Sean Williams - Cataclysm 02 by The Blood Debt

Author:The Blood Debt
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

‘Well, well.’ The Magister crouched on her seat like an overgrown praying mantis, her long fingernails clicking as they tapped the ball of her black cane. She hadn’t said a word throughout the introductions and Marmion’s brief précis of the situation, nor through the testimonies of Gwil and Banner.

The red trimming of her black robe hung motionless, like rivulets of frozen blood. ‘This has been quite a week for visitors from afar. One cannot help but wonder what we have done to draw such uncommon attention from our neighbours. Can you explain this to me, Sky warden Eisak Marmion?’

He bowed with unaffected deference to the forbidding woman on her black throne. Shilly couldn’t take her eyes off her. She radiated such incredible potency and vigour that, despite her age, she filled the room with her presence. Every gesture and expression was magnified out of all proportion. Even the sound of her breathing seemed loud and full of meaning.

The crimson envelope lay open on her lap. She let it sit there and did not refer to its contents.

‘It was not our wish to inconvenience you,’ Marmion said, ‘but circumstances have worked against us.’

‘In my experience,’ she said, ‘circumstances just happen. It’s people who work against me.’

‘Very well, then. We are brought here by the misadventure of one of our colleagues, whose trail led us to the edge of the Divide. There we attempted to capture him and the creature he brought into the world: a Homunculus of unknown provenance. Our circumstances changed when this young woman —’ Marmion indicated Chu ‘— interrupted our best chance to protect Laure from the threat approaching it. We had no choice but to repair to this position and try again. I ask only that you assist us to help you correct this unfortunate happenstance.’

The Magister regarded Chu closely. Shilly saw the young flyer’s spine straighten as though bracing herself for punishment.

But the Magister’s gaze shifted back to Marmion. ‘What do you want?

Be more specific’

‘A healer, first and foremost; accommodation, second. Freedom to move through the city, naturally.’

‘And what of this thing you seek? Do you expect us to help you catch it?’

‘If you’re offering us assistance, we will accept it — provided that I remain in complete charge of any operations.’

The Magister’s lips stretched like hide on a curing frame.

‘Of course. You would expect nothing less.’

‘Excuse me,’ said Shilly, stepping forward. ‘There’s something else we need, too.’

‘Oh?’ Impenetrable green eyes swivelled to focus on her, and she forced herself to stand firm.

‘Two of us are trapped in the Divide. Three, now. We need to help them.’

‘I am aware of their presence. Miners have brought back reports of people crossing the Divide on foot. I didn’t believe them, at first. Few people would be so foolhardy. But with your arrival at our very gates, I had to give it some credence. Not to mention the storm-weaving that threw off a full day’s work of atmospheric fine-tuning.’ Marmion went to say something, but a taloned hand waved him silent.

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