Twenty minutes later we rode into the Citadel’s courtyard. Bellen lifted me off the horse. A female squire came running out and took the reins.
“Get a carriage for Tress Clover,” Bellen ordered.
Clover gave me a look. I nodded. He seemed very intent on separating me from my maid. Might as well find out why.
“This way.” Bellen offered me his arm again.
I put my hand on his forearm, and we ascended the massive staircase, going up to the keep. Midway up, Bellen stopped and frowned. I looked in the direction of his stare. The entire city lay below us, miles of roofs and walls, interrupted by the flat ribbons of the rivers, and in the distance the thin spire of the Mage Tower thrust to the sky. Above it a huge fireball churned, a sphere of brilliant red flames, spinning and turning. Dear god, it had to be bigger than a city block.
“What in the void is he doing now?” Bellen growled.
Another knight descended a staircase, a lean, dark-haired man. Bellen pointed toward the Mage Tower.
“Apparently, we are expecting a rock from the heavens,” the other knight said.
“Again?”
“It’s a larger one than last year’s. He sent the dispatch to the Eagle Roost this morning. At least he warned us this time.”
“Thank the Aspects for small favors,” Bellen said.
The fireball blazed with pure white. A laser beam of light shot out of it toward the sky, sucking the fire into itself. A sonic boom pulsed through the city and smashed into my ears. The Citadel shuddered.
Bellen wrapped his arm around me. It was like being steadied by a mountain.
A wind gust fanned us and died.
“My apologies.” Bellen let go of me.
The space above the Mage Tower was perfectly clear.
A shower of sparks lit up the sky above the city. They flared and melted into the blue.
Holy fuck. Damaes had just blasted a meteor out of the sky. Probably before it even hit the atmosphere.
This was a man I was picking a fight with. Damaes was a power unto himself. He recognized Sauven’s authority, because Sauven was the king, but not anyone else’s. If he decided to take issue with what I was doing, nobody could stop him. There would be no discussion, no negotiations. He would just do whatever he did and then our house would turn into a smoking crater.
Maybe I should rethink the whole Isadau thing.
No, I was committed now. I had no choice. Besides, now that I knew I could read Sareso, leaving Isadau where she was wasn’t an option. I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
“I swear, one day that man will destroy the city.” Bellen pointed toward the entrance to the keep. “This way, my lady.”
He led me into the keep. I had expected a dungeon-like fortress, but it was a bright, beautiful space with soaring ceilings and tall arches. We crossed the floor to a patio, where two squires were setting up a table.
“A light lunch?” Bellen asked.
To decline would be rude.
“I would love to.”
He held the chair out for me. I took my seat. The view from the patio was stunning. I looked at the array of finger foods in front of me.
“You have rescued me and fed me, Lord Bellen. I’m afraid I have no way to repay you.”
“The pleasure of your company would more than suffice.”
He looked so pleased with himself, it was hard not to smile back.
