Then I should search for Corthie, your Majesty. Alone, the two Ascendants would overcome you; but with him by your side? He nearly defeated them in Fordamere; together, you would stand a good chance of winning. Do you have any idea where he might be? I cannot sense his powers, so I will not be able to locate him that way.
I left him with Van, but he might be with Naxor.
I can look for Naxor.
We must be very careful. Leksandr told me that they could find the City of Pella with anyone who has ever used a Quadrant to travel there; in other words, Naxor would be able to give them all the information they need.
I understand.
Go to Cape Armour, and from there take a ship to Kinell. If Corthie fled from Yoneath, Kinell would be the place he would have most likely fled to. I will search there too, and let you know if I find them.
As you wish, your Majesty. In the meantime, I advise that you do everything the Ascendants ask of you; you must make them believe that you are on their side, and then, when we are strong enough, we shall strike.
I’ll track your progress, and make contact every day. Thank you, Silva. Were it not for you, I would despair.
Stay strong, your Majesty.
Belinda broke off the connection and took a deep breath. She wiped the tears from her face and stood. Her heart was still racing, but it was with exhilaration and hope, rather than anxiety. Even though nothing had really changed, she felt better for having had someone to share her feelings with. She strode to the window and gazed out over the city. She frowned. Pillars of smoke were rising from over the slums, and then she became aware of shouts coming from the courtyard below her. Had something happened?
She made her way out from her quarters, and saw Arete on the landing, surrounded by demigod courtiers.
‘What’s happening?’ Belinda said.
Arete looked at her as if she were mad. ‘Did you not feel that?’
‘I was in a vision trance; I felt nothing.’
‘You need to fix that, immediately,’ Arete said. ‘The city has just experienced its worst earthquake in a century, and you felt nothing? Did you not leave even a small part of your consciousness behind to stay aware of your surroundings?’
Belinda lowered her eyes, feeling like a child being berated by an angry adult. She hadn’t known that it was possible to remain aware of what was going on around her while she was using her vision powers, and didn’t want to ask how it was done, in case she appeared ignorant or foolish.
‘We’re sending troops out into the lower city,’ Arete went on, ‘to assist with the casualties.’
‘How bad was it?’
‘Use your vision to see for yourself,’ Arete said; ‘I’m too busy to do everything for you.’
She strode off down the stairs, the small crowd of demigods scurrying to keep up. Belinda remained at the top of the steps for a moment, then went back into her rooms. She poured herself a glass of water and sat down by the window. Everything in her quarters seemed fine, then she noticed that a picture hanging on the wall was a little askew. There was also a thin layer of dust covering the small table where her glass was sitting, and she looked up to see a crack in the ceiling. The Sextant lay somewhere in the rooms above her, and she worried for a moment that its great weight might send it falling through the floorboards, even though Leksandr had assured her that he had used his powers to strengthen the beams beneath it. She walked into her small study, which she knew for certain was not located under the Sextant, and gazed out of the window. Her vision pulled free of her body, and she sent it across the high plateau of Old Alea so that she could look down on the lower city.
The Shinstran districts were in chaos. Tenements had collapsed, and fires were raging through parts of the slums. Debris filled the streets, and a dazed population was gathering in the open areas. The neighbouring fortress was also burning, and long sections of its outer walls were in ruins. Moving north, the Torduan and Fordian districts were in the same condition as those where the Shinstrans lived, and Belinda watched as bodies were removed from a building that had fallen over. She brought her vision back and lowered her head.
Then she remembered Blackrose. She sent her sight back out, and raced it over the city. The Central Pits where she had seen the games that morning were still standing, though a couple of the auxiliary buildings next to the main arena were damaged. A little to the north, on the main road that traversed the entire length of the city, a convoy had paused, and amid it was the largest wagon she had ever seen. It was almost as wide as the road, and over a dozen gaien were attached to its harness. The wagon was covered, but there were a few gaps in the reinforced sides, and she sent her vision through. Inside, the huge black dragon was sitting, her eyes staring out through a small air hole.
Belinda pushed her vision at the dragon’s eyes, and they yielded.
What do you want, traitor? Blackrose said, as soon as she entered the dragon’s mind.
To see if you were alright. And I’m not a traitor, I’m a friend.
The dragon laughed. Is that why you stabbed Sable? Is that how friends behave?
Sable attacked me; I was defending myself. Please believe me. I’m trying to help; I’m trying to work against the Ascendants, while making them think I’m on their side. I’m not doing a very good job, I realise that, but my heart remains with you, and Corthie, and…
Corthie? If you cared so much about Corthie, then
