‘And then?’
‘And then we’ll reach the city fortress at the base of Old Alea, where the road snakes up the cliffside. If we get past that, we’ll come to the gatehouse in the walls of Old Alea itself. It was built to withstand a long siege, and we’re going to have problems breaking through.’
Corthie leaned on the ship railing. ‘We have no chance, do we?’
‘Naxor would have been handy.’
‘I know.’
‘I guess it depends on Belinda,’ Van said, after a while. ‘If she’s prepared to help us, then anything’s possible. Presuming she hasn’t been arrested or killed, of course. We won’t be able to wait; we’ll have to act immediately. Every sailor on board this ship has seen you, and word will spread from the moment we arrive.’
‘We’ll have to be careful when we dock,’ said Corthie. ‘They may try to keep us on board while someone summons the local militia.’
‘We’ll charge right past them if we have to.’ He gazed down at the water. ‘This is insanity. The entire Banner of the Golden Fist couldn’t achieve what we’re about to attempt.’
Corthie glanced at him. ‘You’ll make it out alive.’
‘Yeah? Ha. I admire your optimism.’
‘Kelsey saw you in a vision that hasn’t happened yet.’
‘Oh, that? Well, it’s something to cling onto, I suppose. Either that, or a couple of uncanny coincidences a few years ago persuaded you all that she could tell the future.’
‘You still doubt it?’
‘Of course I do. I may be many things, but gullible is not one of them. I need to see evidence of these sorts of claims before I’ll believe them.’
‘Fair enough. I believe it, because I’ve seen it work. Not from Kelsey, but from Karalyn. Every single vision she had came true, and after a while you just accept it. If I hadn’t seen it, I’d probably be like you.’
‘Sable can’t do it, can she?’
‘I don’t think so, but I know hardly anything about her, other than what Kelsey and Belinda have told me. One has a tendency to exaggerate, while the other loathes Sable. You know more about her than I do.’
‘The only times I saw her was when she was pretending to be a servant. She made excellent coffee, and you always felt at ease in her company. It was only later I realised that she had been playing my mind like a fiddle.’
They stood and watched as the coast drew ever closer. They were behind schedule; the captain’s original estimation had placed their arrival at dawn that day, and already the sun was beginning to lower in the western sky.
‘What are you going to do if we win?’ said Corthie.
‘I still need to find your sister.’
‘And then?’
‘No idea. I can’t go back to Implacatus; I’d be executed for treason. I don’t want to stay on Lostwell either; the whole place gives off a feeling of unease. It’s not as bad as Dragon Eyre, but nowhere’s as bad as Dragon Eyre. Lostwell feels more like it’s sick, dying from a terminal illness. What about you?’
‘I’m going home as soon as I find Aila. Whatever else happens in Old Alea, I’ll need to get a Quadrant.’
‘And then learn how to use it.’
Corthie smiled. ‘Aye. How difficult can it be? Maddie used one without much training.’
Silva appeared on deck beside them, her eyes reflecting a mixture of relief and fear.
‘Good afternoon,’ said Van. ‘Did you have a late lunch?’
‘I haven’t eaten,’ she said. ‘Her Majesty has been in contact.’
‘Aye?’ said Corthie. ‘Thank Pyre for that. Is she alright? What happened to her?’
‘She wouldn’t say; it was a brief message, and the content was dire.’
The two men glanced at each other.
Silva lowered her voice. ‘The Second Ascendant is here.’
Van staggered, his eyes wide. ‘No.’
‘Yes. And, he has Lord Bastion with him. They came to see what the delay was with the Sextant, but, more importantly, they came to see her Majesty. They want to know if she is truly loyal to them. She is in grave danger, but all of us are; every person on Lostwell is doomed.’
Corthie frowned. ‘How can that be? Every person?’
‘The Second Ascendant has done something. Her Majesty said he placed his hand onto the bedrock of Old Alea, and then announced that all life on Lostwell will end by sunset tomorrow.’
Van closed his eyes and swayed, as if something had struck him.
‘I don’t understand,’ said Corthie; ‘how could life end? What can he do?’
‘It has already been done, Corthie. I could sense the powers being used, not long before her Majesty contacted me. A vast sweep of flow and stone powers, reaching deep under the oceans into the rock that underpins the continents of this world.’ She glanced at the horizon. ‘There is every chance that this ship will never dock at Old Tanton.’
Corthie followed her gaze but could see nothing different. The sea looked calm, and there was no sign that world might be ending. He turned back to Van, whose eyes were still closed.
‘Hey, wake up. What are we going to do?’
Van gave a grim laugh as he opened his eyes. ‘Nothing. There is nothing we can do. It’s over. By this time tomorrow…’
‘Is there a chance you’re both slightly over-egging this?’ said Corthie. ‘Everything looks the same.’
‘Lord Edmond’s powers go beyond anything you could imagine,’ said Silva. ‘Things still look normal, for the moment, but a chain reaction has been put in place, one which is irreversible. Khatanax will be consumed.’
‘But all life will die? I can’t believe that.’
‘Fine, Corthie; not all life will die by sunset tomorrow. There will no doubt be a few species of fish, insect or bird
