CHAPTER SEVEN

The Palace of Aqhat, Isembaard

W hat have you done? Were you mad, to expose Ishbel like that?

Isaiah was not in the least surprised that Lister should contact him in such a fury. He was glad only that Lister had left it until Isaiah was back in his private quarters.

“She is the only one who can truly read the pyramid,” Isaiah said. “We needed to know what was happening. We needed to, damn it! Ishbel was strong. In the end she survived.”

“In the end she survived.” Oh, what arrogance. You put her at such risk!

“And you put us at risk by communicating in this manner!” Isaiah snapped. “Is that not why we had the pyramids, so that Kanubai would not know—”

You berate me over such a detail when you have just returned from taking Ishbel into DarkGlass Mountain? Besides, you’ve used this method before. Stop trying to distract the conversation from your stupidity, Isaiah.

There was a silence.

Tell me what you learned, then.

Isaiah gave a soft laugh. “Really, you want to hear? After all this posturing about what a bad boy I have been?”

Tell me, Isaiah.

“The pyramid is as dangerous, probably more so, than Kanubai. It aids him to the surface. Ishbel said it has cast down a rope of lost souls to Kanubai, who uses it to haul himself upward. I think it possible the pyramid means to use Kanubai. We are going to battle two enemies, my friend, and I think we may have been concentrating on the wrong one all this time.”

Lister made a formless sound which Isaiah interpreted as part curse, part cry of frustration.

What can we do? Lister said eventually.

“Nothing more than what we have been. The invasion must go ahead. You cannot stop the Skraelings, and I…well, I need to attain the north.”

How strong are they?

“They,” Isaiah noted with a great weariness. Until today there had been but “one.”

“Not so strong that they can strike yet. Kanubai needs to feed, and the pyramid…it is still waiting for something. Possibly Kanubai himself.”

Where is Ba’al’uz?

“In Coroleas, I suppose. The man is not here, and that is all that matters. I have men set to guard Ishbel.

She is safe.”

We need to move soon, Isaiah. You are a laggard. I sense no great preparations for invasion.

“All is progressing smoothly.”

You will need to move within a few weeks.

“Don’t pester me, Lister! We dance a dangerous game here. One misstep—”

Such as today’s adventure.

“—and all is lost.”

Isaiah, you need to mobilize soon. I have heard reports that Maximilian has left Escator for Isembaard.

He hunts his wife. Isaiah, he cannot get too close to DarkGlass Mountain—

“I will mobilize when I am good and ready, Lister! Autumn has barely set in, and surely the Skraelings will not move before winter.”

I think today’s adventure has shown that we need to move sooner than that. Isaiah—

“Leave me in peace, Lister. I am tired, and need to rest.”

Ishbel sat in her chamber, curiously calm. After what she’d been through within DarkGlass Mountain she assumed she would have been rendered agitated, scared, emotional.

But, no.

What she had seen and intuited about the pyramid was terrifying. She shuddered every time she thought about those desperate, angry, agonized faces pressed against the glass.

About how they had broken through, reached for her, chased her.

She knew she’d been exposed to a malignant power this day, a power that for some unknown reason knew her and loathed her. But there was something else she’d felt, heard, that she had not told Isaiah.

The golden glass had spoken to her. Just before it had turned black, just before the faces and hands had appeared, the glass had said to her:

The strength of the malignancy’s hatred of you is a direct reflection of your own strength, Ishbel. Use it.

Lister strode around in circles. Snow blew about him, ice crystals flew up from the impact of his boots, Skraelings drifted out of the mist to stare briefly at him, and then vanish.

Eleanon, Inardle, and Bingaleal stood to one side. High above, several more of the Lealfast rode the icy air currents, watching.

Lister was angry.

More, he was furious.

“I can’t believe he put Ishbel in such danger,” he said.

“Still,” said Eleanon. “Now you have discovered that the pyramid—”

Lister swore, and Eleanon stopped speaking, his face assuming a martyred expression.

“He’s not moving, and he should be, he should!” Lister said. “Especially now, especially after what he discovered today. Damn him, why doesn’t he move?”

“Perhaps—” Inardle began, but Lister ignored her.

“I don’t know what he is playing at,” Lister continued. “What is he doing? What? Gods alone know where Ba’al’uz is, and I don’t like that. I need to get Isaiah moving, damn it. I need to get Ishbel out of Aqhat and further north!”

He stopped suddenly, turning on his heel and striding over to the group of Lealfast.

“And can you imagine what will happen if Maximilian arrives down there?” Lister said, hands flung wide apart in an extravagant gesture. “Gods…gods, what game is Isaiah playing?”

He paused. “My friends, I need one of you to go to Aqhat for me. A small, but pleasurable task.”

“Any of us,” said Inardle. “I will go.”

“Not you,” Lister, Eleanon, and Bingaleal said as one.

“I will go,” said Bingaleal. “I am stronger and more experienced.”

Lister gave a nod. “I don’t want to lose you, Bingaleal. Be careful.”

“Most certainly,” said Bingaleal. “What is it you wish me to do?”

“I need you to assassinate Isaiah.”