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

‘I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to cloud your judgement. I kept to the relevant facts regarding the Ascendant gods and their plans.’

Yendra moved to block Belinda’s way. ‘Then I’ll ask you directly, since that seems the best way to communicate with you.’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘Where is Aila?’

‘She was captured by Amalia.’

Shock passed over Yendra’s face for a moment, before her calm demeanour reasserted itself.

‘You should also know,’ Belinda went on, ‘that Amalia plans to return to the City. She has a Quadrant in her possession, and fears that the Ascendants will execute her if they catch her.’

‘I see. Tell me, does Aila still live?’

‘As far as I know.’

Yendra frowned. ‘Whose side are you on, Belinda?’

Belinda hesitated, surprised at being asked such a question. ‘Have my actions today not made that clear? If I wanted to betray this world to the Ascendants, then all I needed to do was tell them how to get here. Instead, I’ve risked everything to try to find a peaceful way out of this crisis. Do I have to die before anyone trusts me?’

‘I apologise,’ said Yendra. ‘You give the appearance of not caring, and I made the mistake of confusing that with your true intentions. Things have been going well here since you all departed, and the news you gave to the King and Queen has disheartened me. I thought the siege of the City had ended with the destruction of the greenhides, but it seems I was mistaken.’

They resumed their walk, both gods remaining silent. The fog was obscuring the view of Pella when they stepped out onto the flat roof of the palace.

‘I wish I could help in some way,’ said Yendra, as Belinda held out the Quadrant.

‘You can,’ said Belinda. ‘Start recruiting soldiers, and build some refuges that people can escape to; and mine and store as much salve as you can. I shall try to return by the end of the month, but I can’t promise it.’

Yendra nodded, then Belinda activated the Quadrant. Her surroundings shimmered, and she appeared back within her locked bed chamber. She set the Quadrant to go to Yoneath, triggered it, and arrived in the deserted cavern of Fordamere. She glanced around at the devastation. She had intended to stay only for a few moments, but something caught her eye and she walked over to it, avoiding the decaying bodies strewn across the ground. She leaned over and picked it up. It was heavy, and sharp, and she nearly sliced open her fingers lifting it. She gripped it in one hand, then activated the Quadrant and travelled back to Alea Tanton.

She placed the item under her bed, then sat on the deep mattress, a vague plan forming in her mind. If she could have it repaired, it could be useful. She cleared her thoughts and went over everything that had been discussed in Pella. Daniel had been right – paying off the Ascendants in salve to stop them invading did amount to blackmail, but what choice did the City have? The gods of Implacatus would never stop hunting for the source of salve. She hoped that Emily’s common sense would overrule Daniel’s moral principles, but if it didn’t, then at least the City had been forewarned.

She got up and unlocked her door, the Quadrant in her hand. Several servants bowed low, their eyes lowered as she passed, and she sensed the mixture of fear and awe that she engendered in them. She left her quarters and ascended the stairs to Leksandr’s rooms. He was waiting for her in his study, and turned from the Sextant as she walked in.

She passed him the Quadrant, and he slipped it into his robes.

‘Did you find what you were looking for, Third Ascendant?’ he said.

‘Maybe.’

He nodded. ‘Yoneath, was it?’

‘Yes.’

‘The cavern at Fordamere?’

She frowned. She would have to make something up, otherwise he would keep on with his questions.

‘Indeed,’ she said. ‘I wanted to search the ancient temple where the Sextant had been kept.’

‘Oh? That sounds interesting. May I ask what you were hoping to find?’

‘You may.’

He smiled, but it was false. ‘What were you hoping to find?’

‘It occurred to me that something crucial to the workings of the Sextant may have become dislodged in the fire and subsequent collapse of the roof.’

He blinked. ‘You mean you think there may be something missing? A part that the device needs to function? I admit that never crossed my mind.’

‘Perhaps. My search was inconclusive. There appears to be nothing within the temple associated with the Sextant.’

He raised a finger and started to pace the room. ‘You may be onto something. A missing part? I shall meditate on this later this evening. Now, before you leave, there are a couple of matters I wish to discuss. The first is Arete.’

‘May I sit?’

‘Of course,’ he said, ‘please do. Would you like a drink?’

‘No, thank you. Arete?’

‘Yes. I acknowledge that her behaviour towards you has improved since Lord Bastion’s visit, but you should know that she still has her suspicions. She has mentioned to me more than once that she places no trust in you. You must be careful around her. I think it would be better if she doesn’t find out about you borrowing my Quadrant; do you agree?’

‘I do. Let’s keep it to ourselves.’

‘Excellent.’

‘What if she reads it out of your head?’

‘I will bury it deep. She would need to read me for many continuous hours to find something I do not particularly wish her to find. It surprises me that you are unaware of this technique, although the fact that you cannot be read yourself is probably the cause of it. You have no need to bury anything; the shields around your mind are impervious.’

‘I’m sure there is much that I do not understand.’

‘Feel free to ask me anything.’

‘Alright. How many worlds are in existence?’

He laughed. ‘Hmm. When do I begin? With Implacatus, I suppose; the first