Shroud of Eternity

CHAPTER 40

As clouds scudded across the sky, the wizards of Ildakar began to make preparations in earnest to raise their protective shroud. Their ritual would take place within two days, and at least a dozen of the new slaves delivered by the Norukai would be killed.

Nicci intended to discover a way to stop it before it was too late.

Nathan returned from Andre’s twisted studio, disheartened while the fleshmancer was simply matter-of-fact. “You need the heart of a wizard, but I have none to give you,” Andre said. “Be patient; there will come a time. Plenty of time, hmmm?”

“But you intend to raise the shroud again,” Nathan said. “We’ll be trapped inside.”

Andre’s bald forehead furrowed with surprise. “Trapped? We would consider it protected. You have a very dark view of the world, my friend. Under our shroud of eternity you need not feel threatened by the outside world.”

Nicci accompanied the two men as they entered the ruling chamber, caught in her own thoughts. The night before, she had slipped out into the dark streets again, seeking Mirrormask’s representatives, but found no one to talk to. She felt tensions brewing in the city, a simmering undercurrent of anger. She was sure the rebels would attempt something soon, and she wanted to participate. With her gift, she would be a powerful ally to their cause.

Mirrormask and his representatives must be watching her, but they made no contact.

Jagang had been willing to sacrifice countless thousands of foot soldiers, using sheer numbers to score tiny victories … until those small victories added up to complete conquest. Seeing the strength of the shroud spell, as well as the petrification magic that had frozen the army of General Utros, she knew how powerful were the wizards of Ildakar, but no one was truly invincible. She herself had killed Emperor Jagang.

If Nicci played her hand right, and if Mirrormask was the positive leader she hoped, Ildakar would see the error of its ways.

Jostling one another, paying no attention to the guards in the tower, Captain Kor and his two Norukai companions pushed their way forward into the ruling chamber. Kor made no bow of respect or other recognition of Ildakaran authority. “We intend to depart. The cargo we purchased has been delivered by platform down the bluff face and stowed aboard our serpent ships. Our crew is restless and ready to go downriver to the estuary and back to the open sea. Your city is too fine and decadent. We can feel ourselves growing softer each day.”

“We thank you for your business,” Maxim said, “and we welcome open trade, should you return.…”

Thora cut him off. “Ildakar may not be here. Once we raise the shroud, we will search for ways to make it permanent, in order to be at peace again. Corruption from the outside has caused much damage to our pristine society. With the shroud in place and everyone where they can be accountable, we’ll have centuries to hunt down Mirrormask and exterminate every one of his followers, like beetles under an overturned rock.”

Kor, Lars, and Yorik chuckled gruffly. “We wouldn’t miss you either, if you were to vanish forever. Though we have told King Grieve about this city and he wishes to see it.”

“Then he’d best live long,” Thora said.

Kor stepped forward, the shark’s tooth sticking out on his shaven scalp. “Before our ships depart, one of our men is missing. Dar disappeared two days ago. Where is he?”

“Keeper’s beard,” Maxim said in disgust, “why should we keep account of your men? We hear he frequented the silk yaxen. Have you searched the dachas? Maybe you’ll find him drunk in an alley. He certainly had a fondness for bloodwine at our banquets.”

“Or maybe he had his throat slit, accosted by robbers in the darkness,” Kor accused.

Thora’s porcelain face flushed with pinpricks of red. “I am offended by your suggestion. Such a thing could never happen in our fine city. We have no crime here, no robbery. Everyone is happy here and content.”

Despite the seriousness of the charge, the three Norukai chuckled with sarcastic laughter. “Perhaps you’ve never set foot in your own city, Sovrena. Every place has its element of malcontents who must be put in their places.”

“Not Ildakar.” Thora bit off her words as viciously as if she were tearing roasted flesh from a bone.

“I’m sure dear Captain Avery might disagree,” Maxim said.

Nicci spoke up in a chill voice, “If your man Dar was so weak he could be accosted by street rabble, then perhaps he was no Norukai after all.”

Captain Kor spun to look at her with a dead black gaze and then pounded the center of his chest as if to cough loose a trapped morsel of food. He laughed. The other two Norukai laughed with him, their loose jaws clacking together.

“The pretty sorceress has a point.” Kor snorted. “Very well, enough about the man. He can be replaced.” The Norukai turned, adjusting their weapons at their waists. “Our boats are loaded, and it’s time to go downriver. Maybe we’ll see Ildakar again.” He glanced at the wizard commander and the sovrena, then passed his gaze over the duma members. “Or maybe we will not. I won’t mourn either way.”

* * *

At the end of the day, Nicci and Nathan went to the edge of the steep bluffs high above the Killraven River. She had not seen Bannon since the previous day and assumed he was with his friends.

They watched the setting sun spill a crimson afterglow on the wide river as the Norukai serpent ships raised their midnight-blue sails and moved downriver, leaving Ildakar alone but not at peace.