The table sat in silence, then Arete let out a low laugh.
‘Why not?’ she said. ‘Most of it’s ruined already. I concur, your Grace.’
‘Quite right,’ said Edmond. ‘And, as an added bonus, the destruction of Lostwell will eliminate the three Holdfasts who oppose us.’
Belinda swallowed, unable to take in what the Second Ascendant was saying. Was it even possible to destroy a world? She thought of Dun Khatar. She was the Queen of Khatanax, and the Queen of Lostwell and, despite the catastrophes that had overtaken the world, millions of people still lived there, the majority of them in Alea Tanton. They were her people, whether they knew it or not.
‘My lord,’ said Bastion; ‘what about the salve world? Is still hasn’t been located.’
‘We have the Sextant, Bastion; therefore we have all we need. We shall take it with us when we return to Serene, and there hand it over to the lore-masters. They have mountains of books; surely one will contain the information we need to activate the device.’
‘All the same, my lord,’ said Bastion, ‘do I have permission to intensify the search for the demigod Naxor? He has within his mind instructions on how to get to the salve world, and was last known to be on a ship heading to Cape Armour. I can have every vision god and demigod in Old Alea looking for him.’
‘Granted,’ said Edmond.
‘How long will the destruction of Lostwell take?’ said Belinda, keeping her tone level despite the turmoil in her mind.
‘A day or so,’ said Edmond.
Bastion got to his feet. ‘Then, your Grace, I shall get to work.’ He bowed, and crossed the chamber. As he was leaving, a small group of terrified-looking servants were ushered in, their eyes cast downwards. They were pushing trolleys, which they wheeled over to the table.
‘Excellent,’ said Edmond, rubbing his hands together. ‘My first meal in Lostwell.’
* * *
One hour after noon, the three Ascendants and Lord Bastion used a Quadrant to travel to the walls that surrounded the high plateau of Old Alea. Three hundred Banner soldiers had been sent on ahead, and were waiting for them, formed in thick ranks to protect the most sacred Second Ascendant. Edmond walked along the north-facing section of walls, stopping when he came to a collapsed turret, where the bare rock of the cliff was visible. He turned to the ocean, and waited for the others to join him. Bastion stood by his right, Belinda his left, and Arete was to the right of Bastion.
Edmond gazed at where the ocean met the vast city of Alea Tanton. Smoke was rising from a few locations, evidence of the continuing dragon-related disturbances.
‘I think this might be the ugliest city I’ve ever seen,’ he said. ‘A disgusting midden. It seems that mortals can’t help but ruin everything they’re given. Ungrateful wretches.’
Belinda turned to him. ‘Please don’t destroy them. I know they fight among themselves, but most of them are poor, and there was a great earthquake a few days ago, and many are destitute and starving.’
‘Then I shall be putting them out of their misery,’ he said. He looked into her eyes. ‘Will you try to oppose me?’
‘Would you kill me if I did?’
‘Oh, I’d probably devise something worse than death. However, Belinda, I have taken to heart your words on how you are ignorant of many things. Young gods have a tendency to feel pity for the plight of the mortals, and that is because they have not yet gained the perspective of a life that spans centuries, millennia. You remind me of them, and if your memories only go back a few years, then your attitude does not surprise me; indeed, I find it rather endearing. You care; you still care.’
‘And you don’t?’
‘About mortals? No. But I do care, deeply, about many things; and you are among those. Therefore, I have these words for you – if you oppose me, or try to hinder me, then I will be forced to put you back into the mask. I do not wish to do so, but I will have no alternative. Is that clear?’
She said nothing, her heart almost stopping from fright.
‘Good,’ he said. He turned to the ocean and stretched out his arms, his eyes wide open. His skin shone in the noon light, and he looked like a vision, his robes flowing like liquid silver. He then crouched, placed a hand onto the bare rock of the promontory, and closed his eyes.
Belinda did nothing as she watched him. She was a coward. The powers he was unleashing would bring life on Lostwell to an end, and she was doing nothing to stop him, her fear of the mask paralysing her. Corthie would be ashamed; Silva would be ashamed; she had failed.
Edmond rose to his feet and wiped the dirt of Lostwell from his hand. ‘It is done. By sunset tomorrow, Lostwell will be nothing but a memory.’
Belinda fell to her knees, and wept.
Chapter 22
Homeward
S outhern Kinell – 3rd Kolinch 5252
‘Please,’ said Aila; ‘just try it.’
Frostback glanced away.
‘It’s not solely about our comfort,’ Aila went on; ‘your front limbs would be free if we went on your shoulders. You nearly crushed Kelsey’s ribs again yesterday when you carried us; we’re fragile.’
‘You’re not,’ said Frostback. ‘You have self-healing.’
‘Alright, I can recover from getting squashed in your grasp, but Kelsey can’t. How can she protect us from the Ascendants if you grip her too tightly?’
Frostback extended her wings. ‘I’ve had enough of listening to your complaints. I am going to scout the vicinity to ensure there are no soldiers still following
