scarlet pinpoint dots. ‘So many!’
‘And now,’ said the Archimage, ‘since Orogastus stole a certain book belonging to Iriane that explained their operation, they are accessible to the sorcerer and his Star Guild.’
Kadiya said, ‘The villains are capable of popping up out of any one of those points like ziklu from a warren, and they can also go to ground through them, escaping their pursuers. Hara is thus far unable to destroy the viaducts or close them with her magic.’
‘It seems that the Vanished Ones used these passageways for casual travel about their world,’ the White Lady explained. ‘To ordinary people, the viaduct openings are invisible and imperceptible. But if one knows more or less where the portal is, it is only necessary to utter the proper arcane command – “viaduct system activate” – whereupon it becomes visible and operative. Some of the viaducts were destroyed in the great conflict between the Vanished Ones and the Star Guild, but these on the map remain. Heretofore, they have been used only by the Archimages of yore and by the sindona, when they venture forth from the Place of Knowledge.’
Kadiya said, ‘You’ll be interested to know, Ani, that this viaduct’ – she stabbed her finger at one of the dots – ‘opens right into Zotopanion Keep in the Winter Palace of Labornok! It was the way by which both Iriane and the sindona gained access to the keep during the climax of the Battle of Derorguila.’
‘Holy Flower!’ cried the dismayed Queen. ‘Is there no way of getting rid of these abominable tunnels?’
‘My talisman says there is,’ Haramis replied. ‘However, its instructions are given in archaic scientific gibberish and so far I can make no sense of it. When I return to my Tower I will look further into the matter of obliterating the viaducts, but for the present we shall have to barricade them instead. All that are in critical locations must be enclosed within sturdy cages or earthen mounds, and be heavily guarded withal.’
Anigel studied the map intently. ‘There are not so many portals in the Mazy Mire as elsewhere, but here is one not far from the Queen’s Mireway. I wonder … The trip to the Winter Capital will be so lengthy and tedious in the early rains. If, as you say, there is a viaduct leading directly to Zotopanion Keep –’
‘Do not contemplate it for a moment!’ Haramis said, aghast. ‘Only one adept in the science of the Vanished Ones dare use the things. Sometimes their routing is fixed and one has no control over the ultimate destination. At other times, if a kind of complex magical spell is recited before entry, the viaduct carries the traveller to the location that is specified. But if this spell is not said properly, the person risks emerging within the Sempiternal Icecap or even deep beneath the sea.’
She pointed again to the map, and it was indeed true that some of the scarlet dots were in perilous places.
‘Damn,’ said the dainty Queen. Her fair hair was bound up with ribbons of a gold so deep it was nearly brown, and she wore a loose-fitting smocked satin gown of the same colour, trimmed with worram-fur and adorned with a collar of trillium-amber. Her pregnancy of four months was still unnoticeable. ‘I would have gladly whisked myself and the court by viaduct from here to Derorguila and spared us the long journey in the rain.’
‘I could transport you, Antar, and the children,’ Haramis offered, albeit hesitantly, ‘even though carrying others strains my magic to the utmost.’
But the Queen shook her head. ‘It was but a jest, Hara. I would not dream of asking you to exhaust yourself. No, we must go to Labornok with the others of the court entourage, as is fitting.’
‘I shall give each of you copies of this map to keep,’ the Archimage said. ‘Ani, you will have to arrange for soldiers – preferably with aboriginal helpers – to stand guard at those viaduct openings in critical places within Labornok and Ruwenda. I shall command Kadi’s Folk to watch the terminals in more remote regions – the Mazy Mire, the Ohogan Mountains, and the Tassaleyo Forest. If members of the Star Guild are seen, the Folk will sound the alarm using the speech without words.’
‘What of the viaducts in other nations?’ inquired the Queen.
‘I have already bespoken a warning,’ Haramis said. ‘Every civilized country will soon be on the lookout for suspicious persons wearing Stars.’
‘The scoundrels can wreak no sorcery without their medallions,’ Kadiya explained to Anigel. ‘Unfortunately, this does not hold true for their use of weapons of the Vanished Ones, which are not truly magical but partake of the same ancient science as the viaducts and those antique artifacts one may purchase from certain traders.’
‘How shall we defend ourselves against Star Men equipped with such dread armaments?’ asked the Queen in apprehension. ‘If only Hara had not destroyed those weapons that had been deployed by the forces of Tuzamen and Raktum during the Battle of Derorguila! We might have made good use of them ourselves.’
‘We still have our magic,’ the Archimage said. ‘And if the Triune wills it, we will also soon have an alliance of every nation under the Three Moons to counter the much smaller forces of those loyal to the Star. After giving warning to the other nations, I also requested that they dispatch special envoys in fast ships to Derorguila. The delegations should have arrived by the time the royal retinue of Laboruwenda completes its journey to the flatlands. We will hold a conclave of mutual defence there in your capital in forty days.’
‘I will gladly assist you and my Royal Husband in rallying the nations,’ said Queen Anigel. ‘I suppose Kadi will be doing the same work amongst the Folk.’
‘Not for some time,’ the Lady of the Eyes said, ‘for I have been given a larger job to do. Only one state balked at Hara’s plan of alliance: Sobrania.’
The Queen assumed a rueful face. ‘I might have known. The Feathered Barbarians are so fearful of plots against them by Galanar or the Imlit and Okamisi republics that they resist any pact that infringes upon their much-vaunted independence. Emperor Denombo of Sobrania is an honourable man, according to his lights – but impetuous and short-sighted, and hardly inclined to concern himself with nations other than his own collection of fractious tribes. Will you go to him, Kadi, and attempt persuasion?’
‘Yes, may the Flower defend me. Hara has commanded it and I will willingly obey.’
‘She will also have another task.’ The Archimage spoke more quietly, even though musicians had begun to play the introduction to the night’s entertainment, making such a noise that eavesdropping seemed impossible. ‘I told you of observing a young Star Man in the mountains above Zinora. He had with him feathered saddlebags of Sobranian make. This could be a meaningless detail … or it might be a valuable clue.’
‘To the location of the Star Guild headquarters!’ Queen Anigel’s eyes, blue as the Dry Time sky, sparkled with excitement. ‘Have you any other indication pointing to Sobrania?’
‘None as yet,’ Haramis admitted, ‘for my talisman is powerless to descry Guildsmen who are in full control of the Star’s magic. It was only good fortune – or the kindness of the Lords of the Air – that enabled me to detect and Send to that young Star Man who incited the Skritek. He was a novice, not yet fully adept in commanding the Star’s protection, perhaps undertaking a mission of minor import while his fellows deal with weightier conspiracies.’
They left off talking for a moment while pages cleared the table of earlier courses of food, brought in tarts and fresh fruit, and refilled the wine goblets. Then there was a fanfare of bugle-horns. A troupe of Tuzameni acrobats pranced into the hall to much applause.
