Chapter 6: The Compromise
By Conception.Creation
Disclaimer: The Bartimaeus Trilogy is property of Jonathan Stroud
A/N: Wow, thank you for the enormous complement, Nari! It was very encouraging. About Werfel (Amusing that both my reviewers commented on his name!), I don't think Germans are evil, in fact, I have some German heritage too! I just like the sound of German names. I hadn't even noticed "Herman the German," but now that you mention it, I like it!
Kitty's breath caught as the slim, silver blade hovered against her neck. Her pulse beat in her ears, drowning out all other sound. She had lost. Her eyes strayed helplessly to the frantic Mr. Button, just feet away. She had been so close. A low chuckle sounded in her ear.
Her captor turned his attention to Bartimaeus, ordering him to stand down. Kitty watched as the rat-shaped djinni froze in mid-air, turning its beady eyes on her. Do something, she pleaded silently.
"That's it," The voice behind her boomed, "Now come back down to the floor where I can see you."
The rat slowly drifted to earth, where it took on its familiar form. As soon as Ptolemy's feet touched the floor the crowd swarmed around him, their deadly silver weapons poised to kill. Bartimaeus raised his hands in surrender.
"Uh, careful guys. Too much silver makes me sneeze."
"Silence!" Samir shouted.
The djinni paused but couldn't keep quiet for long.
"Look, I think we've gotten off on the wrong foot here. Why don't we all put down our weapons and just agree to a stalemate?"
"It's no use, djinni." This was from Mr. Werfel, who had gotten up and was now dusting off his scruffy brown jacket. "We do not parley with demons." Werfel's frosty, glittering eyes fell on Kitty. "Nor with their magicians, either. Kathleen Jones, you surprise me."
Kitty's eyes narrowed.
"I'm not a magician," She said.
"Oh? And where did this abhorrent creature come from?" Werfel gestured to Bartimaeus. "Admit that he is your servant. You have forsaken your own people–"
"Actually," Bartimaeus butted in, "You're way off-base there. As it happens, I'm the magician, cleverly disguised as a handsome djinni–"
"Hold your tongue or we shall be forced to destroy you!" Samir hissed. The crowd surrounding Bartimaeus shifted, gripping their weapons more tightly.
"Bartimaeus, just do what they say!" Kitty called out in a panic.
Herman Werfel held up a hand.
"Not so hasty, gentlemen. Samir, please bring Kitty over here by me. Yes that's it, thank you."
Kitty was dragged across the room by her elbows and flung roughly to Werfel's feet. She pushed herself up on one arm, her eyes darting between Mr. Button, bound on the floor, and Bartimaeus, held at the point of a dozen silver blades. She racked her brains, trying desperately to think of a way out. There had to be something.
"Ah, Kitty Jones," Werfel said softly, "How unfortunate that we have come to this. That you, who was once our muse, should become our enemy! So you thought you could invade this place with your hordes of demons, rescue your accomplice, and return to terrorizing this valley? You shall die."
"As I said before," Kitty said haughtily, "I am no magician. Yes, I came here to rescue your captive, but I certainly don't have hordes of demons. I've done nothing to harm you or this country, and neither has Mr. Button."
"No harm?" Werfel cried, "There have been demons running loose all over Siwa for the past six months. Shops have been looted, strong men killed. Only yesterday a child was gravely injured, and you say you've caused no harm?"
Kitty's mind was working furiously. So Werfel was upset about spirits in Siwa? She wondered if the recent attack she had faced was connected to all of this.
"Mr. Button and I have had no part in any of that!" Kitty said, "I don't know who's causing it, but it's certainly not me!"
Werfel frowned deeply.
"Ms. Jones, you have been living in Siwa for six months, yes? That was the time our troubles began…"
"Then I've been framed!" She cried desperately, "I'm as much a victim as you are!"
"Framed by who?" Asked Werfel, raising a quizzical eyebrow. He looked skeptical, but he was listening. Kitty was filled with a sudden hope.
"I'd like to know the answer to that question just as much as you would, sir." Kitty lifted her head to meet his eyes. "I've been attacked myself. Twice. Let my friends and I go free, and we will find the true culprit for you." Perhaps it was a long shot, but Kitty was willing to try anything. If someone truly was setting their spirits upon the innocents of Siwa, Kitty would have no misgivings about turning them over to this bunch of lunatics.
"You want me to set you free, trusting that you will do as you say? I think not," Werfel sneered. He stepped over Kitty's prone form, grasping his knife in his hand. He strode across the room to the place where Mr. Button was squirming against his bindings.
"Don't kill him!" Kitty cried.
Werfel held the knife poised above Mr. Button's throat. The magician was struggling to cry out, his wide eyes fixed on the blade. Kitty fought the impulse to squeeze her eyes shut. Werfel spoke calmly.
"Samir, let the girl and her creature go free."
Samir stepped back, allowing a bewildered Kitty to rise to her feet. The men surrounding Bartimaeus lowered their weapons and edged away.
"Please note that if either of you should attempt something foolish, your friend here will die," Werfel said.
"What do you want?" Kitty asked.
"My proposal is simple–One magician in exchange for another. Find me the man responsible for the demons, and I will let your friend go." Werfel smiled coldly. "But if you do not find him…"
Kitty's eyes narrowed.
"We will find him. Come on Bartimaeus."
She gestured to the djinni and made for the exit. As she passed, Kitty attempted to give the dismayed Mr. Button a reassuring smile and nod. He grimaced. He probably imagined himself dead already. Kitty marched out of the temple, Bartimaeus at her side. In spite Mr. Button's misgivings, she felt a flicker of hope. How hard could this new task be?
