Gates of Ruin (Magelands Eternal Siege, #6) by Christopher Mitchell (ebook reader for surface pro txt) 📕

They flew on, passing mile after mile of nothing but the scorched and parched wastelands, until Blackrose began to descend. She dropped Sable while she was still a few yards above the ground, and the Holdfast woman fell, and rolled onto her side, gasping in pain.

‘You treacherous liar,’ said Blackrose, hovering above her.

‘What?’ said Sable. ‘I don’t understand; I saved you.’

‘You selfish insect; how long have you been in possession of a Quadrant? And do not even think of lying to me again. If you do, I will kill you.’

Sable pushed herself up from the rocky ground, another lie poised on her lips. She stopped herself. Somehow, the dragon knew.

‘I’ve had one since I first arrived in the Catacombs,’ she said. ‘I stole it from Alea Tanton before I came to find you.’

The dragon’s eyes filled with rage, and fire licked around her jaws. Sable edged back, fear almost paralysing her. For a moment, she thought her life was about to come to an end, but the torrent of flames never came.

‘And Maddie?’ said Blackrose, her voice twisted by anger. ‘Did she also know?’

‘Yes, but it was my fault. I made her keep quiet about it. If you’re going to kill anyone, then kill me, not her.’

‘You will die, Holdfast witch,’ Blackrose said, ‘but not by my fire or claws. You are over a hundred miles from the Catacombs; the Fordian Wastes shall be your grave, and may rats pick over your flesh when you fall to the ground, dying of thirst. I hope your end is an agonising one.’

She beat her wings and rose back into the sky, circled once, then raced off for the north.

Sable gazed around. Nothing but flat, featureless wastes surrounded her in all directions. She had no water, or food, and the sun was beating down mercilessly upon her. She patted her pockets and found a pack of cigarettes.

She lit one, and began walking.

Chapter 13

Plan, Interrupted

A lea Tanton, Tordue, Western Khatanax – 21st Luddinch 5252

Queen Emily smiled from the couch where she sat. ‘You’ve certainly given us much to think about, Belinda. It’s hard to believe that it’s only been a few months since you were last here in Cuidrach Palace, and harder still to believe all that has occurred on Lostwell in that time. We ought to have foreseen that salve would continue to cause us problems, but the news is worse than we could have imagined.’

The small audience chamber fell into silence. To Emily’s right, King Daniel was frowning, a worried expression colouring his face, while to her left, Princess Yendra was standing, the Axe of Rand slung over one shoulder. Through the wide bay windows behind them, the sky was invisible due to a thick blanket of mist that was covering the City – the Fog of Balian.

Belinda sat still, the Quadrant resting on her knees.

‘And your proposal,’ said Daniel, ‘how would it work in practice?’

‘I suggest that you excavate a huge amount of salve, several tons if possible,’ Belinda said, ‘and then I shall transport it to Lostwell and allow the gods to take it. A large enough quantity could keep them satisfied for centuries.’

‘But,’ said Daniel, ‘didn’t the City used to receive champions in exchange for the salve? Are you saying that we should hand it over, free of charge?’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘It sounds a little like extortion to me. Would we not effectively be paying off a group of bullies? And if so, what’s to stop them coming back for more?’

‘If that’s the price for stopping them from overwhelming your world,’ said Belinda, ‘then I think it’s worth paying.’

‘It’s blackmail,’ said Daniel, ‘plain and simple.’

Emily glanced at him, her eyes troubled. ‘How long will you be staying in the City, Belinda?’

‘An hour was all I had, and most of that has now passed.’

‘That’s a pity,’ she said. ‘I do not believe we’ll be able to come to a decision in that time.’

‘I tend to agree with his Majesty; this sounds like blackmail,’ said Yendra. ‘Is there anything that the gods of this Implacatus could offer us as payment for the salve?’

‘Such as?’ said Belinda. ‘Are you in need of champions? Haven’t the greenhides been driven away from the City?’

‘They have,’ said Emily, ‘but we have plans to eradicate them right up to the mountain chain that lies two hundred miles east of here, and then fortify those mountains to prevent any more from getting through.’

‘That would require a lot of soldiers,’ said Belinda.

‘It would, but the benefits it would bring would be enormous. I don’t suppose Blackrose would like to return? A dragon would be extremely useful for this kind of job.’

‘Blackrose is currently… unavailable,’ said Belinda, ‘but I could look into the possibility of sending other dragons to assist you. If I do this, will you consider my proposal?’

‘We will of course consider it,’ said Emily. ‘You have proved a wonderful servant of the City, and we owe you that, at least. Give us some time to think it over, and when you return to us, you shall have an answer.’

Belinda nodded. ‘Then I shall return to Khatanax. Prepare yourselves. If Implacatus attacks, they will do so with huge numbers of mercenary soldiers, enough to defeat any Blade army that you can put together. If that happens, surrender immediately; I have seen what happens to cities that resist them.’

Emily blinked, then resumed her smile. ‘Thank you for your advice.’

She stood, and Belinda also got to her feet.

‘I will escort you to the roof,’ said Yendra.

Belinda inclined her head towards Emily and Daniel, then walked with Yendra to the door, which a Reaper guard opened for them. They went through the corridors of the old palace, passing servants and staff, and several more guards.

‘That was an interesting speech you gave,’ said Yendra.

Belinda said nothing, waiting for the princess to get to her point.

‘What I found most fascinating,’ Yendra went on, ‘was what you left out. Why