Gates of Ruin (Magelands Eternal Siege, #6)

but she needed Maddie to believe her, and she needed to prove her worth. In truth, Sable had never felt so hopeless and alone, despite her achievements. Getting Sanguino into the air had been one of the greatest challenges of her life, and to do so without the protection of Blackrose had seemed an impossible task a month before, when she had lain fevered and close to death. On top of that, the Ascendants had the Sextant, and Corthie and Kelsey, her nephew and niece, had disappeared, while Belinda had turned to the enemy. Dragon Eyre was the last hope she had and, although she was just as desperate to rescue Blackrose as Maddie was, she knew she had to plan everything carefully. If she messed it up, there would be nowhere to go.

She glanced round, and gestured for Maddie to rejoin her. She hurried over to the hearth and sat down next to Sable.

‘Give me your hand,’ Sable said.

‘How romantic,’ said Maddie; ‘I didn’t know you cared.’

‘Hilarious as always, Maddie.’ She took the young woman’s hand in hers, and focussed. ‘Alright. To do this, I’ll need to go into your mind, obviously, so that I can form a connection. I’m going to tether your consciousness to my own, and then I’m going to send my vision west over the mountains and all the way to Alea Tanton. We already know that Blackrose is being held in the Northern Pits.’

‘No, you already know that. I have only your word for it.’

‘Well, now you’ll see if I’ve been lying or not. Are you ready?’

‘Yeah.’

Sable went into Maddie’s mind, and repeated what she had done to Sanguino. Her connection to him had been developed and fostered over a long time, but the tethers to Maddie would only need to last a few minutes. She pinched parts of Maddie’s mind to her own, starting with her sight.

‘Woah,’ said Maddie. ‘I’m looking out from your eyes. Is that what I look like these days? Amalia’s ass, what a mess. I’m surprised I haven’t been arrested in town for looking like a vagrant. At least that explains the funny looks I’ve been getting.’

‘Steal a mirror and a hairbrush on your next visit. Right, that part’s complete. Close your eyes; you’ll still be able to see what I see. Let’s go.’

Sable pushed her vision out of her body, and through the cavern, emerging into the valley. She heard Maddie gasp, but tried to ignore her. She moved her vision higher, then shot it out over the tops of the mountains, sending it hurtling over the ragged and barren slopes. They passed the reservoir, then began to descend, the irrigated fields of Tordue before them. Sable picked up her speed, and the land below them became a blur of motion.

I feel sick, Maddie said inside her head.

Don’t talk. Let me concentrate.

Within a few moments the ocean became visible on the horizon, and Sable aimed for the vast, sprawling city that lay on its polluted shores. Along the edge of the city was a wide band of ramshackle shanty dwellings and huts, assembled from wood and animal hides, and beyond stretched the miles of slums. Sable turned to the north, skirting the city, until the walls of Old Tanton came into view. The old port town was surrounded on three sides by the tight network of slum housing, then, after that, lay the vast sprawl of Deadskins territory, home to the hundreds of thousands of Fordians descended from those who had fled the destruction of their land. In the midst of the Deadskins region lay a huge complex of high, stone buildings, and Sable slowed, approaching with care as she scanned the movements of the swarms of people in the streets. She knew the way well, having checked on Blackrose several times since she had been captured, and led Maddie straight to the building where the black dragon was being held.

We’re nearly there, she told Maddie. Remember, do not mention the Quadrant to her.

Sable entered the building and descended into a vast cavern carved from the bedrock of the city. Two dragons were there. One, a fine, sleek, dark green beast, was being fed live goats by a legion of Fordians at the northern end of the cavern.

That is Grassworm, Sable said, the current Deadskins champion. He is docile and obedient, which was probably how I imagine Sanguino used to be. I’d like to try rescuing him too, but we shall see.

Never mind him; where’s Blackrose?

Sable went into the shadows at the other end of the cavern, where a huge dragon was lying, chained and muzzled, her wings secured by a multitude of shackles.

Maddie sobbed.

There she is, said Sable. Let me try to enter her mind.

Sable approached with her vision, and pushed against Blackrose’s eyes. Going into a dragon’s head was different from that of humans, as she had learned from her mistakes with Frostback. It was almost like asking for permission to enter; she felt a resistance, and then the dragon allowed her in.

Hello, Blackrose; it’s me again.

Sable. How is Maddie? I hope you are looking after her as I requested.

Maddie is here with me, inside my mind. I’ve brought her to see you.

The dragon sighed. I wish you hadn’t. I do not want her to see me like this.

She needed to, Blackrose. I think she was starting to doubt my word. I’ve asked her to be patient, but she needed proof that I wasn’t lying.

Maddie? Can you hear me?

Yes, said Maddie through her tears. What have they done to you?

Never mind that, rider; listen to me. I know that I have doubted her in the past, but you must trust Sable. She is our only hope.

Have they made you fight?

Not yet, but that day is fast approaching. I will put on a show for them, to make them believe I am pliant. It shames me, but knowing that you and Sable are working for my release keeps me strong.

I have some good news, Sable said. Today,