Andrea Höst - Voice of the Lost

After a pause, Cor-Ibis said: "Princess Sendel?"

"As you see, Keridahl," the woman replied, coldly. She surveyed their small band, eyes disdainful in a thoroughly Decian face: bronze skin, high cheekbones and a hawk nose. Her composure was formidable, though it cracked when she discovered Islantar at Ileaha’s elbow. She eyed the boy in surprise, then turned back to Cor-Ibis. "This is not a counter strike."

"Not precisely, Highness," Cor-Ibis replied, ever-courteous. "Your brother’s forces were defeated, and he struck at us with a gate as he fled, transporting us here. We have eluded capture, thus far."

"Have you indeed?" The princess strode out of the cell and looked around impatiently, unperturbed by the corpse which lay on the floor. "A quick and decisive battle, it must have been. Well, you need not fear that I will raise the alarm. I objected to Xarus' latest scheme, and rightly so, it sounds to me. He saw fit to confine me here. Expanding Decia’s borders is one thing; throwing everything into a fool’s obsession with the past is another. How many Decian born did he waste against Athere’s walls?"

"There were very few survivors," Cor-Ibis replied.

"And he has slunk back to lick his wounds? Your abduction would be, what, an attempt at revenge or a clutch for bargaining chips?" The princess did not hide her disgust. "Defeat is not a thing Xarus has ever been able to accept. He will not treat you kindly if you are captured."

"No." Cor-Ibis glanced at Ileaha, indicating that she should check the other rooms. "Three of our party have been captured, and we must continue to seek them out. Please accept our protection, if you wish it."

Princess Sendel looked amused. "You may accept mine, Keridahl. There are those still loyal to me in Falcon Black, and I have no interest in prolonging hostilities with Palladium."

As Cor-Ibis negotiated polite obligation with the princess, Kel ar Haedrin opened another of the rooms off the corridor, revealing a Decian youth of about sixteen. His fine tailoring was crumpled, and he eyed the small band of Ibisians with disbelief. One hand strayed to his side, instinctively seeking an absent sword, but Princess Sendel forestalled any confrontation, turning from Cor-Ibis to eye the young man disdainfully.

"You, here?" she asked. "What became of your ambition to stride through the ashes of Athere?"

The youth glanced at Ileaha’s bared sword, held far too close for any enemy’s comfort. A shift of his coppery features revealed a distinct resemblance to Princess Sendel. Her son, Medair guessed.

"It remains," he said, with grim resolve. "I will see the rightful heir on the Silver Throne."

"Yet you are here," the princess repeated.

"My heart might be with my uncle’s cause, Madam, but my duty lies with you," said the youth. "I could not fight at his side while he had you imprisoned."

"Vastly pretty," said Princess Sendel, contemptuously. "Fortune favours you, Thessan. This affecting sentiment appears to have saved your life."

"There is no-one else here, Keridahl," Kel ar Haedrin said in an undertone, as Thessan stared at the princess.

"What do you mean?" he demanded. "Where is the King?"

"Would that I knew." Princess Sendel gathered up her skirts, out of the path of the thin line of blood advancing from the guard’s body. "We will find him, shall we? And ask of his war, of his splendid victories?"

"Princess, we must search for our companions," Cor-Ibis said, ignoring the exchange. "Can you suggest where they might be held?"

"The cliff cells, most likely," Princess Sendel said, earning a scandalised look from her son.

"Mother, you can’t aid the enemy!" he said, shifting uneasily between Ileaha and Kel ar Haedrin. His gaze settled on Cor-Ibis. "Why are you here, White Snake?" he spat. "Have you run from Decia’s soldiers to try and strike at Falcon Black?"

"At this moment, I seek only three of my own," Cor-Ibis said, mildly. "Ileaha, if you would be so good?"

Obediently, Ileaha gripped Thessan’s arm and propelled him firmly back toward the cell.

"Wait!" he protested. "At least tell me how the battle progresses! Have Athere’s walls been breached yet?"

"No." Medair spoke quietly. "The war is over, the battle lost. Athere stands. I sounded the Horn of Farak and Decia no longer has an army."

Thessan flinched, incredulity warring with fury as he stared at her. Then he surged forward and spat. Moisture flecked Medair’s cheek even as Ileaha quickly pulled him back, then closed and locked the door.

"Medair– " Ileaha began, but Medair shook her head.

"That is something I cannot hide from," she said, wiping her face with tired deliberation. She could feel Cor-Ibis at her back, not touching her, but close by. "My choice cost their lives."

"Medair an Rynstar." Princess Sendel eyed Medair with lively interest, but not the hatred displayed by her son. "None of the tales of your rebirth suggested you would side with the Ibisians."

"With Palladium," Medair corrected. She was slowly finding it easier to accept that decision, or futile to continue to argue against herself, since it was beyond her power to change. Her Emperor had not given her absolution, had not provided the certainty of right and wrong, but hind-sight was offering her no better choice, much as she would be hated for it. She turned slightly, so that she could see Cor-Ibis' expressionless face. "I could not watch Athere fall."

"You should find Xarus' protégé, the one he thinks belongs on Palladium’s throne," the princess said. Dark Decian eyes studied Medair. "But perhaps that issue is dead, now."

"Perhaps," Medair said. Killing the supposed descendant of her Emperor, rightful heir or not, was another thing she could not think too hard on, until it was time to face it.

There was little of subterfuge in Princess Sendel’s progress. She marched off down the corridor and collared the first person she encountered, a man whose arms were full of silver candlesticks. He seemed more afraid of Sendel than the Ibisians cautiously following the princess.

"Where is my brother?" the princess asked, as the man dropped most of the candlesticks on the floor. He gulped, looked left and right, then said weakly: "The King is dead."

Princess Sendel received the news with no sign of grief or pleasure. "Are you certain?" she asked, stepping forward to further overwhelm the man.

"Yes, Highness." The man licked his lips, eyes darting to Ileaha’s bared sword. "Commander Vorclase received a wend-whisper, not a decem ago. The message said that everyone was dead, that the King was dead, the entire army. Everyone."

"Vorclase?"

"H-he said we were to carry out the King’s standing orders," the man said, eyes dropping to the pile of candlesticks in a manner which suggested they had nothing to do with anyone’s orders. Sendel didn’t seem to notice.

"The Four spare me from loyal men," she said, and turned to Cor-Ibis. "This changes matters, somewhat."

"Yes. Your Majesty."

Islantar spoke before Cor-Ibis could say more.

"If King Xarus died on the battlefield," the Kierash said. "Who summoned the gate which brought us here?"

Estarion had no issue, which meant Sendel was now Queen. She made short work of taking control, simply commandeering everyone they encountered. No-one resisted, despite her Ibisian escort. Vorclase had apparently vanished after passing on the news, failing to leave anyone in command. Sendel rolled over the few remaining castle inhabitants as inexorably as the Conflagration.

Abruptly, in the middle of ordering a search for Vorclase, Sendel stopped and turned to Cor-Ibis. "We had best see about these friends of yours," she said. "It occurs to me that Xarus' standing orders for the treatment of captives may not be benefiting them."