The Serpent Bride. Sara Douglass

whispering to him for many years now. At first nothing but unintelligible thick mutterings, but now almost every word was clear.

       What do you, Isaiah?

      Isaiah never replied. The last thing he wanted was to get into conversation with the beast.

       Do you know what I will do to your river, Isaiah, when I rise?

      Isaiah knew he had to break the connection. He had spent too long in here. He had to leave now before —

      He went cold.

      In his vision of Kanubai, Isaiah thought he had seen, just for a moment, something clinging to Kanubai’s back.

      Or something in his hands, perhaps.

      Isaiah opened his eyes, then rose to his feet, stumbling a little in his foreboding as he made for the doorway out of the Infinity Chamber.

       Something else rose with Kanubai.

7

       THE ROYAL PALACE, RUEN, ESCATOR

      Maximilian stepped into the chamber where he met with his Council of Friends and saw that for once he was the last to arrive.

      Egalion, Garth and Vorstus regarded him a little warily. Egalion and Garth had been well aware of the tension between Maximilian and Vorstus, but had no idea of the cause. Both Garth and Egalion had, at different times, approached Maximilian cautiously, wondering what the problem might be, but Maximilian had waved away their gentle queries, saying there was nothing wrong save that he was suffering pre-wedding nerves.

      Maximilian did not think Vorstus would be any more forthcoming with the two men if they were also to approach him.

      Maximilian did not take his seat, but walked over to a window and leaned on the sill, looking out. “I have decided to depart for Pelemere, there to meet with the Lady Ishbel,” he said. “Within the week.”

      Egalion and Garth looked at each other, but it was Vorstus who answered.

      “But we have not yet heard if the negotiations StarWeb is conducting with the Lady Ishbel on your behalf have been successful.”

      “Oh,” said Maximilian, turning about and looking Vorstus in the eye, “I am sure they will be successful, don’t you?”

      Vorstus said nothing, holding Maximilian’s eyes easily.

      “Maxel,” Garth said carefully, “how can you know?”

      “Because I feel it in my bones,” Maximilian said, but mildly enough. The serpent — Light — had sent Ishbel to him. Maximilian had no real idea why, but he hoped it was because Light had decided only that the Persimius line needed a bit of strengthening and the Lady Ishbel’s bloodlines would do nicely. Perhaps she might have some memories with which to re-furniture his Twisted Tower.

       The offer of this bride did not have to mean that Elcho Falling was needed.

      “Besides,” Maximilian continued, putting a disarming smile on his face, “I grow restless sitting here in Ruen. I want to be doing something, and even if the Lady Ishbel takes one look at my face and decides she’d rather marry a —”

       Frog.

      “— toad, then at least we’ll have had the joy of many weeks on the road with the wind in our hair and the chance to meet up with Borchard and Malat in Kyros along the way. What say you, Garth, Egalion? Do you feel like a jaunt eastwards?”

      Garth laughed. “How can we refuse!”

      Maximilian looked at Egalion. “We’ll bring four or five units of the Emerald Guard. They shall keep us safe enough, and make a splendid showing for the Lady Ishbel.”

      “But to practical matters,” Vorstus said. “Who shall govern Escator in your absence?”

      Maximilian looked at Vorstus. Not you. “The Privy Council of Preferred Nobles have my authority to take what decisions are necessary. I shall not be gone too many months.”

      Vorstus gave a little smile and looked away. He was not surprised that Maximilian no longer trusted him.

      No matter. Maximilian was doing precisely what Vorstus wanted anyway.

      Over the next few days Maximilian busied himself with preparations for departure, as well as briefing the Privy Council. Maximilian was glad to be leaving Ruen. Ever since he’d had his confrontation with Vorstus he couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that Vorstus may have left him down in the Veins deliberately.

      Why, Maximilian had no idea, which itself made him question whether he was wrong about Vorstus, but he could not stop thinking about it.

      Seventeen years in such horror …

      Maximilian had reconciled himself long ago to the loss of those seventeen years. He had thought he’d reconciled himself to the horror he’d endured during that time — the beatings, the constant darkness, the never-ending swing of the pick, over and over, the dust and humidity and heat, the cave-ins, the pain …

      The loneliness, the sheer mental desperation, year after year after year.

      He thought he’d put all that behind him. Cavor, the man who had condemned him to the mines, was long dead.

      Maximilian could walk away from the nightmare.

      But what if Vorstus had also been aware of the plot to keep him incarcerated? What if the man who had guided his rescue had also dictated the timing of that rescue?

       What if the nightmare was only in remission, not dead ?

8

       PAIACE OF AQHAT, TYRANNY OF ISEMBAARD

      When there came a knock at the door, far earlier in the morning than usual, Axis was surprised to see Ba’al’uz waiting for him.

      “Isaiah asked me to collect you today,” Ba’al’uz said, “so that we might meet with him in his private chambers at the tenth hour.”

      “But that is two hours or more away,” said Axis.

      “I thought perhaps you and I might put those hours to good use,” said Ba’al’uz. “For a chat, perhaps. Do you wish to come like that, or …?”

      Axis looked down.

      All he had on was a towel from his morning ablutions.

      Axis grinned. “You caught me early,” he said. “Give me a moment.”

      And but a minute later, clad more respectably in light-coloured trousers and waistcoat with sandals on his feet, Axis set off with Ba’al’uz.

      “Isaiah tells me you witnessed his communication with the Lord of the Skraelings,” Ba’al’uz said without preamble as he led them along a corridor with huge, unglazed windows along one side.

      “Indeed. It was most curious. I have many questions.”

      “It was why I came early for you. I thought you would want to know more.”

      “And you don’t mind answering?”

      “I have nothing to hide from you, Axis. Isaiah has requested that I indulge your every question, and so I will.”

      Axis doubted very much that Ba’al’uz had nothing to hide, but hoped that, under Isaiah’s directive, he might at least provide some answers to Axis’ more pressing questions.

      “Who