spread itself thin. TheOutlands will simply need to fend for themselves.’
‘But that’s abominable!’ Master Quimbus rallied. ‘The invaders are butcheringeveryoneindiscriminately. We cannot abandon anyone. It goes against the very conscience of the Order.’
‘Actually, I believe theveryopposite to be true,’ Anthem said with a measured tongue. ‘It’s evident that any town that yields is spared, so we should send wordto towns in the Outlands todo exactly that. Any settlements that have resisted the desert people’s call to surrender have been wiped from the earth-every man, woman and child slain without exception. The buildings are pillaged and then burnt, all the crops laidtowaste and salted at great expense. They are sending a clear and potent message ahead of them.’
‘It matters little what we do,’ Master Celios called out. All eyes turned to him, for he had been quiet until now, barely seeming to take note of the conversation. Strangely, he seemed to be clenching his fists tight, so that his arms were quivering with the effort.
‘Have you something to add to this, Master Celios? A vision, perhaps?’ Jacobs called out to the balding, bulging-eyed man.
Celios snatched up his goblet and waved it to the servant waiting behind him. It was immediately topped up with water, leaving the attendant to step back into the shadows. Drinking deeply and noisily before smacking his lips, Celios’ actions were clumsy. ‘These armies are not what should be bothering us. We panic like fools at everything that catches our eye, yet we ignore the greater foe that comes to meet us.’
The council room was quiet while each magician summed up the seer’s words. Some looked sidelong to each other and it seemed obvious that most were puzzled.
Jacobs looked down his nose with concern. ‘Please explain, Master Celios.’
Celios lurched to his feet and pointed a shaking finger directly at the High Lord. ‘These wars have been foretold again and again by seers greater and lesser than me. The world is overcome by madness and we shall struggle with each other until we are brought to our knees. This Age is done and the Devil King is returned. He sends this wave of violence before him, to ready us for his taking. It is only a matter of time before he shows himself and claims us for his own.’
With that,he dropped back into his seat, but then seemed unsure of his surroundings. Celios looked around himself with bewilderment, drained of strength. He knocked his cup and water spilled across the table, yet he did not notice at all,as his sleeves began to soak up the spill. The attendant standing behind him nipped forward again and began soaking up the water with a square of cloth, lifting the man’s arms from the mess and cleaning around him,like a father tidying up around a careless child.
‘Master Celios indeed needs his rest and I’m sorry for his outburst,’ Jacobs explained. ‘I’ve had him awake the last few nights applying his skills to our situation and the responsibilities of a seer weigh heavy. He has gained no real insight into the Paatin Desert people, but he has grown increasingly disturbed in the process, which does not bode particularly well for us. I still hope he can gain some information on our new adversaries that will be of useto us, but for now I think the poor man needs some decent rest.’
But Samuel took the chance to speak up. After the ravings of Celios, his words would not seem so outrageous. ‘I have also heard something of these demons. Is there no chance that these warnings should also be considered?’
‘Of course not. No,’ Jacobs stated resolutely. ‘This is the stuff of nonsense and fairy tales. We have problems of flesh and blood to face, not fantasies, Lord Samuel.’
‘But demons and creatures do seem to exist. We defeated one at Hammenton, and even our own Grand Master Anthem has mastered the Great Spell of Summoning. Is it notconceivablethat some truth may lay in these rumours?’
‘Utterly not,’ Anthem said, raising his voice. ‘While it may be possible to summon beasts that seem hellish to us, the notion of demons is inconceivable. I think that if you are listening to sources that purvey such bunk, Lord Samuel, you would do well to turn away your ear. As High Lord Jacobs affirms, we have no time to entertain nonsense when lives are at stake.’
Samuel nodded and accepted the clear direction that he should remain quiet on the matter.
‘If there is little else to learn here, let us rest,’ High Lord Jacobs then announced. ‘We will meet with the Empress this evening. I’m sure our recent arrivals also need rest after their arduous journey.’
With that, most of the men dispersed slowly from the room, leaving the last of the Lions scratching their headsandindeepdiscussion. Lomar walked with Samuel along the halls, as Goodfellow rushed ahead to organise a room for them.
‘I hear you had a harrowing escape, Samuel,’ the brown-skinned magician stated. His face was marked with deep wrinkles of kindness, and they only seemed to be deepening with age,while the rest of his skin around the creases remained smooth. It gave him a mixed appearance of wizened age and mirthful youth.
‘True, but at least we did escape.’
‘And no word of Eric?’
‘I was going to ask you the same thing,’ Samuel said, ‘although I have the feeling he will be back when it suits him.’
‘Oh?’
‘I’m almost certain I felt him use his Journey spell. As such, he is probably skulking around the city somewhere, waiting for an opportune time to show himself.’
‘I thought he was having trouble with that spell,’ Lomar suggested.
‘So he made out but,in reality,he guarded it like a jealous child. If he does return, I’m going to speak to the Grand Masters about him. Such a spell could make a great difference to the war.’
‘True, but you should take your concerns to High Lord Jacobs first. He is leader of the Council. That is the correct point to voice your concerns.’
‘I understand, but you know me, Lomar. I’ve never been one to follow such formalities.’
Lomar smiled warm-heartedly. ‘So I’ve come to realise-but you would do better to keep the Council onside where possible. Few of usOutlanders are fond of formalities, but the Turians cannot live withoutthem. In any case, no one can make Eric give up his spell unless he wishes. I think I understand why he is hesitant to give up the knowledge of such a magic. Firstly, everyone likes to feel special-even magicianslike us. He has great ability, but the frustrations of youth still cling to him. Perhaps he will not feel so protective of his skills after another year or two, as he continues to mature. Secondly, once he does release that knowledge, it will undoubtedly make its way into the hands of every capable magician in Amandia, Turiaand beyond. No matter how hard we triedto keep such a secret, it could never be kept for long. There are very few Great Spells like this left unfound and,although not many magicians would be capable of casting it, its effect would be tremendous. Life would beinfinitelymore treacherous if magicians or even entire armies could appear anywhere they wanted. Eric may be acting selfishly but,in truth, it is probably for the best.’
Samuel nodded reluctantly. ‘You are probably correct.’
‘I usually am,’ Lomar added.
‘Then we have that in common, too,’ Samuel added and Lomar smiled in return. ‘But one more thing. It has been some time since I last spoke with anyone from the Circle, but their members seem adamant that demons do exist and that the return of their kind is a reality. Could it really be true?’
‘I am sceptical of such things, Samuel, but we are magicians after all and must we consider all possibilities, no matter how far-fetched.’
‘So you believe it?’
‘I’m not ruling it out. However,’ Lomar continued, ‘it looks like the Paatin armies will be here long before any demons come to harry us, so there is little point debating the fact. We must prioritise our threats; therefore,I must agree with Grand Master Anthem on this. Let’s put the notion aside and focus on greater things for now.’
Samuel considered the point thoughtfully. ‘And you have been into the desert? Do you know anything of the Paatin people?’
‘Sadly, very little. I have skirted their lands, for the Kabushy delta lies to the south of those dry wastes. My people never felt the desire to explore north, for there was little point,and Kabushy do not like to leave their wetlands but once I began my studies as a magician,I ventured there on occasion to quench my curiosity. I explored the very edges of their lands and learned some of their tongue, but I never saw anything that would have led me to believe they were capable of such armies. As Grand Master Tudor stated, they are a quiet and noble people,solitary and nomadic.’
