t know exactly why but suspect it is because I have taken it apart so many times, replacing parts and experimenting with the technology.
    He skims through the areas of the maps that show other rebel strongholds, muttering under his breath and then unclipping the watch and taking it from my wrist before I can