Part 20 (1/2)
But even though they both tried to bespeak Anigel, she took no notice of them, but continued her stuporous sleep, unable to respond to the magical summons. Kadiya then asked the talismans if her sister and the others were safe from danger.
No.
”Can you tell us how we may aid them?”
No.
”Where are they going?”
To Brandoba.
”Good G.o.d!” Kadiya exclaimed. ”Can it be true?”
The question is impertinent.
She laughed. ”Yes, of course it is... Tell us if the Star Men plan some villainy during the festival in Brandoba.”
The question is impertinent.
”Tell us where Orogastus is.”
The question is impertinent.
Kadiya and Tolivar opened their eyes and exchanged rueful glances. ”I think our talismans will say nothing of the foul sorcerer and his minions because the Star protects them,” she said. ”But when your mother awakes we can try again to bespeak her, and mayhap succeed.” Their hands separated and the occult radiance was extinguished.
”Lady,” Sir Edinar said, ”how did our dear Queen and her companions seem? Are they truly uninjured?”
Kadiya described the vision to the others. As she spoke of the frowsy leader of the riders, Critch broke in: ”This ragged redheaded man you saw may be Archduke Gyorgibo, the Emperor's younger brother. He disappeared many moons ago while hunting in the Forest of Lirda.”
”Where is the place?” Kadiya asked.
The Cadoon pointed toward the mountainous skyline across the bay. ”It is an imperial preserve, the haunt of fierce beasts and carnivorous birds such as the terrible nyar, and lies deep in the eastern highlands on the other side of Brandoba. It has long been forbidden to human commoners and to all Folk. Only the Sobra-nian n.o.bility hunt there-and not even many of them, for within the past two years the Lirda has become notorious as a haunt of sorcerers. When the Archduke disappeared, all but one of his party were found slain. The surviving huntsman was mortally wounded, but before he died he said that Star Men led by the outlaw Archd.u.c.h.ess Naelore had seized Gyorgibo. Since then, no one has dared to enter the preserve except the renegade lords who support Naelore's claim to the throne. If your Queen travels through the Forest of Lirda, she may be in great peril.”
”The riders with my mother did not seem to be fearful or in flight for their lives,” Prince Tolivar said. ”Indeed, they seemed only exceedingly weary, and their mounts near worn out.”
Kadiya shook her head slowly. ”I can think of no way we might help them. But there is another person we must bespeak now: King Antar. You must help me again, Tola, since I have never been able to bespeak ordinary humans, as your Aunt Haramis can.”
They called out, and behind their closed eyes appeared a clear vision of Antar roused suddenly out of sleep in his chambers at Ruwenda Citadel. The King was astounded that Kadiya had her stolen Burning Eye back and that it was once more in working order.
Kadiya brushed all this aside. ”Dear brother-in-law, I have some encouraging news.” And she went on to tell the King what the talismans had revealed about Anigel.
Antar's joy was only slightly dampened when he learned what had befallen Haramis. ”Perhaps,” he said, ”the White Lady has gone to the Three Moons in order to enlist the help of the Sky Archimage. Perhaps he knows a way to destroy that wretched Orogastus once and for all.”
”I suppose it is possible. After all, Denby did help us before... But now I must tell you that there are rumors of impending trouble in the Sobranian capital. Orogastus and his Star Men may be on the verge of making their move.”
”Is there anything I can do?” Antar said. ”I feel helpless, being so far away.”
Kadiya thought hard for a moment. ”I think you should have a Nyssomu friend summon numbers of the Vispi to you, using the speech without words.”
”Immu can do it. We rescued her from the swamp.”
”Excellent. If we do manage to rescue Ani and the other kidnapped rulers and take s.h.i.+p out of Sobrania, the Vispi Folk can fly on their lammergeiers and spread the tidings to the other governments.” She paused. ”If we fail, or if Orogastus mounts a successful coup and topples Denombo from his throne, that information must also be transmitted.”
”No matter what happens,” the King said, ”all of the Peninsular nations will have to make immediate preparations for war.
There is no time to waste holding conferences, as Haramis hoped to do.”
”I fear you are right.”
”Most of the court turned back with me to the Citadel because of the severed road,” Antar said. ”But General Gorkain and Marshal Lakanilo pressed on to Derorguila with a small band of stalwarts, and they will rally our lowland subjects while I raise a smaller army here to defend the Mazy Mire. Even so, there will be little we can do to counter sorcery without the a.s.sistance of the White Lady. We must pray for her swift return-and hope that you are wrong about Orogastus going to war.”
”If he conquers Sobrania, he will certainly use the great fleet of imperial galleys to invade the eastern nations. I intend to do my utmost to forewarn Emperor Denombo, and give him what help I can with my talisman once Ani and the other hostage rulers are out of danger.”
”May the Lords of the Air a.s.sist you,” Antar said.
They discussed strategic matters for a few more minutes, and then said farewell. Kadiya and the Prince opened their eyes.
”You did not tell Father that I had the magical coronet,” Tolivar said in a low voice.
”No. Let him learn of your foolishness after you have freely returned the talisman to your mother. It will mitigate his sorrow and anger.” She then bade Tolivar join hands with her a final time. ”We will now try to inform the Sobranian Emperor of his peril.”
They commanded their talismans, and a vision of the ruler came to them. Denombo was sound asleep, alone in his sumptuous chamber except for a pet snithe curled up on a rug at the foot of his bed. His dearly beloved wife Rekae had died six years earlier, together with the stillborn baby boy who would have been the imperial heir. In spite of the urgent pleas of his counselors and the subkings of the loosely knit barbarian empire, Denombo had not remarried.
Kadiya bespoke him softly: ”Emperor! Emperor of Sobrania, awake.”
The sleeper stirred beneath a great mound of down quilts. He was wearing a gold embroidered nightcap and his face was half-buried in the bed linen. When Kadiya called him again, a single bleary eye opened slowly.
”Who is there?” Denombo mumbled, through unkempt brick-red whiskers.
”I am Kadiya of the Mazy Mire, sister to Queen Anigel of Laboruwenda. I speak to you by magical means.”
The Emperor sat bolt upright, instantly awake, and his gaze swept the room. No one was there.
”Avaunt, dream-demon!” he croaked. The startled snithe, spine-scales erect with anxiety, got up and trotted to the side of its master, uttering muted howls.
Kadiya tried to rea.s.sure the ruler. ”I am no demon, Emperor, but your friend, come to give you an important message. Do not be afraid.”
Denombo's eyes bulged and his face turned purple with anger. ”Sobranians are afraid of nothing! Show yourself, d.a.m.n you!”
But Kadiya, although slightly more expert in the use of her talisman than Prince Tolivar, had never been able to Send an image, nor could she do it now with the two talismans working together. When she tried to explain this to the Emperor, the barbarian whisked a large dagger from beneath the pillows, flung back the bedclothes, and bounded onto the floor with the weapon ready.
”I know who you are!” he bellowed. ”You are an evil wizard- one of those d.a.m.ned Star-bearing lackeys of my traitorous sister! Guards! To me! Guards!”
”Emperor, the sorcerer Orogastus may be planning to attack you! Listen to me-”