“The Tower is one of the wonders of this world,” said Asea. The subtle emphasis on the word this reminded them all that she was the only one present who had gazed on the wonders of another world.
“Indeed,” said Jaderac. “Although I doubt its treasures can compare with those of the Queen-Empress’s palace.”
“I think the Lady Asea referred to the structure itself,” said Sardec lightly, wondering at the urge he felt to bait this dangerous duellist. “Even a Terrarch of the Old Faith must admit that the Elder Races surpassed us in some things.”
Jaderac smiled as if at the mouthings of a child. “I never suggested otherwise.”
“Have you been inside the Tower yet, Prince Sardec?” said Tamara, putting the stress on his title.
“No, milady,” said Sardec. “Although I hope to have that privilege soon.”
“But you have Lady Asea,” said Jaderac. “You were often Ilmarec’s guest in the old days. Perhaps you can satisfy my little angel’s curiosity.”
“I have seen parts of it,” said Asea. “Although there were areas that Ilmarec never invited me to, or anyone else, as far as I can tell. And there were sealed areas that not even he could gain access to.”
“I believe Lord Ilmarec has solved their mysteries and opened those ways now,” said Jaderac.
“That is indeed news,” said Asea. “He tried for centuries to penetrate their mysteries and failed.”
“There is a lesson to us all there,” said Jaderac. “Patience rewards those who have it.”
“They say Lord Ilmarec is somewhat eccentric,” said Tamara.
“You could say that,” said Asea. “He is a brilliant scholar of the Elder World, and of the Serpent Folk in particular. His monograph on the Vanished Towers is a classic of its kind.”
“The Vanished Towers?” Sardec asked.
“There are several other sites in Kharadrea where Serpent Man Towers stood, according to ancient legend. Now there are only vast craters. One is a lake. Two others could be mistaken for the mouths of volcanoes. They are all places saturated with dangerous magical energies.”
“Where are the Towers then?”
“No one knows. They are gone although there are many tokens of the Elder Races presence in the vicinity: carved rocks, tools, cave villages, huge ruins.”
“Perhaps the Towers were never there,” Tamara suggested.
“Records from the pre-Terrarch period indicate otherwise.”
“Can old records be trusted?”
“According to Ilmarec they can.”
“What became of the Towers then? I thought they were indestructible. Lord Jaderac has often pointed out to me that the Serpent Tower can be harmed by no known weapon or sorcery.” There was a note of challenge in Tamara’s voice, as if she did not quite believe Asea, or wanted to question her sorcerous wisdom.
“No one truly knows. Lord Ilmarec speculated that they might have been destroyed in some sorcerous ritual or by some potent Elder World weapon. What the ancients’ sorcery could create, it could surely destroy.”
“That stands to reason,” said Jaderac. “And now it would seem Lord Ilmarec has turned his brilliant mind in the direction of destruction as well.”
“You refer to the green light,” said Sardec.
“Yes, Lieutenant, I do.”
And there it was, thought Sardec, another reason why this pair were here. If Ilmarec has access to the ancient weapons of the Serpent Folk he could dictate the course of this war, and practically name his own price from either side. With them he could do more than hold Morven town, he could alter the balance of power in the Terrarch lands.
“I wonder if Lord Ilmarec really has learned the secret of the ancients,” Asea said.
“I have reason to believe he has,” said Jaderac. “Many of the locals witnessed the destruction of Princess Kathea’s army.”
“Humans can be such liars,” said Tamara.
“It was not only humans,” said Jaderac.
“My father always suspected Ilmarec had sinister reasons for taking up residence in that creepy old Tower,” said Tamara.
“And how is your dear father?” asked Asea.
“Lord Malkior is very well.”
“I have not seen him in oh — it must be twenty years. Not since he led the last embassy to the Amber Palace.”
“I think it pains him still that he could not negotiate a settlement between the two halves of our shattered empire.”
“No one can now,” said Asea. “No one ever could. Not since the split between Scarlet and Purple began. The differences are too great.”
Sardec was not sure of that. There were plenty of Terrarchs in Talorea, his father included, who would happily see the Terrarchy reunited. But of course they also wanted to see the empire ruled by Queen Arielle so perhaps Asea was right. “Still, your father made a great effort.”
“Thank you. I am sure he will appreciate the fact that you said that.”
“Please pass on my regards to him when next you see him.”
“I will be sure to do so.”
“I have always regretted that the Queen-Empress replaced him with Lord Xephan as Chancellor. Xephan seems so much more… aggressive.”
“Xephan follows the Old Ways very strictly,” said Tamara. “He wishes to see the Empire united once more.”
“With him as Chancellor, of course,” said Jaderac sardonically. It was evident he had no liking for the Terrarch they were talking about.
The servants brought in the main course, of river fowl in dreamberry sauce. It was very good.
Lady Tamara looked over the table and said, “You must have seen a lot of action, Lieutenant.”
“You mean to have lost my hand,” he said, deciding not to let the unspoken part of her statement hang in the air. Jaderac winced at his crassness. Tamara met his gaze without embarrassment.
“Yes.”
“Enough.”
“There are already tales doing the rounds about how you held off Lord Esteril at the old Abelen house. He quite sang your praises when we dined with him the other evening. He said you were a true son of your father.”
So there had been contact between Esteril and this pair. Sardec wondered whether it pre-dated Esteril's attack. He was tempted to ask but instead said; “He is too kind. I merely did my duty.”
“There are other stories,” said Jaderac. “About how you lost your hand in combat with an Elder World demon. Perhaps you would care to tell us about that.”
“I am surprised such tales have made it across the border,” said Sardec.
Jaderac’s smile was cold. “I make it my business to keep track of such things. I understand the Lady Asea was with you. Please tell us the whole story. It’s been a long time since one of the First rode to battle with the spawn of Uran Ultar. Surely that is a tale worth the telling. They say you killed the Prophet Zarahel yourself, is that true?”
There was a goading note in Jaderac’s voice, and Sardec wondered at how well informed the Easterner was. Of course, given his position, Jaderac most probably had his own intelligence network in this part of the world, and in Talorea as well.
“One of my men killed him.”
“The half-breed?” Jaderac’s gaze switched to Lady Asea now. Unconcernedly she forked some of the bird into her mouth, and then dabbed her lips with a napkin.
“Exactly so.”
“If you will forgive me for saying so, it’s a sad day for the Talorean army when its heroes are half-breeds.”
The tone was deliberately provocative even if the words were not. Sardec wondered whether Jaderac was merely arrogant and prejudiced or whether he really wanted a duel. Asea smiled at him calmly. Sardec recalled that it was not so long ago that he would have agreed with Jaderac. Now he found himself being forced to defend the half-breed. Truly the world was strange.