He finally averted his eyes from her when she had finished. ‘I have a message,’ he said, ‘from my master to you. He wishes you to know that his personal feelings towards you haven’t altered in ten thousand years. He is looking forward to your reconciliation, but for that reconciliation to be complete, you must honour the word you gave to him, and become his bride upon your return.’
Belinda blinked. ‘My word?’
‘Yes, Belinda. You may have lost your memories, but my master remembers everything. Before you left Implacatus to join Nathaniel, you were pledged to Edmond, my master. You were to be his queen, not Nathaniel’s. My master has ordered that you may only return to Implacatus if you agree to honour the vow you made to him.’
‘And if I disagree?’
‘Then the war begins again, only this time I imagine it will be considerably shorter. There is only you left, after all. I shall leave you to consider, and return to my master.’
He placed the shoulder bag onto his lap, pushed his hand inside it, and disappeared.
Belinda stared at the empty chair for a moment, then stood and walked to an open window. Outside was a view of the ocean, and she watched the waves roll in from the west. Why had Silva never mentioned anything about a vow she had made to Edmond? Was Bastion lying? That seemed unlikely, as it was the basis for his decision to leave her in Khatanax rather than take her back to Implacatus.
She needed answers, so she shot her vision out, bending it south towards Capston. Mile after mile of nothing but ocean passed under her, then she turned to the east, where the sky was growing dark. It was early evening when she reached the small town on the shores of the Southern Cape. She made directly for the rented rooms where Silva was staying, and found her sitting alone at a table, eating.
She entered the demigod’s mind, staying as quiet as possible. It was something she had been practising, and even with her emotions churning, she remembered to do it, rather than charge in.
Silva blinked, and frowned.
You’re getting much better, your Majesty, she said. If I wasn’t so used to listening out for you, I would never have perceived your presence. Well done.
Silva, did I promise to marry Edmond, the Second Ascendant?
Her great granddaughter fell silent.
You must tell me.
If you did, your Majesty, then this is the first time I’ve heard of it. But… well, if it is true, then it would explain some things I’ve always struggled to understand; such as comments His Majesty King Nathaniel made, or the way you sometimes reacted whenever Edmond was mentioned. I confess, though, I don’t know. Who told you?
An emissary sent by Edmond. An Ancient named Bastion.
Belinda felt Silva’s anger stir. That vile beast? He has so much blood on his hands that I doubt he’d ever be able to wash them clean. He is a violent brute, and utterly loyal to the Second Ascendant, but he doesn’t lie; he doesn’t need to. His powers are the equal of any Ascendant, except you, your Majesty, of course; and Edmond himself. Is he in Alea Tanton?
He was; he’s gone again already. He says I have to honour my word, or Edmond will restart the war, by which I think he meant he would send people to kill me.
He has given you time to consider?
He has.
Then flee. Whether it is a lie or not, when he returns, it will be in force, and they will kill you.
Unless I agree to marry Edmond.
What? I… Your Majesty, please, you cannot.
Don’t worry, Silva, I’m not going to marry him. But if I let Bastion take me to Implacatus, then I might get close enough to Edmond to kill him.
Your Majesty, if you, I mean the old you, had thought that a wise plan, don’t you think you would have tried it? If you did make a promise to Edmond, then it must have been many millennia ago, long before I was born, or when you came to Lostwell. The old you would have done anything to defeat and kill Edmond; therefore there must be a good reason why she didn’t attempt what you are suggesting.
You may be right, Silva; I’ll think it over. For now, I’d better let the others know that Bastion has gone.
Farewell, your Majesty.
Belinda pulled her vision back to her body. Despite Silva’s admission of ignorance, she felt more certain than ever that Bastion had been telling the truth. It was impossible that Edmond could love her, not if he hadn’t seen her in thousands of years, and she was at a loss to explain his motivations.
She walked out of the room and back into Leksandr’s study, where the other two Ascendants were waiting.
‘Bastion’s gone,’ she said, as they looked up at her.
‘Gone?’ said Arete, getting to her feet.
‘Yes. I told him everything I could remember, and then he left to tell the Second Ascendant.’
‘Why didn’t he take you back to Implacatus with him?’
‘That’s between me and Bastion.’
Arete glared at her, but her anger had a tinge of fear about it. They didn’t know anything about the vow she had made, Belinda thought, realising that she might be able to use the knowledge against them.
‘He wants you to continue working towards your objective,’ she said.
Leksandr and Arete glanced at each other.
‘And you, Third Ascendant,’ said Leksandr, his features drawn; ‘what does he want you to do?’
‘That’s confidential,’ she said, ‘but I advise you not to hinder me in any way.’
‘She has betrayed us,’ said Arete. ‘After everything we’ve done to shield her from Implacatus.’
Belinda frowned. ‘You have done nothing to shield me, Arete. Leksandr has, but not you. You wanted me sent there for interrogation, but that won’t be happening. I won’t forget how you treated me with suspicion, or how you’ve tried to undermine me.’
Leksandr bowed before
