Spellbreaker (68 page)

“Lea, what's the matter? Nothing's going to happen to you.” She pulled her closer. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, yes. I'm fine. Nothing's wrong. It's just”—she motioned to the crowd—“all this.”

Francesca nodded. It was overwhelming. And then Dhrun stood beside them, and Leandra let go of her mother to tightly embrace the goddess. There was chanting and singing now, and many in the crowd were dancing.

Out on the bay, the Lornish galleys were sailing into the harbor while the imperial fleet retreated. But the celebration couldn't go on too much longer. Two large fires already burned in the city's lower terraces.

The shouting grew louder behind Francesca and she turned to see that the circle of red cloaks surrounding her had merged with another such circle. They were now among blue-robed hydromancers and, very suddenly, her husband. He was dressed in heavy black-and-green silk robes and gloves so that his skin wouldn't accidently touch anyone in the crowd.

Before Francesca could react, Nicodemus scooped her up and spun her around. She found herself clinging so tightly to him she began to fear she would break his ribs.

“I was so worried,” he said. “I was so worried. They almost didn't let me out of the Floating City.”

“It's the Southern war gods,” Francesca said and pointed. “They just arrived.”

His smiled broadened in a very particular way.

She frowned at him. “What is it?”

“When I was up the mountain, the Trimuril and I realized we should have the people pray for winds to blow the convoy to us.”

Francesca rolled her eyes. “Typical of you to ruin this moment by bragging.”

“I wasn't—”

She interrupted him with a kiss. They held each other again and then Francesca realized that the motion of the milling crowd had again brought her close to Leandra.

Her daughter was leaning close to Ellen. They seemed to be talking over the noise of the crowd, but neither woman was smiling or embracing. Then Leandra noticed her father. For a moment neither of them moved, then Nicodemus went to her and pulled Francesca along by the hand.

When Leandra saw what he was doing, she stiffened. But then Nicodemus was upon her, enfolding her in one arm, Francesca in the other. At first Francesca shared Leandra's apprehension. She could not remember when, if ever, the three of them had stood like this. But then, slowly, Leandra embraced both of her parents. So Francesca leaned in and held her family. She prayed that this moment together would not be their last.

 

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

Kneeling before the Sacred Regent, Nicodemus became increasingly uncomfortable. Outside evening cooled the crater lake, but inside the Floating Palace retained the day's heat. The hundred unwashed and sweating bodies attending the emergency council had made the air pungent. A court attendant had lit incense, which had only added a cloyingly aromatic component to the room's odor.

Beside Nicodemus, Leandra shifted and Francesca tried to hide her discomfort. The council had already been in session for two hours. The Sacred Regent had officially welcomed the Southern war gods. There had followed reports by generals and native war gods. Although the Southern deities had improved the city's situation, Chandralu was not in a position to take the offensive.

Reports from city officials were grimmer. The casualties from the nighttime bombardment were severe. A fire had destroyed a third of the city's rice stores. One official calculated that the city could continue to fight for only sixty more days. Others contested this number, but all agreed that a prolonged blockade would go poorly.

There followed a brief discussion as to who—the empire or the league—would get reinforcements to Chandralu faster. The empire was closer but likely had no ships to spare without leaving their home kingdoms undefended. The Dralish and Lornish navies, on the other hand, could dispatch ships almost immediately. An urgent colaboris spell had already been sent to Starfall Keep, but the Council of Starfall moved at a painfully bureaucratic pace. Worse, there was no guarantee that the Council would understand the urgency of the situation.

Surprisingly the Trimuril had remained silent throughout the proceedings. Indeed, as far as Nicodemus could tell, her incarnation was not present in the throne room.

At last the Sacred Regent asked the wardens for their counsel. Nicodemus bowed and spoke. “Sacred Regent, we agree that it is imperative that the league immediately dispatch a fleet to break the blockade. To that end, we believe Lady Warden Francesca and Lady Warden Leandra should hurry to Starfall Keep, where they can ensure that the necessary action be quickly taken.”

From behind Nicodemus, the dignitaries murmured. The Sacred Regent cleared his throat. “We prefer that the Lady Warden of Ixos remain in her chosen kingdom.”

Nicodemus bowed his head. “And she would prefer to stay; however, she cannot presently contribute to the city's defense. Neither could the Lady Warden Francesca now that she has been changed.”

The Sacred Regent shifted on his throne. “We would prefer she remained. If she survives the present attack, she would eventually gain enough power to defeat the empire. When Lorn and Dral understand her importance, they will more quickly send the needed aid.”

The murmuring in the room grew. The Sacred Regent had not said that Leandra was the reincarnation of Los, but everyone in the room was thinking it. Moreover everyone was contemplating the possibility that Lorn or Dral might be so squeamish about harboring Los reincarnated that they would delay sending aid or, worse, make a treaty with the empire.

Nicodemus and his family had anticipated this fear. So he bowed again and said, as loudly as he could, “Regent, we share your concerns. However, what lies in store for Lady Warden Leandra is beyond conjecture.” That was technically true. All signs suggested that the Savanna Walker's prophecy was a strong one; however, it was still only a prophecy and therefore not an eventuality.

Nicodemus continued. “It would be more effective if I were to remain in Chandralu. I can continue to cast my metaspell here to keep our deities as strong as possible. More importantly we can remind Lorn and Dral that if the city is lost, then my metaspells would also be lost.”

This produced louder murmuring. The Sacred Regent, however, did not seem impressed. “We were not aware that the Halcyon had considered leaving us.”

“Because I have not. I speak only as one concerned for Ixos, the league, and my family.”

“To which of those entities are you most devoted?”

“To all three together, Sacred Regent. As we understand it, none can thrive without the others.”

The Sacred Regent frowned. Then Nicodemus realized, to his great surprise, that the regent wished he could keep all of them as political prisoners. If he did so, Nicodemus could invoke his status as the league's Halcyon and denounce a Sacred Regent who had failed to protect his city from the empire. Nicodemus doubted he could garner enough support to depose the regent, but he certainly could break the city into hostile factions at a time when it could not survive infighting.

The Sacred Regent spoke, “We will consider what you have said.”

“Sacred Regent, would you let me reaffirm my commitment to the people and pantheon of Ixos?” That seemed to remove some of the tension from around the old man's eyes. “Under your direction, I will know exactly when to cast the metaspell for maximum advantage. It is a difficult spell to cast and your leadership in directing my family would greatly improve the outcome.”

The regent's eyes narrowed, and Nicodemus had no doubt that the old man understood the implied threat of noncooperation.

The only sounds were those of distant chanting from the priests on the Floating City. Could the old man really be so much of a fool as to oppose him?

At last the regent nodded. “We thank you for your wise counsel, Halcyon. If we were to send Lady Warden Leandra and Lady Warden Francesca to Starfall Island as our advocates, how would you suggest we get them past the blockade?”

Relief washed through Nicodemus. “We suggest arming the Lornish war galleys and setting out on the bay as if they meant to fight out of the Cerulean Strait. While the imperial fleet is moving to block the attempt, we could sneak the Lady Wardens down the peninsula with a small force of red cloaks. From there they could make their way to Port Mercy and then to Starfall. The Lornish war galleys, having gotten a better sense of the remaining imperial fleet, could then return to the city without bloodshed.”

The Sacred Regent turned first to his admirals then to others in the crowd whom Nicodemus could not see. At last the Sacred Regent nodded. “Very well, Lord Warden. The commanders of both ships and soldiers will meet with you tonight to devise the plans. We shall meet again tomorrow morning. If your plans are satisfactory, we will proceed in the afternoon. Does this satisfy you?”

Nicodemus bowed. “Very much so, Sacred Regent.”

With that the regent moved on to other matters. The physicians of the infirmary spoke about the difficulties of treating so many wounded. Then came civic officials with proposals about sheltering the newly homeless and repairing the damaged sewers and bridges. At last the Sacred Regent called an end to the meeting.

Glancing out the window, Nicodemus noticed it was still evening. The throne room had cooled and a breeze had dissipated some of the bad air. He stood and stretched his sore legs.

“The old goat isn't going to make it easy for us,” Francesca grumbled.

“Not so loud,” he murmured through a smile. “At least he's not fighting us on the point.”

“Not in public. We had better make our plans for escape watertight. Whom do you want me to cajole, the red cloaks or the admirals?”

“The red cloaks. You're going to be stuck traveling with them, so you'd better be happy with the arrangements.”

“Good point,” she murmured and then, seeing the Red Cloaks' Commander, hurried away into the crowd.

Nicodemus noticed then that he was standing next to Leandra and Dhrun and that the two of them were engaged in an intense and private conversation. He could hear snatches of what Dhrun was saying: “… you're worrying too much … I feel about you … we'll still be together when…”

Embarrassed to be eavesdropping, Nicodemus turned away and began to look for the admirals. Most of them were standing by the dais waiting for the Sacred Regent.

Nearby Francesca was engaging the commander of the red cloaks while her student, Ellen, talked to one of the regent's secretaries. Nicodemus hoped they were making headway and was about to start off after the admirals when he heard Leandra's voice. He turned and saw that she was looking up at him with a troubled expression. “What is it, Lea? Is something the matter?”

“Everything is fine, I have several matters to see to before I leave Chandralu.”

“Anything troubling?”

“No, just loose ends to tie up as the warden, make sure my records about various neodemons get into the right hands, that sort of thing. It's going to keep me busy, so I'm afraid that I can't help you and Mom with the escape plans.”

“We should be able to manage it.”

“I … I just wanted to tell you that, after I had to take away Mom's draconic nature…”

Nicodemus tried to keep his expression neutral. He had been shocked to hear of Francesca's change but grateful that she had survived Vivian's trap.

Leandra continued with difficulty. “Afterward … I began to see things more clearly for the first time. I tried to explain to Mother, but I don't think I got through. I think I was right all along to despise both the league and the empire for not doing better, but I didn't understand what you and Mom saw in the world. Not until I had to deconstruct part of her … I think we were finally able to forgive each other, and I saw how I have to keep trying to change the world.”

A twinge of fear moved through Nicodemus. “You're still willing to escape, yes?”

“Oh, yes. I'm not opposed to that anymore. It's just that, I have to try to make a change.”

Nicodemus was relieved. “Lea, once we get you to safety, there's going to be plenty of time. And don't worry about me. Lorn and Dral can't survive without my metaspells. They'll send a fleet to break the blockade.”

She was shaking her head. “I know it feels like there will be a lot of time, but there won't be.”

He started to ask what she meant but then saw that the Sacred Regent was proceeding from the throne room and the admirals were following. “Lea, I have to catch the admirals.”

“Of course, but … Dad, just … if you and Mom were ever to have another child, I'd hope you'd tell them about what I tried to do.”

He laughed. “Lea, you're being foolish. What's this about?”

“I don't know how to explain.”

“Lea, I have to go. If the admirals get away, they'll come up with some excuse to scuttle our plans.”

“Yes, of course, go. But, Dad, if we don't get a chance to talk before I leave, promise you'll think about what I was trying to do before all this madness.”

“All right, I will. And don't worry too much. We'll all be together again before you know it.” He took her hand and squeezed it.

She stared at him for a moment and then nodded. “You'd better hurry then.”

He turned and saw the last admiral walk out the doorway. “Fiery heaven,” he swore then squeezed his daughter's hand one last time and hurried off through the crowd.

It was only after he had left the throne room and called after the admirals that Nicodemus felt a peculiar sense of foreboding.

 

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

After so many days afloat and aloft, Vivian found solid ground unsettlingly firm. She spent the afternoon and evening touring the headlands north of the Cerulean Strait and was now hiking down the jungle path to a camp near the shore.