The Diamond Isle

26

The pit was a simmering cauldron. In its depths a hoary, foaming stew effervesced.

‘It’s getting worse, brother.’

Felderth Jacinth nodded. ‘Further justification for the action we’re taking, if such were needed.’

‘Even action as unprecedented as this?’

‘In the present situation, Rhylan, any step is justified.’

‘There are many on the council who have doubts about that.’

‘Not a majority, I think. And the dissenters have no real alternative to offer.’

They resumed staring at the gummy, silverish liquid churning at the pit’s bottom.

‘I’ve never seen it so agitated,’ Rhylan said.

‘Nor have I,’ the Elder confessed.

‘Which makes me wonder if concentrating on this rebel horde on the Diamond Isle could be to the detriment of our response to the warlord.’

‘They’re one and the same, effectively. We’re not neglecting any threat Zerreiss presents, but equally we need to deal with the dissidents. Bearing in mind the danger of them joining together, tackling both carries the same weight in my mind. In any event, you’ve left your objections a bit late,’ Felderth said pointedly.

‘It’s not an objection. Just an observation.’

‘Well, my observation is that we have no choice but to follow the course I’ve chosen.’

There was another moist eruption in the pit. Energy flushed through the tinted power lines that criss-crossed the floor of the immense chamber. Its angry vigour lit up the great council table, setting the Rintarah eagle emblem crackling. And, for all the Jacinth siblings knew, the surge carried on to sear through the channels running beneath Jecellam’s bustling avenues.

‘We’re making history, Rhylan,’ Felderth remarked.

‘That’s what worries some people.’

‘How so?’

‘Your critics see this as some kind of capitulation to Gath Tampoor. At the least they regard it as moving closer to them, which would be unacceptable, of course.’

‘There’s no danger of that. How often must I say it? We’re simply acting together on this occasion because it suits us both.’

‘And you don’t see the risk of setting a precedent?’

‘That won’t be allowed to happen.’

‘How can you be so sure? Because if you’re wrong about this, brother, it could place a strain on the veracity of your leadership.’

‘You’re saying there could be some kind of rebellion? A coup? It would be the first time in our history if there was.’ The Elder seemed totally unconcerned.

‘I’m not suggesting anything so dramatic. But there are factions on the council who would welcome an opportunity to obstruct your rule, as you well know.’

‘They’ll come round when they see us emerging stronger from this crisis.’

‘Many are mindful that the council’s most important function, the duty that overrides all else, is to ensure the continued survival of our kind.’

‘You think I’m unaware of my responsibility? If any other than you had implied negligence in that respect, Rhylan, they’d have felt my wrath.’

‘I’m implying nothing. But you know the argument. By the very act of seeming to aid Gath Tampoor, we potentially weaken our own security.’

‘But they’re equally aiding us. It’s a trade-off. In the end it doesn’t change the balance; it just rids us both of an irritant.’

‘And what happens the next time a threat appears? Do we cooperate with the enemy again, and slowly erode the differences between us? Indeed, brother, some believe that’s your aim.’

‘They can believe what they like,’ the Elder said coolly. ‘But note that, despite the unpopularity of my stance, the council didn’t vote against it.’

‘As you say, they have no alternative to offer. And perhaps…’

‘Yes?’

‘Perhaps they intuit a deeper motive on your part.’

‘Which is what?’

‘That once Gath Tampoor has ceased to be of use to us, we’ll be in a better position to take advantage of their naivete. A blow has added weight when struck under a supposed truce.’ His conspiratorial smile was returned. ‘Though of course I appreciate that a leader’s intentions can’t always be plainly stated.’

‘Indeed. I daresay Gath Tampoor’s ruler has similar problems. Speaking of which…’

‘Yes, of course; it must be almost time.’ Rhylan backed off a couple of paces.

Felderth carried out a series of subtle hand gestures, a conjuration directed at the heaving contents of the pit. It proved resistant to his command and carried on its unruly bubbling.

‘Do you need help, brother?’ Rhylan asked.

A look of intense concentration knitted the Elder’s brow. ‘I think I have it.’

The pewter liquid quietened, save for a pattern of ripples stirring its surface. In seconds the disorder calmed and an image appeared. It sharpened into a face, then the face took on distinctive features.

The likeness of Empress Bethmilno came into focus.

‘Greetings,’ Jacinth intoned. ‘It’s been a long time.’

‘Let’s get straight down to business, shall we?’ the Empress replied coolly.

‘That’s my intention,’ the Elder came back.

‘I don’t expect us to forget old enmities, bearing in mind how deep they run. But for the moment we need to liaise on matters of importance.’

‘My sentiment entirely,’ Felderth concurred.

‘Very soon our fleets will rendezvous. Yet we’ve managed to get this far without settling the extent of our cooperation. This must be made clear.’

‘I agree that we need to set parameters. I suggest we keep this alliance-’

‘Temporary alliance,’ Bethmilno corrected.

‘As you say. I suggest this transient alliance be restricted solely to the original objectives. Simply put, we cooperate without let until those aims are achieved. Then, at an agreed point in time beyond that, normal hostilities between our states can resume.’

‘That would be acceptable. Though, of course, the temptation to take advantage of the period between triumph and the ending of our pact could prove strong.’

Rhylan said nothing. His eyes flicked between the Empress’s image and his brother’s stern features.

‘It may be a temptation for Gath Tampoor,’ Felderth declared loftily. ‘Rintarah, on the other hand, honours its promises.’

The Empress snorted. ‘I won’t dignify that with a response. Other than to say that we have a mutual interest in survival, as our history attests. We’ll have to trust in that when it comes to honouring pledges.’

‘I’m not sure I infer your meaning.’

‘Then I’ll be transparent. Any premature aggression would invite the full strength of Gath Tampoor’s military capability. Let that be a buttress to our agreement.’

‘And I can offer a similar assurance as far as Rintarah’s forces are concerned.’

‘I see we understand each other, Elder.’

‘Clarity is always my goal, Majesty.’

‘There remains only the matter of when our provisional union should come to an end.’

‘Shall we say forty-eight hours after the eradication of the targets?’

Bethmilno thought about it, trying to see if agreement gave the opposition any kind of advantage. ‘All right,’ she decided. ‘Word will be sent to our fleet commanders.’

‘And to ours,’ Felderth replied, raising a hand.

The link was broken. Bethmilno’s image dissolved.

The Empress watched as Felderth’s likeness fragmented and disappeared into the glutinous liquid.

The throne room in her palace at Merakasa was dimly lit and virtually deserted. Several representations of the empire’s dragon emblem decorated the chamber, and the most prominent, occupying a sizeable wall, throbbed with magical vitality. The Empress came away from the hollow where the quicksilver simmered and turned to the only other person present.

‘Why do we need Rintarah, grandmother?’ he asked. To an eavesdropper, the use of her familial title might have seemed bizarre, given that he was an old man himself.

‘We don’t. Our presence will stop them making common cause with the rebels or Zerreiss against us. It’s all about expediency.’

‘So we’ll betray them?’

‘Of course. Just as soon as they’ve ceased to be of use.’

‘There are some stirrings around the court about all this.’

‘Stirrings?’

‘About the wisdom of cooperating with the enemy.’

‘I’ve just made clear exactly what that cooperation amounts to.’

‘Yes, but there’s talk about whether you’ve got your priorities right.’

Bethmilno adopted an aggressive tone. ‘You’re questioning them?’

He shook his head. ‘I wouldn’t dream of it, grandmother. But there are those who express concern about developments other than the rebels.’

She nodded cannily. ‘You’re referring to the Clepsydra.’

‘Yes. Is it true that it’s been discovered?’

‘It was never really lost. We always knew approximately where it was, but we hadn’t bothered locating it. It’s only come to light now because our agents were shadowing a Diamond Isle ship, which led them to it.’ She smiled in a self-satisfied manner.

‘And is the Clepsydra really indicating an…end point?’

‘It wasn’t far off doing that the last time I saw it. And that was a very long time ago.’

‘Are you saying we have nothing to fear, grandmother?’

‘I’m saying I doubt the Clepsydra’s veracity. Because for all the skill with which it was created, it’s stood unattended for an age. There have been numerous shifts in the earth’s crust during that time, not to mention extremes of weather. Changes that could impair its function, and it goes without saying that it’s beyond the capability of any alive now to repair it.’

‘What of the so-called Source? If the rebels found that, too-’

‘Again, a groundless concern.’ The Empress was growing impatient.

‘But its power,’ her grandson ploughed on regardless. ‘Wouldn’t it be an appalling weapon in enemy hands?’

‘Only hands capable of using it. The rabble has no more understanding of how to master an artefact from what they call the Dreamtime than a dog knows how to drive a carriage. If we thought otherwise, we would have sought out and destroyed the Clepsydra long ago.’

‘I repeat, grandmother, that it’s the Source which causes most concern.’

‘And I say again,’ she replied tetchily, ‘that they have no hope of drawing on it. In any event it seems it’s been put beyond their reach, thanks to a bit of inventive maliciousness on the paladins’ part. Stop fretting’

‘I’ll try. So, how do we proceed?’

‘First we annihilate the rebels. Then we destroy the warlord. There’s nothing complicated about it,’ she assured him.

‘It’s simple,’ Zerreiss repeated patiently. ‘All I’m ordering is a diversion, and not an enormously big one at that.’ He indicated a spot on the hide map pegged up in front of them. ‘From here to around…here. It’ll put just a few days on our schedule. A week at most.’

‘With respect, sir,’ Wellem said, ‘it’s to do with practicalities.’ He jabbed his thumb sternward. ‘Redirecting all this is no small task.’

Their flagship was at the head of a massive fleet, consisting of a singularly ill-assorted collection of vessels; captured, commandeered and hastily built. Most were troop carriers, decks jammed with combatants and lashed-down war engines. Accompanying supply craft, laden with provisions, moved low in the freezing water.

‘Apart from re-plotting our course,’ Wellem continued, ‘the distribution of rations would have to be adjusted. That and a dozen other problems make it a logistical nightmare.’

‘I’m aware of all this,’ Zerreiss replied, ‘and the difficulties aren’t nearly as daunting as you make out, old friend. But I appreciate your efforts to save me from myself, as you see it.’

‘Sir, I would never-’

The warlord raised a hand to silence him, adding good-humouredly, ‘Of course you would. But this detour has great implications for our struggle.’

‘To a rock in the middle of the ocean, occupied by radicals? Do we need allies that badly?’

‘This isn’t about recruiting, is it, sir?’ ventured Sephor, the warlord’s younger aide. ‘It’s about him, isn’t it? The man in your dreams.’

‘I’ve not made a secret of it,’ Zerreiss confirmed. ‘Nor do I take strategic decisions based on hunches or intuition. You know that. Yet I strongly feel that heading for that island, meeting that man, are prerequisites for everything else we have to do.’

‘I don’t pretend to understand,’ Sephor admitted, ‘but I trust your instinct in this, sir. You’ve never steered us wrongly before.’

‘And I don’t intend to start now,’ Zerreiss assured him.

‘You know we won’t be the only ones heading there,’ Wellem reminded them. ‘Our intelligence says at least one empire fleet’s moving into those waters.’

‘It’s a good point,’ Sephor reckoned. ‘For the first time we’d be engaging the full force of imperial might head on.’

‘Have faith in me,’ the warlord said. ‘We’ve been preparing to take our message to their civilised world for long enough. It’s time we met.’ He fixed them with his cool, steady gaze. ‘Signal the new course.’

It was often said that the gods had some curious ideas about the deployment of their human progeny. While sceptics saw this as pure chance, and believers viewed it as divine intervention, both agreed that the disposition of players in the great game of life frequently displayed a savage irony.

So it was that this vast stretch of water hosted another ill-assorted troupe, also bound for the Diamond Isle.

‘Drink in the sight,’ Devlor Bastorran said. ‘You’re witnessing a momentous event.’

‘Is that so?’ Aphri Kordenza yawned into the back of her hand theatrically. ‘Just looks like a lot of boats to me.’

‘Ships,’ the paladin corrected.

‘Boats, ships; they’re only boring things that happen to float.’

‘You’ve no sense of history.’

‘Aphrim and I have something more important: a sense of self-preservation.’

‘Then perhaps you should take more interest in what’s going on around you.’ Bastorran gazed at the meld distastefully.

‘We take in enough to ensure our security. Everything else is surplus to requirements.’

‘It really doesn’t concern you that we’re part of something no living eyes have seen before?’

‘No. And we think it doesn’t matter to you either. We reckon you’re like us; when it comes down to it, you’re only interested in the Qalochian and getting your own back on him.’

‘Wiping out the rebels has its appeal, too,’ he said thoughtfully.

‘Sure, but even that’s not personal like Caldason, is it?’

‘I’ve never denied it. At least, I’ve never denied it to you.’

‘Then don’t give us all this history in the making shit, Bastorran.’

He held her gaze. ‘If you’ve got any ideas about getting to him first and depriving me of my revenge, freak, you’ll be history yourself. Both of you.’

‘You’ve no worries on that score. We’ll be contenting ourselves with cutting rebel throats, and hunting down the Ardacris woman.’

‘Who’s to be kept alive, remember. I promised Laffon I’d deliver her for interrogation.’

‘You’re no fun at all, are you?’

‘I only said she’d be fit for questioning. I didn’t say anything about her being whole.’

‘That’s some consolation, I suppose.’

‘Helping bring about Caldason’s death should provide further solace for you. So long as it’s me who strikes the final blow.’

The symbiote brightened. ‘That is something worth looking forward to. Aphrim’s going to be absolutely-’

Someone discreetly cleared their throat. They turned to see Bastorran’s aide approaching.

‘What is it, Meakin?’ the paladin snapped.

‘Begging your pardon, sir, but the Captain sends his compliments and asked me to let you know that our fleet and Rintarah’s are about to officially rendezvous. Up ahead, sir.’ He held out a glamoured spy tube. ‘You might find this useful.’

Bastorran grunted and snatched it.

‘Amazing sight, isn’t it, sir?’ Meakin ventured. ‘History in the making.’

‘Quite,’ Bastorran returned crisply.

Kordenza rolled her eyes skyward.

‘The Captain also said that we should be in sight of the Diamond Isle in less than a day,’ Meakin added.

‘And not a minute too soon,’ the symbiote mumbled.

On all sides, the sea was hidden by uncountable numbers of vessels of every conceivable kind. Forests of bobbing masts blotted out the horizon.

Ahead, the two stupendous fleets were merging, aglow with magical radiance.