'I think we've both learned that all the strictures and warnings about working nexus magic are more than valid, certainly without a full quartet of mages.' Velindre looked down at the silver bowl, frowned, and the radiance rallied.
'I thought I had burned out my own affinity,' Naldeth said, voice hollow.
Velindre shivered with sympathy. 'This was ten times worse than that potion you fed me and Dev, Kheda.' She closed her eyes, bloodless lips pressed tight together.
'But as you can see, it was just a matter of time.' Naldeth rubbed at the crease between his brows with the ball of his thumb 'We still have our affinities.'
'What do you think you can do?' Kheda asked carefully. 'Without exhausting yourselves. You mustn't risk overtaxing yourselves.'
'Dev told us how dangerous that could be,' Risala agreed anxiously.
'Don't you want to know if we can get us all home?' Naldeth's smile was unnerving in the eerie light.
'That's not my only concern,' Kheda said frankly, 'but yes, since you mention it.'
'Haven't we done all we came here to do,' Risala demanded, 'and more?'
'Rather more than we intended,' commented Velindre sardonically. 'I don't know if I can work a translocation
over such a distance,' she went on, abruptly serious. 'Not until I have some better understanding of the elemental changes we've wrought around here.'
'We can give you all the time you need. The Zaise isn't going anywhere and we've seen no sign of savages making their way in this direction.' Kheda returned Risala's supportive hug that inevitably found some of his bruised ribs. 'I'd be grateful, though, when you think you're strong enough, if you could try to see what's happening in Chazen.'
If I'm stuck here, at least show me that no disasters have struck there because I abandoned my responsibilities to Itrac and my new children.
'I can try now.' Velindre looked into her glowing bowl, the tip of her tongue toying with a split in her chapped lower lip. 'If you'll let me raid your physic chest.'
'Of course.' Kheda crawled over the unkempt layer of quilts and blankets to retrieve the ebony coffer.
Naldeth shifted so that Risala could sit beside him. Kheda carefully negotiated the yielding surface to sit opposite the two mages. Velindre set the silver bowl carefully down between the four of them.
Kheda opened the physic chest. 'What do you want?'
'Whatever it is that you've been using to ease my chest pains.' Velindre held out her hand.
Kheda gave her the crystal vial of pungent silver-leaf oil.
Velindre managed a thin smile. 'It's close enough to the aids we offer inadequate apprentices, and this is no time for me to be too proud to accept a little assistance.'
She let a few drops fall onto the water and the emerald radiance glowed through the slowly dissipating circles. As the oil spread into a fine film, the green light dimmed and a new brightness grew in the depths of the water.
Kheda saw the garden in the centre of Itrac's pavilion.
The logen vine was in full bloom and silken basket flowers clustered thick. The white-sand paths were neatly raked and in the central bower, Itrac and the baby girls were taking their ease on a green carpet patterned with fire-creeper and striol flowers. Chazen's lady wore a simple tunic and trousers of white silk, her bare feet kicking idly as she lay on her front, propped up on her elbows. The baby girls were lying on their backs on either side of their mother, each little face flushed with laughter. Itrac was using the end of her long plait to tickle first Olkai and then Sekni. The babies kicked lustily, trying to grab the teasing thing.
Assuming we ever get home, how will I ever explain any of this to you? Now I have still more secrets to come between us. We're further apart than ever.
'I wouldn't mind being there,' Naldeth said softly.
'Nor me.' Kheda ran a hand through his unkempt hair. 'Can you show me whether all is well around the lagoon?'
'I'll try,' Velindre said cautiously.
The spell flickered so violently that Kheda thought her magic had failed her. Then the emerald light returned and a new image floated on the surface. The lagoon around the Chazen dry-season residence was thick with ships — merchant galleys from all the neighbouring domains and a profusion of the dispatch boats and triangular-sailed traders that plied the sea lanes within the domain. Heavy triremes were manning the key stations that governed entry and departure from the heart of the domain. In the open seas beyond, fast triremes carved deceptively lazy circles in the blue waters, ready to pursue any importunate vessel.
Risala gazed down at this picture of abundant trade with longing. 'Do you suppose the pearl harvest is as rich as last year's?'
'I haven't given that a moment's thought.' Kheda shook his head in wonder.
Risala hugged him. 'There'll be time enough to find out when we get home.'
'I'm sorry.' Velindre shook her head as the emerald light faded and died with ominous finality.
'Do you think you could scry as far as Hadrumal? When you're fully rested, of course.' Naldeth ran a thoughtful finger around the rim of the bowl. 'Do you think we should try bespeaking the Archmage?'
'Are you that eager to have the Council asking endless awkward questions?' Velindre looked askance at him. 'Don't you think that can wait until we get back there?'
'We are going to have an unholy amount of explaining to do, aren't we?' Naldeth managed a crooked smile.
Kheda saw a faint green radiance rekindled in the bottom of the scrying bowl and frowned. 'Velindre, he's right - you should rest before you try that.'
'What?' She looked at him puzzled.
Naldeth looked down at the bowl. 'That's not your spell and it's certainly not mine.'
'Do you think the Archmage is looking for us?' Velindre looked like an unwed girl who'd been caught in some mischief.
'Is he?' Kheda forced himself to look into the bowl.
'No,' said Velindre softly. 'Oh dear.'
Words failed Kheda as he saw a pale-green dragon with turquoise spines crouching on a beach of yellow sand. The dragon's head whipped around and looked straight at them through the magic. It bared jade teeth in a soundless snarl, its aquamarine tongue tasting the air.
'That's the dragon we saw off the southernmost headland.' Velindre was astonished, 'The one I sent chasing the water spout.'
'Then it got the taste of your magic from that,' Naldeth said.
'That's a trading beach in the Archipelago.' Risala
jabbed a finger at the wreckage of boats large and small drifting in the lapping surf. Cloth was tangled around one of the beast's forefeet and it was tentatively crushing metal wares and pottery under its talons. There was no sign of any people, dead or alive.
'Where exactly?' demanded Kheda.
'I've no idea,' Velindre said slowly.
The dragon continued to look straight at them, its head growing larger and larger as it filled their vision. The creature was stalking towards them.
'No!' Naldeth plunged his hand into the scrying bowl, sending the water slopping to soak the coverlets and wet everyone's knees. The emerald light flashed a sickly yellow and died.
'I think we had better bespeak Planir.' Velindre was trembling. 'Just as soon as we can.'
'What are we going to do after that?' Risala demanded.
'We rid Chazen of one dragon.' The magewoman sighed heavily. 'We know how to drive that one off. Without killing it,' she added determinedly.
'You can't think of attempting anything like that until all your bruises have healed and you've both recovered your full strength,' Kheda said angrily. 'How many people will it kill in the meantime?'
'Hopefully none,' Velindre said thoughtfully. 'That dragon had no interest in eating carrion, if you recall. It should find plenty of fish in Aldabreshin waters. Perhaps I can lure it away with a sea serpent as bait,' she said hopefully.