Arete followed Belinda into her rooms, where a small group of demigods were waiting. Each of them had vision skills, and were being employed daily to search Khatanax for Kelsey Holdfast. A large map of the continent lay spread across a dining table, and was covered in scrawls and markings made in red ink, denoting the places that had been searched.
The demigods stood and bowed low in front of the two Ascendants.
‘I will assist today,’ said Arete, her tone angry, ‘as you seem to be having difficulties.’ She walked to the map and peered down at it. ‘Where are you up to?’
‘We’ve searched Tordue, the Four Counties, and the Southern Cape, your Grace,’ said one of the demigods.
‘What about Shawe Myre?’
‘Yes, your Grace. We have paid a great deal of attention to Shawe Myre, checking it every day in case Lady Amalia returns there.’ The demigod glanced away. ‘But, your Grace…’
Arete narrowed her eyes. ‘But what?’
‘Well, your Grace, we have to admit that we cannot be altogether certain if we have missed this Kelsey Holdfast. If she can truly block vision powers, then our search could pass right over her and we wouldn’t know it.’
‘Surely the Third Ascendant has told you how to go about looking for the girl?’
‘Yes, your Grace – we have been instructed to sense for areas that are resistant to our powers, but… but, I’m afraid none of us really understands what that might feel like.’
Arete shook with rage, then turned to Belinda.
‘I explained this to you some time ago,’ Belinda said. ‘This is why it has taken so long; we are searching for an absence, rather than a presence.’
‘All I hear are excuses!’ Arete cried. ‘If the Blessed Second Ascendant demands blood for this, then I will offer him the heads of everyone in this room.’
The group stilled, their glances lowered.
‘Get to work,’ Arete said; ‘I shall supervise.’
The demigods took seats around the dining table, and Belinda sat down next to them.
‘We shall continue our search of Dun Khatar this morning,’ she said. ‘Street by street, house by house. Look for any signs in the sands of recent movement; footprints and the like. I shall take the palace.’
‘No,’ said Arete; ‘I will search the palace.’
Belinda nodded. ‘Very well.’ She gestured to the group of demigods, and their eyes glazed over. Belinda focussed, and allowed her vision to leave her body. As her sight hurtled southwards over the farmlands of Tordue, she tried to think back to every word Amalia had said to her in Shawe Myre. She had gone over their conversations many times since being brought to Alea Tanton by Leksandr, looking for clues as to where the former God-Queen might have taken Kelsey, but Belinda had discovered nothing of any use. What was far from clear to her mind, was what she would do if she did manage to find them.
* * *
Several hours later, Belinda sat alone on a couch, her gaze on the sunset through an open window. Another exhausting session of searching had proved fruitless, and Arete had left with the demigods once it had ended, her frustration evident. Belinda was glad that the Seventh Ascendant had witnessed for herself how impossible the task was, and she hoped Arete would be a little more understanding in the future, though she doubted it.
If Leksandr could get the Sextant working, then Belinda reckoned that the search for Kelsey would be called off, as the Holdfast girl was far less important to the Ascendants than the massive device that sat in the apartment above her own. The Sextant was the key to the two worlds the Ascendants were looking for, and next to that, Kelsey was almost an irrelevance.
There was a tap at her door and Silva entered, her head bowed.
‘Good evening, your Majesty,’ she said. ‘Did you make any progress in locating the Holdfast girl today?’
Belinda hesitated. She longed to confide in the demigod, but knew that Arete and Leksandr were reading her mind on a frequent basis, and she had been forced to keep her thoughts to herself. Silva believed, like the others, that Corthie Holdfast was dead, and that Belinda was now on the side of the Ascendants, and she could see that it pained her immensely.
‘No, not today,’ Belinda said.
Silva smiled. ‘I’m sure you’ll have better luck soon, your Majesty.’
‘I have come to a decision,’ said Belinda.
‘Yes, your Majesty?’
‘Yes. I want you to leave Alea Tanton.’
Silva’s face fell. ‘But…’
‘It’s for the best, Silva.’
‘Have I… have I let you down in some way, your Majesty? If so, then please tell me what I can do to make it right.’
‘You can make it right by leaving. I packed a bag for you this morning. Take it, and go.’
Silva began to weep. ‘Why?’
‘I have made my decision,’ said Belinda.
‘But where should I go, your Majesty?’
‘Leave Tordue as quickly as you can. I am dismissing you.’
‘Are you dismissing your other servants too, your Majesty; your new ones?’
‘No; just you.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Silva sobbed, ‘for whatever it is that I have done, your Majesty.’
Belinda kept her face impassive, suppressing the growing urge to hug the demigod and tell her the truth. She knew that she was acting in a cruel manner, but it was the only way. If Arete or Leksandr got hold of her before she had left the city, then her plans would be in ruins.
She pointed to the corner of the room. ‘Take your bag and go. Now.’
Silva wiped her face and shuffled to the corner of the room. She picked up the bag, then turned back to Belinda.
‘If anyone asks,’ said Belinda, ‘I am relieving you of your duties for unsatisfactory performance. Dismissed.’
Silva fell to her knees next to where Belinda sat, and wept. ‘Please, your Majesty, please let me stay. I don’t understand. All I’ve done is try to help you.’
Belinda turned away. ‘Go, immediately; that’s an order. Speak to no one on the way
