Blackrose tilted her head. ‘So be it.’ She glanced at her followers. ‘Say your farewells; we shall leave shortly.’
The dragons dispersed. Ashfall, Sable and Maddie walked over to where Frostback stood.
‘All the best, sister,’ said Ashfall. ‘I hope father takes you back.’
The silver dragon said nothing.
‘So this is it?’ said Kelsey to Sable. ‘We meet, and you’re leaving already?’
‘Looks like it,’ said Sable.
‘This is going to annoy Corthie. Could you not spare some time to at least see him?’
‘If I knew where he was, maybe, but he could be anywhere. You’ll have to just pass on my regards to him.’
‘Your regards?’ Kelsey sighed. ‘Pyre’s arse. Will you ever go home?’
‘My home is wherever I want it to be. I’m not wanted or needed on the Star Continent, and the Empress might try to enforce her execution order. What would I go back for?’
‘How about me?’
‘Are you going back?’
‘I suppose so.’
‘I thought that you and Frostback… well, you said you wanted to be her rider.’
Ashfall laughed. ‘My sister with a rider? That’s something I’d have to see to believe.’
Frostback glared at her with defiance in her eyes. ‘I might take Kelsey as my rider. She has served me well.’
‘I think it would be good for you, sister.’
‘Why? Are you taking a rider?’
‘Me? Not a chance.’
‘What about poor old Millen?’ said Maddie.
‘Deepblue wants him.’
‘She does?’
‘Yes. She volunteered to take him right before the Ascendant took over her mind. However, I suspect that she is too shy to ask him outright, in case he says no.’
‘Can I tell him that?’
‘I think that would be a good idea, Maddie; otherwise neither will ask the other.’
Maddie glanced at Aila. ‘So long. I know we weren’t always the best of friends, but I always liked you the most out of everyone that came from the City. So, and I’m warning you, you’re about to get a hug.’
She reached forward and embraced Aila. Maddie frowned mid-hug and glanced down at Aila’s midriff.
‘Either you’ve put on weight, or there’s something going on that no one’s told me about.’
‘Aila is going to be a mother,’ said Frostback.
Maddie stared, her mouth falling open. ‘Is... is... is it Corthie’s?’
Aila frowned. ‘Yes.’
‘Another grandchild for Daphne,’ said Sable. ‘Congratulations.’
‘And,’ said Kesley, ‘Amalia reckoned she could sense that the baby might be immortal; a demigod.’
‘What?’ cried Maddie. ‘You’re joking, yeah?’
Aila shrugged. ‘That’s what Amalia said. I can’t tell yet. And I don’t know what it would mean; what would Corthie think?’
‘Are you going to tell him?’ said Maddie.
‘Of course, if I ever actually see him again. It’s driving me crazy not knowing where he is, and to think that he died in Fordamere… I’m glad I didn’t have to witness that. I owe Belinda the biggest thank you ever.’
Sable raised an eyebrow. ‘Be wary of her; at best her loyalties are confused, at worst, she’s a traitor.’
‘We don’t know that,’ said Maddie; ‘you just don’t like her.’
‘That’s fair,’ said Sable. ‘I might be wrong about her.’
Blackrose approached. ‘Frostback,’ she said; ‘I sincerely hope that you get what you desire. And, for the record, you did not fail me in Yoneath; you were brave and honourable, and I couldn’t have asked for more.’
Kelsey blinked, then started coughing. Aila patted her on the back. ‘Are you alright?’
The young Holdfast woman raised her head, her eyes wide. ‘Uh… aye, I’m fine.’ She turned to Blackrose. ‘You’re not going straight to Dragon Eyre, are you?’
‘No. We have one final errand to run first, though Sable has not yet told us the location.’
‘For good reason,’ said Sable. She glanced at Kelsey for a moment, her eyes narrow. ‘Anything you want to say to me before we go, niece?’
Kelsey leaned over and whispered something in Sable’s ear.
The older Holdfast nodded. ‘Alright; I get it.’ She looked at Blackrose. ‘Are we ready to go?’
‘We are,’ said the black dragon, her head tilted as she glanced at the two Holdfasts. ‘I won’t pretend to know what that was about. Maddie, climb up. I will also carry Millen, as the third harness he made was destroyed in the Catacombs, along with our supplies.’
‘I have an idea about that, Blackrose,’ said Sable. She turned, and winked at Aila. ‘See you later.’
The dragons and humans who were leaving gathered on the hillside. Deathfang had turned his back to them, and the other Catacombs dragons were watching from a distance. Sable climbed up onto Sanguino, and Maddie and Millen did the same with Blackrose. The large black dragon took to the skies, followed by Sanguino, Ashfall, and two other dragons, the smaller of which Aila assumed was Deepblue. They circled, then Sanguino took the lead, and they set off on a course towards the south-west.
Aila and Kelsey watched as they stood by Frostback.
‘What was all the whispering about?’ said Aila.
Kelsey glanced at her. ‘I might have had another vision.’
‘What about?’
‘Let’s just say that this wasn’t the last time we’ll bump into Sable on Lostwell.’
Chapter 23
Deep Water
O ff Alea Tanton, Tordue, Western Khatanax – 3rd Kolinch 5252
‘Do you see the coastline on the horizon?’ said Van.
Corthie nodded. ‘Aye.’
‘Follow it from left to right until you reach the square-looking bump sticking up into the sky. It doesn’t look like much from here, but that’s Old Alea. It’s surrounded by high cliffs, and ringed with a wall, and measures six miles by four miles.’
‘That’s a lot of space for a handful of gods.’
‘Yes, but there are thousands of mortals up there too – servants, guards, porters and a whole range of craft-workers: smiths, carpenters, you name it. Right now, there will also be a garrison of Banner soldiers; a few thousand or so.’
‘What about the smoke to the left of Old Alea? Where’s that coming from?’
Van shrugged. ‘Not sure. Probably a riot; there are many of those. The entire
