filled the room, dimming the light of the glowgems into insignificance. He looked up at the Tower of the Serpent. It glistened greenly in the rain, the tower top vanishing into the low clouds. Where it pierced them, the clouds were saturated with green light, like a lantern glow seen through mist, although on a far larger scale.
“It seems Lord Ilmarec is engaging in more experiments,” said Lady Asea. “Has this happened before?”
Even Jaderac seemed abashed. “No. Not since we arrived and not before unless I miss my guess?”
Silence slowly filled the room. The rest of the meal was subdued. All the Terrarchs present seemed lost in their own thoughts. Sardec would have bet gold that they were all thinking about the same thing. The presence of that titanic Elder World structure above them made them all seem like insects. Its brooding presence filled the night with hints of awesome, unspeakable power.
His way illuminated by the eerie greenish glow, Rik staggered past the night sentry and through the postern gate just in time to see the Easterners and their escort assemble in the courtyard. Lord Jaderac had turned to say goodnight in the most flowery way possible to Lady Asea. Beside him, garbed in a hooded nightcloak, was a tall slender Terrarch woman. At that exact moment, she turned her head and looked in Rik’s direction. Their gazes met and he felt a faint thrill, almost of recognition, although he was certain he had never seen her before. Then the Lady looked away and made a curtsey to Lady Asea.
Rik felt the Barbarian’s massive hand descend on his shoulder and drag him into the shadows on the far side of the courtyard.
“Don’t spoil His Nibs big exit or it will go worse for us,” he said. “You know what their Lordships are like about such stuff. Bastard’s probably run you down if you stand there. Why you looking so thunderstruck anyway, we can’t have drunk that much. Not more than fifteen or twenty beers.”
Rik watched as the gates were opened and the Easterners coach thundered through and vanished into the night. He felt a strange sense of emptiness once it was gone. He knew that something important had happened here, but he could not for the life of him put his finger on what.
“That went better than I thought,” said Sardec. He lounged comfortably on his chair in the dining room. He felt somewhat less than sober but he did not care. At that moment, even the Lady Asea looked less than intimidating. She smiled coldly, and he realised suddenly that she was not drunk. For most of the evening she had drank from her water glass. He wondered if the others had done the same, and if he had made a fool of himself. He suddenly felt very young and very gauche.
“They are quite a pair,” she said. “What did you think of them?”
“I am much too well bred to possibly comment on two such august Terrarchs,” said Sardec. Yes, indeed, he was drunk.
“I am sure you are well-bred but I would still appreciate your opinion nonetheless.”
“Then I shall give you it, dear Lady,” he said in his best impression of Lord Jaderac’s manner. “I think he is an arrogant popinjay, and she is the spoiled daughter of a great magnate.”
“I suspect that is exactly what they want us to think.”
“You disagree?”
“I’m afraid I do. There is something about Lady Tamara I mislike greatly. She acted a part this evening, although I am not entirely sure why.”
“Acted a part?”
“I think so and you do too, Prince Sardec. She is something more than she seems.”
“You think her father sent here to negotiate with Ilmarec.”
“It would certainly make sense for them to do so. But how could he have known so far in advance… By all accounts Prince Ilmarec only revealed his power a few weeks ago. It would take them at least a month to get here from Sardea.”
“You think they were dispatched on other business then?”
“I rather think I do. I think their presence here at this moment might be an accident although an unfortunate one, should they be able to sway Lord Ilmarec to their side. With those weapons and Queen Kathea in their grasp, the war for Kharadrea would be all but won.
“Then it falls to us to see that does not happen.”
“Yes, it does.”
Sardec gestured in the direction of the Serpent Tower. The green light still streamed in through the window. “What do you think Lord Ilmarec is up to, milady?”
“Nothing good,” she replied thoughtfully. “Nothing good at all.”
Chapter Thirteen
Rik was not surprised to find himself summoned to Lady Asea’s chambers the next day. Karim came for him as he prepared for his duties. Rik wondered what the Southerner did when he was not about Asea’s business. He could not remember seeing him about. Perhaps she kept him in a box.
Asea looked up as he entered the chamber. She was dressed in a formal day-gown and she had a book open in her lap. When he came in she dismissed her maids and Karim, and erected a privacy spell.
“I trust you have recovered from the excesses of last night,” she said. He did not bother to ask how she knew. Servants gossiped even more than soldiers.
“I am, thank you.” Rik wanted to ask her about her visitors but he could not think of any way to do so delicately. “Is there something you wish to discuss with me, milady?”
“There are many things- perhaps you can begin by telling me what occurred on your excursion yesterday.” He did, leaving out nothing, for he was certain she would know if he did anyway.
“What do you think is happening here?” Rik asked. “I saw those green lights in the sky last night.”
“I suspect Lord Ilmarec has unleashed something from the Elder World but I am not entirely certain what. Take a look out the window. Tell me what you see on the road leading up the cliff side.”
“Lord Ilmarec seems to be preparing for a long siege. There is a train of provision carts heading up into the Tower.”
“He is getting ready for a siege. Who does he expect to fight if he has access to these oh-so-potent Elder World weapons? He can destroy any force that attacks him.” Asea’s face reminded him of the priests back at Temple orphanage asking questions during catechism. He felt sure he was supposed to give her clever answers.
“Perhaps there are limits to what the weapon can do. Or perhaps he expects it to burn out after a few uses.”
“A good point.”
“Are there any spells that can protect against such weapons?” Rik asked.
“I would have to study it in detail to know for certain. It would not do to try a general counter-spell without some assurance of it working. Lord Manesi’s wizards have already made the folly of that quite clear. The green light can destroy an army.”
“When will you teach me some magic? Does your offer of apprenticeship still stand?” Rik spoke his mind, amazed by his own temerity and found that he resented that amazement. He wanted to be able to talk to Asea as an equal, to not be intimidated by her, but he realised that was impossible. She was one of the First. She would always be daunting.
“I will teach you when the time is right, but now is not the time. There are other things that demand attention. Did you see our guests last night?”
Rik thought of the beautiful young Terrarch woman, and the tall officer she was with. “I did.”
“Mark them well.”
“Why?”
“You may have to kill them.”
“You speak very casually of murder, milady.” The words came to his lips unbidden. He was surprised to find himself reprimanding her.
“I assure you I do not, Rik. If those two get what I fear they have come for, our entire campaign in Kharadrea will collapse.”
