“Use your head,” the Hunter said. “If you’re not my brother, you’re just some runaway slave. Why would I go to all this effort to bring you in without anybody knowing?”
“To get me to betray my friends.”
“I wouldn’t mind that,” the Hunter mused. “But there are easier ways to get to your friends. The patrolmen could force you to give them up. Or the legionnaires. They have cruel methods that work. I’m trying to give you a second chance. You got mixed up with the wrong side. I get it. I know what it’s like to be new here. It’s confusing. You got brainwashed. When I saw your picture in Carthage, I realized who you were. I got permission from the High King to let you join us. You’re my brother. I’m trying to save you.”
Cole laughed. “Is that why I’m locked up?”
“You’re locked up until I decide you won’t do anything stupid. Come on, Cole. I’m not familiar at all?”
“Not a bit,” Cole said sincerely.
The Hunter reached into his pocket and took out a wallet. He removed a little photo and held it up to Cole. It was the family picture that hung in their living room. Cole knew it well. A few years old, the picture showed him, Chelsea, and their parents. And some other kid.
Cole blinked, then squinted.
“Wait a minute,” he said.
“That’s right,” the Hunter encouraged. “Do you see?”
The other kid in the photo was the Hunter, looking not much younger than he did right now.
“No way,” Cole said. “You faked this.”
“I brought the picture here with me. Look at it.”
Cole closed his eyes.
“I said look,” the Hunter urged.
“Give me a second,” Cole said. He was trying to envision the picture in the living room. There was no extra kid in it, was there? He had a faint recollection of noticing another kid in the shot, and briefly wondering who it could be. Was that even a real memory?
Cole opened his eyes. The Hunter was unmistakable, right in the middle of the picture. He was wearing the right clothes and had the right hair style. In the picture, he and Cole definitely looked like brothers.
“It looks real,” Cole said.
“Because it is,” the Hunter said. “I still look like myself. I haven’t aged much, and I haven’t dyed my hair.”
“I was trying to avoid detection,” Cole said.
“I saw the e-mails you sent to the family account,” the Hunter said. “Did you see mine?”
“No,” Cole said.
“I’ve been sending them for years,” the Hunter said. “It was funny to see you sending the same kind of messages while not opening mine.”
“Can I see?” Cole asked.
“Sure, I have a thruport here,” the Hunter said. “There are plenty of other pictures of me in the family e-mail account and on social media. Maybe now you’ll recognize me in them.”
Cole didn’t want to believe any of this. But what if the Hunter wasn’t lying? What if it was true? “You lived in our house?” Cole asked.
“Right across the hall from your room,” the Hunter said.
“That’s the guest room,” Cole replied.
The Hunter stared at him meaningfully. “Maybe now. What about all my soccer stuff? My trophies? My posters?”
Cole scrunched his brow. What exactly was in the guest room? Were there trophies? He couldn’t form a clear picture in his mind. “I don’t know. I don’t remember any of that.”
The Hunter laughed bitterly. “Now we have two guest rooms. And even more unnoticed trophies.”
“I don’t remember you,” Cole said honestly. “This seems impossible.”
“The Outskirts is a weird place,” the Hunter said. “I hate that you can’t remember. Think. Practicing soccer in the backyard. Christmas mornings. You have to trust that I remember you! You’re my little brother! We’ll become friends again. We did it once.”
Cole stared at the Hunter. Could this be true? He had always thought it would be cool to have a brother. Could those yearnings have replaced his actual memories?
“I don’t know what to say,” Cole said.
“I knew this might be hard for you,” the Hunter said. “I knew you might not remember. I’ll give you lots of proof. This isn’t a trick. I know all sorts of things you can’t find on the Internet. Remember when that peacock chased Chelsea at the Phoenix Zoo? Remember when Mom backed the car into the garage door? Remember that time we camped in the backyard and you wet your sleeping bag?”
“That was just with Dad.”
The Hunter shook his head. “It was the three of us. I went and got you fresh underwear and sweatpants.”
“Who is my best friend in Mesa?”
“Is it still Dalton?”
“Who was the old guy in Boise that probably killed our cat?”
“Mr. Barrum.”
Cole tried to think of more things only a family member would know. “What does Mom keep in the bathroom to read?”
“Those condensed books. Reader’s Digest. And Dad sometimes brings in Sports Illustrated.”
Cole stared at the kid who was probably his brother. “What is Chelsea allergic to?”
The Hunter scowled in thought. “I don’t remember.”
Cole rolled his eyes. “It’s a food. You should know this.”
“Right! Frozen berries. They give her weird little sores on her tongue.”
“What animal does Mom hate?”
“Geckos.”
Cole felt like he might cry. How could the Hunter know so many obscure details? Cole considered how much he hoped his family would remember him. His brother had been going through this for years now. “How are you the Hunter?”
“People call me the Hunter. Really I’m just Hunter. Hunter Randolph. Your brother.”
“But you’re on the wrong side,” Cole whispered.
Hunter shook his head. “You’re just brainwashed. It’ll be okay. I’ll help you.”
“No way, Hunter. You might really be my brother. If it’s true, I’m so sorry I don’t remember you. But if you think you’re on the right side, you don’t know the whole story.”
Hunter sighed. “I’m sure they told you all sorts of things. Every criminal has excuses. Some probably sound pretty good. The Unseen are terrorists. They’re trying to destroy the Outskirts. It may take some time, but I’ll help you see what’s really going on.”
Cole tried to stay calm. He had to believe Hunter didn’t know some key facts if he was happy fighting for the High King. What information was most likely to sway him? “Do you know who you’ve been chasing?”
“A slave girl named Mira,” Hunter said. “She ran away with secrets vital to the High King. He wants her alive.”
“Do you know who Mira really is?” Cole asked.
“I just told you.”
“Do you know about Stafford’s five daughters?”
“Everybody does. They died in an accident a long time ago.”
Cole shook his head. “Their father faked their deaths. He stole their shaping powers with shapecraft, and wanted to keep them imprisoned, but they got away. Losing their powers made them completely stop aging. They lived in exile for decades. Mira is Miracle Pemberton. For some reason, the shapecraft that took their powers started to unravel, and Stafford started to lose his stolen abilities. He wants his daughters back so he can take their powers again.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Hunter said. “I’m relieved you have good reasons for taking the wrong side. If I believed that were true, I wouldn’t want to serve the High King either. But it’s all lies, Cole. That’s what the rebels do.”
“Those aren’t lies,” Cole said. “I’ve been with Mira for months. Shapecrafters used her powers to make Carnag. She got her abilities back when we defeated the monster. Same with Honor in
Elloweer.”
“I don’t know what you think you saw,” Hunter said, sounding a little agitated. “But they’re tricking you.”
“If you’re my brother, listen to me,” Cole said. “Do you know about shapecraft?”
“Yeah,” Hunter said. “I don’t use it, but I know a little about it.”
“You work for Owandell, right?”
“Technically, since he’s the head of the Enforcers. But I’m one of the High King’s slaves. I lead my own team of Enforcers and report directly to the High Shaper.”
“How can you work for a guy who made you a slave?” Cole asked.
“It’s how it works here,” Hunter said. “They have different laws than in our world. Slaves are legal, but they get treated well. It’s not like I’m in chains breaking rocks with a sledgehammer. I have lots of responsibilities, and I do just about whatever I want. It’s more like I just work for the High King.”
“As his slave.”
“Catching criminals. Like you.”
“Do you know about Nazeem?” Cole asked.
“Who?”
“Owandell’s real master. He’s imprisoned in the Fallen Temple in Necronum.”
Hunter rubbed his temples as if getting a headache. “The lies of the Unseen get weirder and weirder.”
“I didn’t hear this from the Unseen,” Cole said. “I was in disguise at a gathering led by Owandell last night. We were under his tower in the room with the Founding Stone. Nazeem appeared. He’s where shapecraft comes from. He is seriously evil. When he gets free, Owandell and his shapecrafters are going to try to take over the Outskirts.”
Hunter looked at Cole skeptically. “You saw this?”
“I almost got caught,” Cole said. “I used my shaping power to escape.”
“What can you do?”
“My power is mostly blocked right now. It happened when we fought Morgassa. She used shapecraft on me before she died. But my power can energize things. I made renderings from Sambria work in Elloweer. My Jumping Sword, for example. Somehow the Founding Stone helped temporarily unblock my power. I energized the stone and it helped me escape.”
“This was last night?” Hunter asked.
“I went to the train station afterward.”
Hunter frowned. “I know that shapecrafters are made, not born. Owandell invited me to become one. But I don’t trust the shapecrafters I’ve met, and I don’t like Owandell. The High King is wary of him too. We thought he invented shapecraft. Why haven’t I heard of Nazeem?”
“Nobody knows,” Cole said. “If you check, you’ll find Owandell is desperately looking for me. I learned his big secret.”
“He knows who you are?” Hunter asked.
“I was in disguise,” Cole said. “But some of my friends are worried he may have seen my shaping power and be able to use that to recognize me.”
“Your friends are probably right. How did you get into that meeting?”
“I had help inside the castle,” Cole said. “Not the High King. I shouldn’t say who.”
“You’re sure about Nazeem?”
“Hunter, I’m positive. I was there. If you’re my brother, act like it and believe me a little! At least check it out. Nazeem taught Owandell how to use shapecraft. And Owandell used shapecraft to help Stafford steal his own daughters’ powers and fake their deaths.”
Hunter folded his arms and smiled grimly. “There’s no way you’re right about the daughters.”
“How do you not know this?” Cole asked. “I thought you were high up in the Enforcers?”
“I am.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be good at digging up secrets?”
“My specialty is tracking people down.”
“Well, go find this out. The High King is a bad man. He made the laws that got both of us taken as slaves, along with a bunch of other kids from our neighborhood. He betrayed his own daughters in a big way. And obviously he lies to the slaves who work for him.”
Hunter put his hands on his hips. “Listen, Cole. You can’t imagine how excited I am to see you. I want to prove I’m your brother. Most of what you told me has to be Unseen propaganda, but I’ll look into it. In return, knowing what you now know, I want you to use a thruport, get on the Internet, and confirm that I’m your brother.”
“That might be hard while I’m bound to a table,” Cole said.
“If you promise to behave, I’ll free you.”
“Promise you’ll look into Owandell and the High King?”
“To really do this, I might have to go to Junction. But yeah, I’ll check it out.”
“Then I’ll behave. But hurry. There’s stuff I need to do.”
“What if I bring proof that these are lies?”
Cole thought about that. “It would have to be really solid proof. I’ve seen a lot of firsthand evidence that this is true.”
“Maybe you only think you’ve seen proof. I’ve been here a lot longer than you, Cole. You might be deceived and confused.”
Cole shrugged. “If you’re right, I’ll come to your side. But if I’m right, you better come to mine.”
“Fair enough. Deal.”
“Does this mean you’ll finally give me that water?”
Hunter glanced at the glass on the counter. “I’ll do even better than that—I’ll free your hands so you can drink it.”
CHAPTER
31
EVIDENCE
Before he was captured, if Cole had been asked what life would look like as the Hunter’s prisoner, he would have described squalid cells, limited food, and plenty of torture. Instead he had thruport access, a roomy shower, a hot tub, gourmet meals, a soft bed, and magnetic games to play.
He was still a prisoner. Though free to move about a space that included five comfortable rooms, all other doors were locked to him. One of the tall robotic drones remained nearby at every moment.
After a few hours doing some initial research, Hunter had decided that he needed to travel to Junction in order to disprove Cole’s claims. Hunter had promised to return soon.
That was three days ago.
After seeing scores of photos and reading hundreds of e-mails, Cole had lost interest in scouring the Internet for more evidence that Hunter was part of his family. If the relationship was a lie, Hunter had been incredibly thorough, tampering with every e-mail address, website, and social media account that Cole could find. Every photo was either genuine or expertly doctored. Every e-mail either offered a glimpse of a lost brother, or proved how thoroughly a liar could fabricate a false reality.
If he kept looking, Cole knew he might uncover a few more shreds of evidence but didn’t expect that any new discovery would change his dilemma. If fake, the forgeries were amazing. Otherwise, Hunter really was his brother.
In his gut, Cole felt convinced it was true.
What did Hunter have to gain from this deception? Why single out Cole? If they wanted his power, they could have a shapecrafter take it. If they wanted his information, they could pressure him. What reason would Hunter have to be this kind to him if they weren’t really related?
Hunter did bear a family resemblance to the other Randolphs. He knew too many things a stranger couldn’t possibly know. He talked and behaved in a way that felt authentic. And additional evidence was all over the Internet, including so many futile e-mails that went unanswered after he disappeared.
Given this much proof, Cole wondered how he could ever hope the rest of his family would accept him, if he couldn’t accept Hunter. The two of them were in the exact same predicament, except Hunter had suffered longer and had one extra person who had forgotten him.
But what if he was wrong?
What if this notoriously crafty enemy did have reasons to want the loyalty from Cole that he would show to a brother?
Cole had solid reaso
ns to believe that Hunter was telling the truth, but if he was wrong, he would be so epically, tragically wrong! The thought made shame congeal inside of him. He would be such a fool! So pathetically gullible!
And what if Hunter really was his brother, but remained loyal to the High King? What if he came back from his trip to Zeropolis full of reasons that Cole should side against Mira and the Unseen?
Was there any chance the High King was right? That the Unseen really were criminals? That slavery was okay? That partnering with Owandell had been a good call? That stripping his daughters’ powers and faking their deaths was fine? No. What if the daughters were really dead, and Mira and her sisters were planted by the Unseen? No. How could the Unseen have planted Carnag, or Morgassa, or the Rogue Knight? The thought was ludicrous.
If Hunter was his brother, Cole had to win him over to the right side. Or he had to get away. If necessary, he could pretend to switch sides, until he earned enough freedom to escape.
But until Hunter returned, his options were limited. The drone robot kept him company, leaving him no opportunity to break out. He knew Mira, Dalton, and all the others would be worried. They needed the information he had about Constance. They needed to know about Owandell and Nazeem. But what could he do? He was stuck.
So Cole played elaborate versions of magnetic pinball and waited for his brother.
No, waited for the Enforcer who was probably his brother.
Possibly.
Hunter returned as Cole was piling points on top of a new high score. With some reluctance, Cole let the ball roll past the magnetic boosters, ending the game. Steeling himself, he turned to face his captor.
Hunter wore dark leather and held a helmet under his arm. His face was serious and hard to read.
“How was your trip?” Cole asked.
“I’m not sure exactly how to answer that,” Hunter said. “How was the Internet?”
“Either you faked it perfectly, or you’re my brother.”
Hunter looked hurt. “You’re still not sure? You can ask me anything.”
“What if you can read my mind?”