Part 56 (1/2)
”But if I had not been so cursed then I --”
”Could have done what? Destroyed Elcho Falling of your own volition, rather than Eleanon's?”
Ravenna dropped her eyes.
”Will you tell me where these 'eggs' are?”
”They are scattered evenly about the outer walls of the citadel. Start at the second level, the outer eastern corner, and from there you should be able to sense them out easily yourself.”
”And can I do anything about them?”
”I doubt it.”
A muscle worked in the corner of Maximilian's jaw. ”What are the Lealfast doing? What are their plans?”
”I do not know this, either, Maximilian, truly. Maximilian --”
”Now you work for the One.”
”No. StarDancer broke his hold over me.”
”StarDancer is truly powerful.”
”Perhaps he can aid you against the One.”
Maximilian allowed a small silence to develop. ”Did StarDancer tell you of his plan?”
”That I should trap the One in the Land of Nightmares? Yes?”
”Dare I ask if you think it has any merit?”
Ravenna gave a small, sad smile. ”It will work, Maximilian, but only if you trust me completely and I cannot see the day you could do that.”
”That is the first piece of truth you have spoken since I came in that door, I think.”
”It has all been truth.”
Maximilian grunted. ”It is the perfect plan for you, isn't it. You get the power of the Lord of Elcho Falling for your son after all this.”
For our son, Ravenna thought. ”And yet be trapped inside the Land of Nightmares. I do not think that is power for him. Our son will never enjoy the privileges of Elcho Falling.”
”Are you trying to tell me that you are willing to trap yourself and your son in the Land of Nightmares for an eternity?”
”Yes, to make amends for all I have --”
Maximilian cut her off with a harsh bark of laughter. ”How long would that selfless resolution last, then? A year? A hundred? A thousand? Eventually you would grow tired of your promise and your repentance, and you would escape the Land of Nightmares and haul the One with you.”
”Speak to Drava, Maximilian. Speak to the Lord of Dreams. Once I am trapped with our son and the One inside the Land of Nightmares, Drava can cut it off entirely from your world and his. He has been longing to do that for aeons, I think.”
”I have had enough of casting the One in various prisons,” Maximilian said. ”I cannot believe that this would work.”
”Speak to Drava. I am sure you would trust him.”
Maximilian rose from his chair. ”I do not trust you, Ravenna, nor this apparent repentance of yours.”
”Nonetheless, it is genuine, Maximilian.”
He studied her a moment, then banged on the door for the guards to let him out.
”I'm sorry, Maxel,” Ravenna said. ”For everything.”
But Maximilian had gone, and did not hear her.
He paused in the corridor outside, shaking with anger and such deep regret that he did not think he could bear it.
He heard Garth walk up beside him.
”How did it end like this?” Maximilian said, his voice breaking down. ”How could it possibly have ended like this?”
Garth didn't know what to say. How could it have ended like this? The bond the three of them had shared, the adventures, the laughter.
The journey beyond the hanging wall.
How could it have ended like this?
Garth felt tears well in his own eyes, and he put a hand on Maximilian's shoulder and stood close while they both wept.
While Maximilian was with Ravenna, Insharah sought out Ishbel.
”My Lady?” he said, as he entered the chamber where she sat.
”Insharah,” Ishbel said, rising. She had much to do and consider, but she knew why Insharah had come, and Ishbel knew she owed him this and did not begrudge the interruption. She took Insharah's hands and kissed his cheek in greeting. ”It is good to see you, and once more allied with my friends. Come, sit.”
”My Lady,” Insharah said, ”I, as all my countrymen at Elcho Falling, need to know what you and Maximilian found in Isembaard.”
Ishbel felt her tears welling, and wished she had the power to stop it. Insharah had not yet heard the story of Hairekeep, unless Axis or Georgdi had told him in the meantime . . . and he wouldn't be sitting here with such hope in his eyes if he'd heard that dreadful tale.
”There is little good news, Insharah. I am so sorry. We were at Aqhat and travelled north then east through Sakkuth and past Hairekeep. There . . . well, all those who had sheltered at Hairekeep had died.”
Insharah sat back, withdrawing both physically and emotionally from Ishbel.
Ishbel remembered the piece of bone she had read with the name of Insharah's wife on it. She wanted to tell him, but couldn't.
He knew, anyway.
”Thank you,” Insharah said in a flat voice, and he rose and left the chamber.