‘Sorry to wake you,’ Corthie said. ‘What happened? What did Belinda say?’
Silva stared at him, her face paling. ‘She didn’t contact me. I waited and waited, and then I must have fallen asleep.’
‘She didn’t contact you?’
‘What does that mean?’ said Van.
‘We don’t know,’ said Corthie. ‘Vana might have been captured. Naxor thinks that Belinda might have betrayed us, but I don’t believe that.’
‘Tell me everything,’ said Van.
Corthie went through all that Naxor had told them.
‘This is bad,’ said the former mercenary.
Corthie glared at him. ‘I know. Thing is, what do we do now?’
‘Let’s think it through. If Belinda didn’t contact Silva when she said she was going to, then that points to her being unable to do so, either because she thinks it would be too dangerous, or because she physically can’t. If she had betrayed us, then surely she would have made contact, to reassure us that everything was alright. Or else, Banner soldiers and Ascendants would already be here? Damn it, there are too many variables. My best guess is that we press on, and travel to Alea Tanton as quickly as we can.’
‘And what about Naxor? We can’t risk them capturing him.’
‘We should kill him,’ said Silva. ‘Then we would be sure.’
Corthie frowned. ‘That’s the kind of thing I’d expect Belinda to say.’
‘Her Majesty had a reputation for being ruthless when she needed to be. It would be different if we knew we could trust Naxor, but we can’t; he has shown time and again that he thinks only of himself. I believe he would sell us to the Ascendants to save his life.’
The door to the cabin opened and Sohul came back in.
‘Well?’ said Van.
‘Naxor’s not on the ship,’ he said. ‘I checked everywhere. He must have gone for a walk in town.’
‘Grab your things,’ said Van; ‘we need to get off this boat; now.’
Sohul raised an eyebrow.
‘I’ll explain later,’ said Van; ‘let’s go.’
Naxor had left his possessions by his bed, and they packed them quickly, then picked up their luggage and left the cabin. The ship was quiet, with only a couple of night-watchmen on duty, and they ascended a narrow flight of steps to the main deck. Corthie breathed in a lungful of fresh, ocean air and gazed up at the blanket of stars covering the sky. The lights from the harbour front were illuminating the taverns and port buildings, but the streets were empty.
‘Where’s our next ship?’ said Corthie.
Silva pointed at a long, sleek merchant vessel tied up on the pier to the left of them. Sailors were out on its deck, preparing the craft for its pre-dawn departure. Silva led the others to the gangway leading down to the wharf, where a night-watchman was sitting.
‘Are you all leaving us?’ he said as they approached.
‘Yes,’ said Silva; ‘we’ve booked passage on another vessel.’
The night-watchman nodded. ‘Well, you’re all paid up here, so have a good voyage, ma’am.’
‘Thank you. Tell me, did you happen to see a man leave the ship a short time ago?’
‘I did indeed, ma’am. He said he was going to find one of the all-night taverns, so I gave him some directions.’
‘Thank you.’
The night-watchman stood to the side, and Silva strode down the gangway, the others following her with the bags. Corthie noticed that the night-watchman gave him a long glance, and he kept his head down. They reached the stone wharf and turned left, heading towards the pier where their new ship lay.
‘Should I search the taverns for him?’ said Sohul, as they walked.
‘He won’t be there,’ said Van.
‘How do you know that?’ said Sohul. ‘He may have lost track of time.’
Van frowned. ‘Naxor’s gone. He’s run for it. The best case is that he lies low.’
‘And the worst?’
Van shook his head. ‘The worst is that he’s already talking to the Cape Armour authorities, betraying us to save himself.’
‘We don’t know that,’ said Corthie.
‘There’s too much we don’t know, that’s the problem. This whole thing could be a trap, but what choice do we have?’
‘I should have tied him up after I punched him.’
‘You punched him?’ said Sohul.
‘He was getting a little hysterical.’
Sohul’s face fell. ‘And now he’s gone?’
They reached the bottom of the gangway to their new ship, and waited while porters carried several crates up onto the deck. Once the gangway was clear, Silva stepped forward and showed some documents to a small group of sailors. They examined them briefly, then gestured to her to board the ship. Two porters approached and took their luggage, and Corthie and the others followed them up the gangway.
‘Welcome to my ship, ma’am,’ said a tall man standing by the top of the gangway. ‘I hope you have a pleasant voyage.’
‘Thank you, Captain,’ said Silva. ‘When are we due to arrive in Alea Tanton?’
‘Three days from now. If the winds are favourable, we should berth at dawn on the third day of Kolinch.’ He glanced at them. ‘I was told there would be five passengers in your party, ma’am, not four.’
‘Ah, yes,’ said Silva. ‘Unfortunately, one of our group has had to drop out.’
‘I see. You will still have to pay for the three cabins, I’m afraid. I hope that isn’t a problem.’
‘No, that will be fine.’
The captain nodded to a porter. ‘These passengers have reserved the three cabins by the aft stairs. Show them the way.’ He turned back to Silva. ‘We are setting sail in two hours, and breakfast will be served in the galley at dawn. If you require anything on the voyage, ma’am, my door will be open.’
‘Thank you, Captain.’
The porter glanced at them, then led the way to the stern of the ship, passing the two large masts in the centre of the deck. Sailors were preparing the sails for departure, and the vessel was humming with activity. The porter descended the stairs by the aft, and took them through a narrow passageway to their cabins. Silva had one to herself, and the three men were sharing the other two. They dropped off their bags, then gathered in Silva’s cabin.
‘I used my powers to search for Naxor,’ she said as they sat.
‘And?’ said Corthie. ‘Please don’t tell me that the little rat has gone to the Count’s palace.’
‘He hasn’t. He’s currently sitting in a carriage, on the way out of Cape Armour.’
‘In which direction?’
‘He’s on the road that leads to the Falls of Iron; the same road I took when I first arrived to look for Queen Belinda.’
‘Alright,’ said Van; ‘so he’s a rat, but not a traitor. Will Vana be able to sense his presence if he hides in the Falls of Iron?’
‘No,’ said Corthie; ‘her range is limited to twenty miles or so.’
‘Then, to be honest, we’re better off without him. We’ll miss his vision skills, but we won’t have to worry about him getting captured in Alea Tanton.’
‘What’s happening in the Falls of Iron these days?’ said Sohul.
‘Naxor took a look yesterday,’ said Van. ‘He said that it’s deserted. The Ascendants poisoned the land after they levelled the castle and the town. I doubt anyone’s there, apart from maybe a few scavengers skulking in the caverns.’
Corthie sat forward in his chair. ‘He told us that the Ascendants have a team of demigods in Alea Tanton that they’re using to search Khatanax. Won’t they find him?’
‘It’s possible, I guess,’ said Van. ‘Let’s hope he finds a deep cave to hide in. And it’ll help if he doesn’t use his powers for a while.’
‘He’s a risk to us all. Maybe I should have killed him.’
‘He probably suspected you might,’ said Van. ‘Well, he’s out of our reach now; let’s focus on what we’re going to be doin
g next. In three days we’ll be in Alea Tanton, and we’ve no idea what’s awaiting us. Vana might be there, and Belinda might be in trouble. Any ideas?’
‘If we’re going on the attack,’ said Corthie, ‘we should do it as soon as we arrive; go straight down their throats. You know where the Ascendants live, don’t you?’
‘Yes; they’ll be in Old Alea. The harbour where we’ll berth is more than twenty miles from there…’
‘Twenty miles?’ said Corthie. ‘How big is this city?’
‘Huge. We can make our way to Old Alea, but it won’t be easy getting in. The entire plateau is surrounded by walls and turrets, and the gatehouse will be heavily defended.’ He glanced at the others. ‘Are we set? Is this our decision – to attack?’
‘You know my feelings,’ said Silva. ‘We attack.’
Sohul nodded. ‘I’m under contract to the Third Ascendant; I say we go to her aid.’
They turned to Corthie.
He looked at each of them in turn. ‘If the Ascendants know I’m alive, then they’ll hunt me wherever I go. It was different when I thought I could find Aila and slip away quietly; that’s not an option any more. I’ll have to face the Ascendants again, and hope Belinda is by my side.’
He nodded to Van. ‘We attack.’
Chapter 20
The True Enemy
C atacombs, Torduan Mountains, Khatanax – 3rd Kolinch 5252
Blackrose stared down at Sable.
‘You must not utter a word in here, witch,’ she said. ‘Do you understand?’
Sable nodded. ‘Perfectly.’
The black dragon strode into Deathfang’s hall, Sanguino following in behind her. Sable and Maddie glanced at each other then walked in after them. Deathfang was stretched out on his pile of gold, while Burntskull and a few of his other supporters flanked him. Ashfall was also there, her head lowered.
‘Greetings to you, noble Deathfang,’ said Blackrose.
Deathfang looked at her for a long moment. ‘Come to steal another of my daughters from me, have you? One was not enough?’
‘But, father…’ said Ashfall.
‘Silence,’ snapped Deathfang. He glared at her. ‘To think, after all we’ve been through, daughter, that you would desert me to follow Blackrose on her mad expedition? There will be no coming back; you realise that?’
‘What do you mean, father? Are you disowning me, like you did to Frostback?’
‘Of course not! I meant that any journey to Dragon Eyre will result in your death. Broadwing and Deepblue are welcome to leave; they contribute nothing to the Catacombs, but you? I had high hopes for you.’
‘You have your new brood, father. Two sons and a new daughter. Darksky has never liked your older children.’
‘Don’t you dare speak to me about Darksky in that manner. Have I not always favoured you?’
Ashfall’s eyes glimmered and she opened her mouth.
‘Let’s not argue,’ said Burntskull. ‘If Ashfall is to leave us, then let us part on cordial terms.’
‘Wise words,’ said Blackrose.
The small yellow dragon turned to her. ‘Your wounds from the pits have healed, I see. When do you intend to leave?’
‘Our party of five dragons and three humans shall be departing in a day or so.’
‘And the device?’ said Burntskull. ‘The Quadrant? May we see it?’
Blackrose tilted her head towards Maddie. ‘Show them, rider.’
Maddie reached into her shoulder bag and withdrew the copper-coloured device.
‘It looks so small,’ said Deathfang; ‘so inconsequential.’
‘The nimble fingers of humans can create such things,’ said Blackrose. ‘Or they could, in the case of the Quadrant. I believe the knowledge of how to construct these devices has long been lost.’
‘How does it work?’ said Burntskull.
‘I do not know,’ said Blackrose. ‘I doubt anyone but the Ascendants understands that. I do, however, know how to operate it. It will take us to Dragon Eyre, or anywhere else we wish to go.’
‘Damned thing,’ said Deathfang; ‘it will deprive me of a daughter.’
‘Not if you came with us, father,’ said Ashfall.
Deathfang laughed. ‘Travel into the midst of a war? There are over a dozen infant dragons here in the Catacombs; do you expect me to drag them from their homes and take them to Dragon Eyre? The tombs are a hard place to live, but they are a paradise compared to that accursed world. It grieves me that you have decided to throw your life away like this.’
‘We shall prevail,’ said Blackrose; ‘it will not be easy, but we will regain our homeland. Once that is done, and peace has been restored, I can send an emissary back here, and invite you all to Dragon Eyre. I would give you an island fiefdom to rule over, Deathfang; you would be an honoured ally.’
‘Really? And why would you do such a thing?’
‘As thanks for all that you have done. You could have expelled Sanguino and the humans while I was imprisoned in the pits, but you refrained.’
‘Yes. I had a feeling you would return.’
‘That is irrelevant. You kept your word and I am grateful. Your daughter will become a mighty chief on Dragon Eyre; perhaps even a queen one day, with her own realm.’
Deathfang’s eyes narrowed. ‘If she survives. The last daughter of mine to go off with you never came home.’
‘We all mourn the loss of Frostback,’ said Blackrose. ‘She gave her life fighting the Ascendants; she was brave to the end, a credit to your line.’
‘We do not know for certain that she is dead,’ said Burntskull. ‘She may have fled to some remote corner of Khatanax.’
Fire licked over Deathfang’s jaws. ‘Are you calling Frostback a coward?’
‘No, my lord, no. I…’
‘Only a coward would have fled,’ said Deathfang. ‘Broadwing would have fled; Deepblue also, if she had been brave enough to go in the first place. Not my Frostback. I was tricked into disowning her, and have paid for my folly. And now, with Ashfall’s decision to leave, I am paying again.’ He stared at Sable. ‘I blame you, witch. You deceived me with your nefarious powers.’
Sable said nothing.
Deathfang turned back to Blackrose. ‘I am glad you are removing the witch from the Catacombs, but I would advise you to be wary of her tricks. It seems to me that for every honourable member of your party, you have a dishonourable one as well. Broadwing’s cowardice cancels out Sanguino’s courage, and Sable’s lies weigh against Maddie’s loyalty. As for Millen and Deepblue, they are nothing but liabilities. Ashfall, my daughter, I fear for you amid such company.’ He sighed. ‘All the same, go with my blessings upon you. I cannot pretend to be happy about this, but I do not wish us to part in rancour.’
Blackrose tilted her head. ‘Thank you for seeing us today, Deathfang. We shall now take our leave. I will inform you when we are due to depart the Catacombs.’
Deathfang glanced away as if bored of the conversation, but Sable could see the hurt in his eyes. Blackrose led Sanguino, Ashfall, Maddie and Sable from the cavern, and they strode to the tomb entrance.
Maddie elbowed Sable in the ribs. ‘You actually kept your mouth shut. I was amazed. I was absolutely positive that you were going to say something crazy to old Deathfang in there.’
‘I said I would be quiet.’
‘Yeah, but I didn’t believe it.’
‘I’m behaving myself. Blackrose is still furious with me.’
‘Indeed I am,’ said the black dragon. ‘Had you provoked Deathfang, I would have bitten your head off. And then, alas, I would have lost Sanguino, Ashfall and the others. The success of our expedition hangs on you behaving yourself.’
Sable nodded. ‘At least until we get to Dragon Eyre.’
‘As long as your mischief-making is directed at our enemies, then I shall not mind.’
Maddie climbed up onto Blackrose’s harness, and Sable did the same with Sanguino. She connected her mind to that of the dark r
ed dragon, and the three dragons launched themselves off the lip of the tomb. They circled over the lava pools for a few revolutions, then descended to Blackrose’s lair. Deepblue, Broadwing and Millen were waiting close to the entrance, and moved aside to allow the others to land. Sable and Maddie clambered down from their dragons as they strode into the interior of the tomb. They gathered in Blackrose’s cavern and the black dragon stood before them.
‘Now that Deathfang has bestowed his blessing upon Ashfall,’ she said, ‘we are one step closer to leaving. Before our departure, I wish to inform you of a few things regarding Dragon Eyre. More than twenty years have passed since my realm was conquered, and I have no doubt that many things will have changed, but some constants remain. Firstly, the vast majority of my world is covered in oceans; there are no landmasses anywhere near as large as Khatanax. The humans travel between islands by ship, while we fly. Some archipelagos are hundreds of miles apart, and it is easy to get lost. For this reason, you must not fly off alone, not until you know where the main island chains lie. We will be going to my realm first, which consists of over a dozen inhabited islands. Restrict yourself to that region, and resist the temptation to explore. The stars will be unfamiliar to you, and you may not be able to find your way back.
‘Secondly, you will address me as “your Majesty” from the moment we arrive in Dragon Eyre. I am a rightful queen and monarch, a legitimate sovereign, and no decree from the occupying forces can overturn that fact. The strategy of the invading gods was simple – they conquered the largest archipelago, then spread out, taking island chain after island chain. They devastated every island except for the ones they took in the first wave; those, they have fortified and protected.’
Sable raised a hand.
‘Yes?’ said Blackrose.
‘Why did they invade? What do they want from your world?’
‘They hate dragons,’ Blackrose said. ‘They wish to exterminate us.’
Sable frowned. ‘That doesn’t make sense. The invasion must have cost Implacatus dearly and, from what I’ve heard, they’re still having to pay Banner forces to police their new territories. There must be more to it than just an attempt to wipe out dragons. Lostwell traded in salve; that’s why they’re here, and they’re searching for Maddie’s world for the same reason. What has Dragon Eyre got? Resources? Gold?’
Gates of Ruin (Magelands Eternal Siege, #6) Page 28
