“Of course, you know that our Peninsular Concord requires us to come to Var’s aid. Kadiya, Jagun, and the contingent of Wyvilo set off northward at once up the Great Mutar River to alert the garrisons in Ruwenda. With luck, our knights and men-at-arms will arrive in time to defend Mutavari and foil the invasion. But Lord Marshal Owanon and my other military leaders fear that sending the Ruwendian forces south will leave Labornok wide open to a massed assault from the north. The invasion of Var may actually be only a feint, disguising the real intent of Queen Regent Ganondri and Portolanus—an attack upon us. Raktum has so many ships that it can easily spare a small fleet for the assault on Var and have ample numbers left to attack Triola and Lakana and our other northern ports, and even Derorguila itself. Raktum’s scheme may well succeed, especially if Lord Osorkon has turned traitor—which seems probable, given his sister’s involvement in the abduction of the children. And if Labornok falls, so will Ruwenda.
“You must understand, Hara, that without Antar, the union of the Two Thrones will surely falter. I myself cannot hope to rally the loyalist nobles of Labornok against the combined might of Osorkon’s faction, Raktum, and Tuzamen. This is one more reason why I am determined to give up my talisman, if I can ensure the return of my husband and the defense of our nation by doing so.”
Haramis had listened to this recital with increasing misgiving. Now, with Anigel having fallen silent, she asked: “What does Kadiya intend to do? Lead the Ruwendian troops in the defense of Var?”
“Nay. She … she and I had a fearful quarrel over the matter of the ransom. I think she would have killed me, had she dared, to prevent my handing the coronet over to the sorcerer. She said she would rally the Ruwendians and send them south. But then she plans to travel to the Place of Knowledge and ask of its sindona Teacher a way to stop me from exchanging my talisman for Antar. She will not succeed. Not while I live.”
The vivid blue eyes of the Queen brimmed with tears, but her jaw was set and hard. Haramis knew that now was not the time to remonstrate with her sister. Instead, with great gentleness, she told Anigel of her own adventures in the Kimilon and at the strange home of the Archimage of the Sea. She expressed her joy that Shiki had helped in the rescue of Niki and Jan, and urged Anigel to take the loyal Dorok into her service until it was possible for him to rejoin Haramis.
“And soon,” Haramis added, “God and the Lords of the Air willing, I shall complete my studies with the Archimage of the Sea. If you can only hold off giving up your talisman until I gain full mastery of my own—”
Slowly, Anigel removed the Three-Headed Monster coronet from its place among the papers. She held it over the table, between herself and Haramis’s phantom presence, and spoke in a voice unyielding as stone. “I will give this coronet to the sorcerer whenever he asks for it, if he certainly ensures that my Antar is returned to me safely. And the Triune God witnesseth this.”
Haramis sat frozen, staring at her sister’s talisman in shocked disbelief. The tiny fossil trillium flower embedded in the amber at the coronet’s front was no longer black, but as red as blood. Mutely, she pointed this out to Anigel.
“Yes,” said the Queen, unperturbed. “And Kadi’s is red also. The flowers were transformed at our angry parting. But it does not matter. Nothing matters, save that I have my dear husband safe again, and his country has its King.”
“Kadiya! It is I, Haramis.”
“Great God!” cried the Lady of the Eyes, for her sister seemed to be standing on the storm-tossed waters of the Mutar River, directly in front of the bow of the huge Wyvilo canoe that bore her. Two of the craft were speeding upstream, and sheets of rain lashed their occupants, even though the Dry Time was well advanced.
The amazed Wyvilo slowed their paddling, and the two boats bearing Kadiya and her party hovered in the midst of the turbulent waterway.
“Hara, have you learned to walk upon water?” Kadiya exclaimed.
“It is only that I have become more proficient in the use of my talisman,” the Archimage replied. “It is an image of me that you see, having no true substance. You note that I can now bespeak you directly, even though you have no talisman of your own. I can now communicate across the leagues with any being.”
“Good,” said Kadiya tartly. “Bespeak that royal numskull, Ani, and convince her not to give up her talisman to the sorcerer!”
“I have tried, and I will try again. But what concerns me now is the antagonism between you two. I see that Ani was correct in saying that the trillium in your amulet has turned blood red. But tell me she was wrong in believing that you would have killed her to prevent the ransom of Antar.”
Kadiya’s brow was as stormy as the Tassaleyo Forest sky. “You and I know what it would mean if Portolanus had two talismans in his possession.” She gestured at the unseasonable tempest. “He is the reason that the balance of the world is upset! Do you know there have been earthquakes in the northern Tassaleyo? Lummomu’s people have bespoken him the news! And Jagun’s Folk say a terrible restlessness afflicts the abominable Skritek, and they have been rampaging all over the Blackmire, violating my truce. In the north, there is an epidemic of the fainting sickness among the Uisgu. All over the land, disasters are multiplying—and it is entirely the fault of Portolanus! If Anigel gives him her talisman in ransom, things will grow even worse. Only some caprice of the sorcerer himself stopped our sister from handing the coronet over earlier, like a meek togar bending its neck over the chopping block! Ani puts her love for her husband and her duty to her Two Thrones above the welfare of the world. Her folly is criminal—”
“But even more so is your threat against her … Kadiya, think! Does not the blood red color of your trillium give you pause? We are intended to be Three, working together in sisterly love. It is the sacred Flower that unites us, not the Sceptre of Power.”
For an instant, doubt softened Kadiya’s adamant, dripping features. “So said Shiki the Dorok, whom you sent to aid me in my rescue of Niki and Jan … Nevertheless, if Portolanus gains two talismans, he will surely not rest until he has the third. And even with two, he can subdue the entire Peninsula, if not the known world.”
“Perhaps.” Haramis held her sister’s gaze. “But I am laboring to prevent him, and my own talisman is the key to the full operation of the other two. I have learned this, and many other important secrets, from a kindly mentor who is instructing me in the magical arts.”
Haramis briefly related her discovery that she was not the only Archimage, and her studies with Iriane, the Blue Lady. “The Archimage of the Sea has stood aloof from our mainland affairs thus far, but she intends to do so no longer. She will be a powerful friend to us in our struggle against Orogastus.”
“Orogastus!”
Haramis nodded slowly. “He lives, calling himself Portolanus. We did not kill him after all with the Sceptre. He is one of the Star Men, the descendant of a powerful society that fought against the Vanished Ones in ages long past.”
“And a man you still love,” Kadiya declared, her voice sharp with anger. “Lords of the Air, defend us! I doubt that even the Teacher in the Place of Knowledge can help me to save the world now!”
Haramis reached out a spectral hand through the pelting rain. “It does not all depend on you, Sister. Certainly, you should consult the sindona. But do not be hasty in condemning Anigel or me. I know that the Teacher will admonish you to be more understanding—”
“I will not see my beloved Folk made slaves to an evil sorcerer!” Kadiya flared. “Not for Anigel and Antar’s sake, and not for yours. Find a way to destroy Orogastus once and for all! Find it before Anigel pays the ransom! Then talk to me of love and understanding.”
Haramis bowed her head. “I will try. And I will bespeak you again when my studies are complete. Farewell.”
As Kadiya’s stubborn face faded away Haramis again felt despondency take hold of her and drag her down like quickmire. Perhaps the worst aspect of what her fiery sister had said was its pitiless truth: Anigel
must be prevented from giving up her talisman.
If Anigel refused to listen to reason, was there perhaps another way to persuade her? Would the Queen listen to her husband, when she had refused to listen to her sisters?
“Talisman, I would have Sight of King Antar, and bespeak him secretly, with no vision of me appearing.”
Immediately she saw the King—and the vision was a dire one, for he was imprisoned in a kind of wheeled cage, being drawn along a cobblestoned city street by a team of volumnials. The place was mobbed by a taunting throng of tatterdemalion humanity, and four grinning Raktumian knights with naked swords kept the bolder ones from approaching too near the captive monarch.
It was evident that the Raktumian flotilla had finally arrived in Frangine, the capital of the pirate kingdom, and an impromptu triumphal procession was moving from the docks to the palace, accompanied by the cheers of the rascally citizenry. Files of heavily armed men formed the vanguard of the parade. More knights hedged about Queen Regent Ganondri, who was dressed in a bejeweled green and gold riding habit and mounted upon a spirited fronial with gilded antlers and emerald silk caparisons.
Behind her, the boy-King Ledavardis sat a fine black charger. In the saddle his deformities were less obvious, and he looked older and more majestic in a suit of shining parade armor and a plumed helmet with an open visor. Ledavardis never turned his head or altered his stolid features to acknowledge those who hailed him, but the affection of the people was nonetheless clearly with the young uncrowned monarch. Few voices were lifted in praise of the Queen Regent. She, with a fixed proud smile upon her face, appeared unconcerned.
The royal pair were followed by Admiral Jorot and the captains of the other three galleys. Then came the cage with the captive King of Laboruwenda and a colorful throng of mounted nobles and knights. Banished to the rear of the procession and flanked by marching men-at-arms was a rickety open coach carrying the outlandish Master of Tuzamen, Portolanus. He seemed unaware that the crowd was covertly sneering and laughing at him, and he waved and winked and chortled at the onlookers and occasionally conjured up a bouquet of flowers for some comely wench or a handful of comfits to toss to the children. The three Voices of the sorcerer rode sorry nags behind his carriage; but little Prince Tolivar was seated beside Portolanus in the coach, dressed in a fine brocade suit and smiling happily.
Haramis spoke low: “Antar, can you hear me? It is I, Haramis.”
The King’s head lifted and his lips parted in astonishment. He had been reclothed in the rich garments in which he had been abducted, but he sat incongruously on straw.
“Do not speak out loud or give any sign, dear Brother-in-Law, but simply respond to me in thoughts. My powers have been augmented in recent weeks, and I hear you and see you plainly. First: Are you in good health?”
Yes—save that my heart is darkened with melancholy. I was torn by barbed hooks when the scoundrels recaptured me, but Portolanus used some magical unguents upon the wounds and they healed cleanly and without scars. I was not locked up with the slaves on the return journey but treated quite decently. I had good food and a comfortable bed in a guarded stateroom … Tolo, as you can see, is not only healthy but also a keen chum of the damned wizard! I can’t imagine what’s come over the silly little sprog. Mayhap he is a victim of some evil spell—
“I am quite sure that he is not bewitched, so put your heart at ease. Do you know what plans the Queen Regent and Portolanus have for the two of you?”
No, save that I am to be held in the palace here … Haramis, something very odd is going on between Ganondri and Portolanus. There may have been a falling-out between that precious pair of villains! The Queen Regent came to me from time to time while I was recovering on shipboard, showing an unwonted concern for my welfare and comfort. Apparently she wished to be sure that my medical treatment by the wizard was indeed restoring me to health, and not harming me. She was very solicitous, and you may imagine how amazed I was by her change in attitude. I declared to her that my Royal Spouse was no more likely to be swayed into paying the ransom by my cosseting as by my torture. At this Ganondri only laughed. Later, I heard her warn the guards to stay close to me whenever Portolanus entered my locked cabin. They would die hideous deaths, she said, if any harm came to me through the sorcerer.
“How very strange! Antar, you do know, don’t you, that Anigel offered the talisman for your release? But Portolanus refused to accept it.”
By the Flower! No, I did not know … Haramis, you must not allow Ani to give up the coronet. Beseech her to think of the calamities such a course might wreak upon the people of the world! Tell her that I forbid it—that I would gladly die, rather than have her relinquish her talisman for my sake.
“I will tell her. But so must you.”
How? I cannot bespeak her, nor has she the ability to communicate with me by the speech without words, as you now do.
“Frame the message in your heart and deliver it to me as though I were Anigel herself. I will implant your image and your words in her dreams so that each night she sees you and hears you speak.”
Great God—you can do such a thing?
“I am being trained in the highest magic by another Archimage. I have discovered that I am not alone in this office. There are two others besides myself who serve as guardians and guides to the world through the wielding of benevolent magic. The Archimage who is teaching me to use my talisman is named Iriane, and she lives in the far north, in the Aurora Sea. In another two weeks, if I manage to complete my studies satisfactorily, I will make an attempt to rescue you and little Tolo. I also hope to find a way to counter the schemes of the sorcerer and Queen Ganondri.”
Pray God you do! From the rumors I heard on shipboard, Raktum and Tuzamen are planning to attack the Two Thrones—possibly with the collusion of Lord Osorkon and his faction of malcontents.
“Anigel believes this also. I will do my best to defend your nation, just as soon as I have mastered my talisman.”
But what of Portolanus and Kadi’s stolen Burning Eye? Will he not be an antagonist impossible to counter?
“I do not know. My only hope is that he does not yet know how to use the talisman properly, and through some stratagem I can get it away from him. Pray for me! And now, Antar, bespeak your message to Anigel. Urge her to be steadfast in refusing the ransom, for if the sorcerer obtains a second talisman, the entire world may fall under his thrall.”
When Haramis had enfolded Antar’s loving message in her heart and the caged King’s image had vanished, she found herself back on the summit of the artificial iceberg. She first sent the dream winging to Anigel’s mind, then uttered a deep sigh and let her talisman fall to the end of its chain. So confidently she had spoken to the others of mastering the Three-Winged Circle! But what if her hope was only rash presumption?
Grigri came wriggling to her, having forgiven her earlier lack of sensitivity, and after fondling her limp hand, he began rooting in the picnic basket.
“Ah, little one. How fortunate you are to have such simple problems!” She took out a portion of roasted fowl, broke it, and fed it to the creature. “I could not let Ani and Kadi and Antar know of my concern that I may not be able to utilize the talisman effectively, even after my studies with Iriane. It is true that my bespeaking is greatly enhanced—but this is the most modest of the Three-Winged Circle’s powers. Will I actually be able to gain victory over Orogastus and the pirates of Raktum through magic? What if one part of the Sceptre is quite unable to contend against another part?… If that should be true, then Orogastus and I will face each other virtually unarmed, as we did when we first met—only a man and a woman, mortal antagonists at the same time that we are lovers, with only our own souls’ resources to fall back on … Oh, Grigri. Would I be able to do him harm, even to save the world?”
The creature gobbled the meat rapturously, ignoring her.
Haramis lifted her talisman. “I know I should not look upon him, for this would weaken my resolve to reje
ct him. And yet I long so to see him once again! I know that he would be unable to hide himself from me now. I would see no blurred uncertainty this time, but his true face. His face …”
The talisman was warm in her hand, waiting for her to command it. The drop of honey-amber inset among the three silvery wings held a tiny black fossil flower.
Even as she watched, it turned vivid crimson.
“Oh, God,” she whispered, closing her eyes against the sight of it. “Is that the price I must pay? Will even a loving glimpse of him jeopardize my soul? Surely not!… Or is this another one of Iriane’s wretched tests of my resolution? Giving me leave to look upon him, then revealing to me the consequence of leading myself into temptation?… Very well! I will not command a view of him this time, since my desire is merely a personal indulgence! I will not feed my love, but starve it instead! Talisman—are you satisfied? Give me back my Black Trillium! And thou, O Flower—strengthen me as I do my bounden duty, always seeking the greatest good rather than my own selfish desires.”
She reopened her eyes.
The flower was black.
Haramis arose. She gathered the scraps Grigri had left and wrapped them tidily in a napkin. “Come along, little friend. You have eaten well, and the ladu-fruit shall be my meal as we return. I have taken enough time away from my work.”
With the animal leading the way, she started back into the depths of the iceberg. In the distance, thick clouds were building up over the land and a chill wind began to blow.
19
Every other day, Prince Tolivar was permitted to visit his Royal Father’s comfortable cell in the midlevel of the West Tower of Frangine Palace. Tolo’s friend the sorcerer always provided some tidbit of food for the boy to bring, and sometimes a book of tales to help the King while away his hours of captivity.