Gates of Ruin (Magelands Eternal Siege, #6)

by Christopher Mitchell

  ‘Don’t say that,’ said Leksandr. ‘We shall get the Sextant to work.’ His face darkened. ‘We have to.’

  The Sixth and Seventh Ascendants fell into silence for a moment, and Belinda could sense the fear each of them felt. She hadn’t yet dared to go into their minds, conscious that she was unable to hide her presence from them, but was becoming attuned to their moods, and had watched their anxieties increase over the month that they had been in Old Alea.

  ‘I shall spend the rest of the day meditating by the Sextant,’ Leksandr said, as he stood. ‘I’m close to discovering its secrets; so close.’

  Around them, a company of soldiers stood to attention as the Ascendants rose from the platform.

  ‘Belinda,’ Leksandr went on, ‘I want you out searching again today.’

  ‘I search every day,’ she said.

  He flashed her a glance of anger. ‘Then do it better. Khatanax is a small continent, and the Holdfast girl is hiding somewhere. Find her.’

  ‘I’ll do my best.’

  Arete smirked. ‘How do we know that she hasn’t already found her? Do you believe that she would tell us?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Leksandr.

  ‘For our sake,’ she said, ‘I hope you’re right. We are running out of time.’

  ‘Don’t test my patience, Arete. Work with Belinda today; search alongside her. You know where I will be.’

  Leksandr turned, and strode off towards the rear doors of the residence.

  Arete frowned as she glanced at Belinda. ‘You may have fooled him, but I don’t trust you.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘We should have sent you to Implacatus so that Lord Edmond, the Blessed Second Ascendant could examine you. Leksandr is playing a risky game keeping you here, when you could easily be a traitor.’

  They began to walk in the direction of the western tower of the residence, where the Ascendants had their quarters. Around them, Banner soldiers formed an escort, and they passed the gallows, where the corpses of twenty merchants were being cut down from the nooses.

  ‘Where shall we search today?’ said Belinda.

  ‘Do you listen to anything I say?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Arete glared at her as they walked towards the base of the tall tower. ‘Is that it? I accuse you of treachery, and you change the subject? Leksandr believes you need time to adjust, but I think your mind has gone. You had a reputation for wisdom and cunning, second only to the Blessed Lord Edmond himself, and now you behave like a slow-witted mortal.’

  A few of the soldiers glanced over at Arete’s words, but the Ascendant didn’t seem to care who was listening.

  ‘You’re hiding something,’ Arete went on, ‘and I will find out what it is. You’re in league with the Holdfasts, and are conspiring against us – is that the truth?’

  Belinda said nothing.

  ‘Well? Answer me.’

  ‘You’ve already made up your mind,’ Belinda said. ‘If there’s nothing I can say to change it, then why speak?’

  They entered the cool passageways of the western tower, where officers and courtiers bowed before them. They stepped into the lift shaft, and a team of servants began turning the winch, raising them up through the levels of the tower. It had been three months since Sable Holdfast had broken her leg in the destruction of the lift, and the platform and pulleys had been recently repaired, and retained their odour of fresh wood.

  Belinda closed her eyes as they ascended. Arete was still talking, but she ignored the words spoken by the Seventh Ascendant. The lift stopped on the second-highest floor, where Arete and Belinda had their rooms, occupying the quarters once lived in by Lord Maisk and Lady Joaz. Leksandr had selected the apartment on the top floor, where Lord Renko had stayed, and the Sextant was taking up most of the space in the study there, after the Sixth Ascendant had used his powers to reinforce the floor under it.

  Arete followed Belinda into her rooms, where a small group of demigods were waiting. Each of them had vision skills, and were being employed daily to search Khatanax for Kelsey Holdfast. A large map of the continent lay spread across a dining table, and was covered in scrawls and markings made in red ink, denoting the places that had been searched.

  The demigods stood and bowed low in front of the two Ascendants.

  ‘I will assist today,’ said Arete, her tone angry, ‘as you seem to be having difficulties.’ She walked to the map and peered down at it. ‘Where are you up to?’

  ‘We’ve searched Tordue, the Four Counties, and the Southern Cape, your Grace,’ said one of the demigods.

  ‘What about Shawe Myre?’

  ‘Yes, your Grace. We have paid a great deal of attention to Shawe Myre, checking it every day in case Lady Amalia returns there.’ The demigod glanced away. ‘But, your Grace…’

  Arete narrowed her eyes. ‘But what?’

  ‘Well, your Grace, we have to admit that we cannot be altogether certain if we have missed this Kelsey Holdfast. If she can truly block vision powers, then our search could pass right over her and we wouldn’t know it.’

  ‘Surely the Third Ascendant has told you how to go about looking for the girl?’

  ‘Yes, your Grace – we have been instructed to sense for areas that are resistant to our powers, but… but, I’m afraid none of us really understands what that might feel like.’

  Arete shook with rage, then turned to Belinda.

  ‘I explained this to you some time ago,’ Belinda said. ‘This is why it has taken so long; we are searching for an absence, rather than a presence.’

  ‘All I hear are excuses!’ Arete cried. ‘If the Blessed Second Ascendant demands blood for this, then I will offer him the heads of everyone in this room.’

  The group stilled, their glances lowered.

  ‘Get to work,’ Arete said; ‘I shall supervise.’

  The demigods took seats around the dining table, and Belinda sat down next to them.

  ‘We shall continue our search of Dun Khatar this morning,’ she said. ‘Street by street, house by house. Look for any signs in the sands of recent movement; footprints and the like. I shall take the palace.’

  ‘No,’ said Arete; ‘I will search the palace.’

  Belinda nodded. ‘Very well.’ She gestured to the group of demigods, and their eyes glazed over. Belinda focussed, and allowed her vision to leave her body. As her sight hurtled southwards over the farmlands of Tordue, she tried to think back to every word Amalia had said to her in Shawe Myre. She had gone over their conversations many times since being brought to Alea Tanton by Leksandr, looking for clues as to where the former God-Queen might have taken Kelsey, but Belinda had discovered nothing of any use. What was far from clear to her mind, was what she would do if she did manage to find them.

  * * *

  Several hours later, Belinda sat alone on a couch, her gaze on the sunset through an open window. Another exhausting session of searching had proved fruitless, and Arete had left with the demigods once it had ended, her frustration evident. Belinda was glad that the Seventh Ascendant had witnessed for herself how impossible the task was, and she hoped Arete would be a little more understanding in the future, though she doubted it.

  If Leksandr could get the Sextant working, then Belinda reckoned that the search for Kelsey would be called off, as the Holdfast girl was far less important to the Ascendants than the massive device that sat in the apartment above her own. The Sextant was the key to the two worlds the Ascendants were looking for, and next to that, Kelsey was almost an irrelevance.

  There was a tap at her door and Silva entered, her head bowed.

  ‘Good evening, your Majesty,’ she said. ‘Did you make any progress in locating the Holdfast girl today?’

  Belinda hesitated. She longed to confide in the demigod, but knew that Arete and Leksandr were reading her mind on a frequent basis, and she had been forced to keep her thoughts to herself. Silva believed, like the others, that Corthie Holdfast was dead, and that Belinda was now on the side
of the Ascendants, and she could see that it pained her immensely.

  ‘No, not today,’ Belinda said.

  Silva smiled. ‘I’m sure you’ll have better luck soon, your Majesty.’

  ‘I have come to a decision,’ said Belinda.

  ‘Yes, your Majesty?’

  ‘Yes. I want you to leave Alea Tanton.’

  Silva’s face fell. ‘But…’

  ‘It’s for the best, Silva.’

  ‘Have I… have I let you down in some way, your Majesty? If so, then please tell me what I can do to make it right.’

  ‘You can make it right by leaving. I packed a bag for you this morning. Take it, and go.’

  Silva began to weep. ‘Why?’

  ‘I have made my decision,’ said Belinda.

  ‘But where should I go, your Majesty?’

  ‘Leave Tordue as quickly as you can. I am dismissing you.’

  ‘Are you dismissing your other servants too, your Majesty; your new ones?’

  ‘No; just you.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Silva sobbed, ‘for whatever it is that I have done, your Majesty.’

  Belinda kept her face impassive, suppressing the growing urge to hug the demigod and tell her the truth. She knew that she was acting in a cruel manner, but it was the only way. If Arete or Leksandr got hold of her before she had left the city, then her plans would be in ruins.

  She pointed to the corner of the room. ‘Take your bag and go. Now.’

  Silva wiped her face and shuffled to the corner of the room. She picked up the bag, then turned back to Belinda.

  ‘If anyone asks,’ said Belinda, ‘I am relieving you of your duties for unsatisfactory performance. Dismissed.’

  Silva fell to her knees next to where Belinda sat, and wept. ‘Please, your Majesty, please let me stay. I don’t understand. All I’ve done is try to help you.’

  Belinda turned away. ‘Go, immediately; that’s an order. Speak to no one on the way out unless absolutely necessary.’

  ‘I will do as you command,’ Silva said. She pulled herself to her feet and hurried across the room to the door. She opened it and left.

  Belinda put her head in her hands, holding back her tears. Once Silva was far from the city, and out of the reach of the Ascendants, then she would find her and explain. Then, maybe, Silva would forgive her.

  * * *

  She took a long hot bath, trying to wash away the guilt she felt about sending Silva from Old Alea. Her great granddaughter had shown her nothing but loyalty, and Belinda knew the demigod would die for her if she commanded it. She waited an anxious hour or two, half expecting Arete to arrive at her rooms with Silva in tow, demanding to know what she was up to, but no one appeared. She dried herself, and dressed in the robes that Lady Joaz had left behind. She spotted her own set of worn fighting clothes in the wardrobe, and remembered that the front of her leather breastplate still had the hole in it made by Sable. She would need to get it repaired. Buried at the back of the wardrobe was the Weathervane, unused since arriving in Alea Tanton. She was surprised that Leksandr had let her keep it, but the Ascendants seemed to view physical combat as primitive and uncouth, something carried out by mere mortals, and had not objected to her holding on to the old sword.

  Servants were tidying her quarters when she emerged from her bedroom. They bowed to her, their eyes lowered, and she ignored them. They were all spying for Arete and Leksandr, and she had determined that she was going to give them no excuse to tell tales about her to the Ascendants. A few of the servants glanced at her as she strode through the apartment. She nodded to one as she sat by a dresser, and the servant rushed over and began to pull a brush through Belinda’s hair. For a while, they had tried to make small talk with Belinda, but after days of her either refusing to answer, or giving nothing but monosyllabic responses, they had given up, and the servant brushed her hair in silence.

  Belinda stared at her reflection as the tangles were drawn from her drying hair. The strange woman in the mirror glared back at her, unfriendly, and unapproachable. That was how she appeared to the servants also, and it didn’t bother her in the slightest. Better they thought her aloof and cold than a traitor to the Ascendants. Was that what she was, a traitor? A rebel? She didn’t know. Aside from saving Corthie, and a half-hearted attempt at warning Maddie and Blackrose, she had gone along with everything the Ascendants had asked of her. She had dutifully searched Khatanax for Kelsey, though that seemed fraudulent, as she was certain that the Holdfast girl could remain hidden forever if she wished. She remembered vision mages who had hunted for Karalyn after she had disappeared several years before. At the request of the Empress, they had scoured the Star Continent for the runaway dream mage, but it had been an impossible task. Again, when Kelsey had been abducted by Sable, several mages had searched for her, but without any success. The Ascendants didn’t seem to understand that the two Holdfast sisters could be in the Governor’s residence, and they wouldn’t be able to see them.

  Amalia was a potential loose end. If she strayed more than a hundred yards from Kelsey, then her self-healing powers would become visible to Arete and Leksandr, and they would be drawn to her as the biting insects of Alea Tanton were drawn towards the flame of a candle. Aila too, for that matter, though if she and Kelsey were Amalia’s prisoners, then that seemed unlikely.

  The Sextant was the other unknown. Belinda had concocted vague plans to sabotage the huge device to prevent the Ascendants from using it against the two hidden worlds, but no such effort had been necessary – the Ascendants were no closer to getting it to work than they had been in the cavern of Fordamere over a month before.

  The servant took a step back and waited, her hands crossed by her waist.

  Belinda glanced at her reflection, nodded and stood. The servants all bowed again, and Belinda walked from her rooms, entering the central stairwell that connected the levels of the western tower. She climbed the steps to the top floor, and knocked on the door to the outer hall of Leksandr’s quarters. A demigod courtier opened it and looked out.

  ‘The Blessed Sixth Ascendant is busy, your Grace,’ he said. ‘He is not to be disturbed by anything other than matters relating to the Sextant.’

  ‘The Sextant is why I’m here,’ said Belinda.

  ‘Very well, your Grace,’ the demigod said. He stepped to the side and opened the door fully to allow Belinda to enter. She glanced at the doors. One of them led to Renko’s old harem, where Sable had been interred for a few days, before she had killed Maisk, rejected Naxor and fled with Lady Felice’s Quadrant.

  The courtier knocked on the door to the study, and entered. A moment later, he came back out and gestured for Belinda to go in. She strode through the door and saw Leksandr sitting cross-legged on the carpeted floor in front of the Sextant, which was taking up half of the space in the room.

  He glanced up at her, then signalled to the demigod courtier to fetch some wine and glasses.

  ‘Sit,’ he said to Belinda. ‘Here; next to me.’

  She walked over to the carpet and sat down on Leksandr’s right. They waited as the courtier brought over a tray and laid it down on the floor in front of them.

  ‘That will be all,’ Leksandr said to him.

  The courtier bowed low, then left the room, closing the door behind him. Leksandr filled two glasses with white wine and picked one up.

  ‘Have you brought me any insights?’ he said. ‘I do hope so, as I have been reflecting upon the workings of the Sextant for some time now without success.’

  She stared at the huge device, seeing the complex interconnections of wood, metal and glass.

  ‘Out of all the Ascendants,’ she said, ‘who has used a Sextant before?’

  Leksandr took a sip of wine. ‘Nathaniel and yourself, obviously,’ he said. ‘Theodora, the Blessed and dearly-missed First Ascendant, was the undisputed master of working the device; she created dozens of worlds with her Sextant, before it was destroyed and she was… rendered to her present condition. S
imon, the Tenth Ascendant, was also known to have used a Sextant; he created Dragon Eyre with one.’

  ‘I know that the First Ascendant is dead,’ she said, ‘but where is Simon?’

  ‘He disappeared many millennia ago. Apparently, his Quadrant was damaged at the precise moment he was travelling between worlds, and he never arrived at his destination. Apart from those four, yourself included, none of the other Ascendants had a deep knowledge of how the Sextants operated. Edmond, the Blessed Second Ascendant, was present at the creation of many worlds; he assisted Theodora in her tasks for long ages, but she never allowed him full access to the knowledge required.’

  ‘Then why did you think it would be easy? In Yoneath, you seemed to think you would be able to get it working without a problem.’

  He raised an eyebrow at her. ‘Arrogance, perhaps? I confess that the Blessed Second Ascendant gave me his assurance that it was activated in the same manner as a Quadrant, and perhaps he believes that to be true. I have examined every inch of the device that can be reached without attempting to dismantle it, and cannot find any mechanism by which it might be brought to life.’

  ‘May I look at it more closely?’

  ‘Of course,’ he said, waving his hand. ‘Please do.’

  She stood and approached the device. It was five feet tall, and she could see over it and look down into its inner workings. It had a thick glass panel protecting the top, but the sides were open, revealing the intricate cogs and wheels that fitted together. She traced her fingers down the smooth metal of a gear lever; it felt dull and lifeless to her touch.

  ‘Did you see the salve mines?’ Leksandr asked.

  Belinda frowned.

  ‘On the world of the City, where you were living before you returned to Lostwell; did you see the mines with your own eyes?’

  Her mind went straight to the large deposit of salve they had found in the mountains where Blackrose had stayed after leaving the City. ‘No.’