‘Macros, Tomas, and I stopped here on our way back through the Hall of Worlds, after leaving the City Forever, before the Battle of Sethanon.’ Pug looked around. Deer-like herbivores grazed in the meadows and birds sang in the trees. In so many ways this world resembled Midkemia. ‘Why did you bring me here?’
‘So that you would remember this place,’ said Ban-ath, and then he vanished. From the empty air came a disembodied voice. ‘Consider this a small gift for services given. I have no concern for the Tsurani, for they are not my people, but you do, as I know well. No trick this, but a heartfelt expression of gratitude. I may be a natural force without compassion, but occasionally nature is clement.’
Pug said, ‘What do I do now?’
Suddenly they were back in his room, and he was in bed. His meal was finished, so he assumed while he was on this mystical journey he had actually been eating.
‘You save this world,’ came Ban-ath’s voice from the air around him.
Pug hesitated for only a moment, then he climbed out of bed and donned a fresh robe. ‘Caleb!’ he shouted, and waited for his son to appear.
People ran screaming from a thundering horde of Dasati Deathknights mounted on varnin. Whatever had prohibited the Dasati from protecting the war-steeds during the early onset of this war had obviously been overcome, for now cadres of Dasati riders erupted from the constantly expanding Black Mount. Any Tsurani resistance was futile, for at best it merely stemmed the Dasati advance, while costing the lives of the defenders. At worst they were overcome and the Dasati reached their objective, which now seemed to be to capture as many Tsurani as possible and drag them back into the Black Mount.
Miranda stood next to Alenburga and surveyed the sphere, now miles across, dominating the horizon. ‘In the last hour,’ she said, ‘I reckon it’s expanded by about another mile.’
Alenburga sighed. ‘I can’t keep throwing soldiers’ lives away. There must be another way.’
‘I’ve tried every magic at my disposal, as has each member of the Assembly. We’ve lost more than two hundred magicians in the fight, and those who remain are fast losing hope.’
‘Unless you have a miracle in reserve,’ said the old general from Novindus, ‘I think it’s time to tell the Emperor he needs to evacuate.’
‘I think you need to tell him yourself,’ said Miranda.
Alenburga looked at Kaspar who nodded his agreement. Then he looked towards Erik, who said, ‘Go on. We’ll keep an eye on things.’
Alenburga turned to Miranda. ‘Take me there.’
Miranda put her hand on the General’s shoulder and suddenly they were standing in a garden miles away, in the middle of the old Acoma estates. White-and-gold clad Imperial Guards drew their weapons before they realized the intruders were the woman magician and the outland general; then they moved to escort the visitors.
Inside the great house, Chomata, First Advisor to the Emperor waited. ‘General,’ he said, bowing his head in greeting. Next he acknowledged Miranda, ‘Great One.’ A thin, ascetic-looking old man with a balding pate, he looked as if he hadn’t slept in a week. ‘What news?’
‘For the Emperor,’ said the General, ‘and I fear it is not good.’
‘He’ll want to see you at once,’ said Chomata.
In his private chambers, the Emperor dined alone. Alenburga bowed as did Miranda, then the General said, ‘Majesty, I bring grave news.’ He quickly recounted the situation and their best estimate of how long it would be before the Dasati dome menaced this very estate.
‘I will not leave my people,’ the Emperor said calmly. ‘How many have you evacuated through the rifts?’
Miranda felt her heart sink. ‘Only twenty thousand or so, Majesty.’
‘There are millions in the Empire, and what of those without… and have you considered the Cho-ja?’
Miranda realized she hadn’t. Kelewan had several intelligent races besides humans, just as Midkemia did, but here the relationships were different. The Thūn raiders from the north were a constant plague on the northernmost garrisons and occasionally made it through the passes of the High Wall, to pillage estates there. The Cho-ja were an insect-like hive culture, each hive ruled by a queen, but as Miranda understood it, somehow they were all linked in communication. Of the other races she knew little – a race of savage dwarves across the Sea of Blood in the Lost Lands, an alien race of lizard-like creatures that lived on islands across the great sea to the west… Feeling defeated, she said, ‘Majesty, I will plead to being mortal and having limits to my abilities. No, I have not thought of these things. My first thought was to defeat these monsters who menace both your world and mine. Now I seek to save the Tsurani people. As for those others, what would you have me do?’
From behind her a voice said, ‘I can help.’
Miranda turned with tears welling up in her eyes. In two strides she was across the floor and then she had her arms tightly around her husband’s neck. ‘I was so afraid,’ she whispered, words that Pug knew no other mortal would ever hear his wife utter. Then she said, ‘Magnus?’