‘I will,’ said Clariel firmly. ‘Nothing will stop me, not now. I’ve let too many things get in my way. We will go to Belisaere, and kill the King’s enemies, and he will let me go, no matter what Tyriel might say or do.’

‘As you say,’ said Mogget.

‘I will take the sword,’ said Clariel suddenly. She got up and began to stalk back up the gully. ‘But not the bells.’

‘Not yet,’ whispered Mogget, so soft that it was barely more than a thought. ‘But I know a necromancer when I see one.’

He padded after her, his pink tongue out a fraction, listening in satisfaction as she called out forcefully to her servants.

‘Aziminil! Baazalanan! Make the dragon again, at once!’

chapter thirty-one

return to belisaere

Clariel saw the Sea of Saere first, darker and more lustrous than the sky, an expanse of different blue. Then the peninsula, with the great city at its end. From this distance and height it was merely a blob of off-white against the blue of the sea and the patchworked green of the farmlands beyond the walls. There was the Narrow Way stretching rule-straight towards the city … and there was something on it halfway to Belisaere, three or four leagues ahead, something that obscured the clean line of the road. Clariel couldn’t make it out, it was too far ahead and her eyes were slitted against the wind even with her mask.

‘Mogget, what is that on the road? Can you see?’

‘I see,’ said Mogget. ‘An army on the march. A small army, perhaps five or six hundred all told. There are banners in the van – Ah … there may still yet be time …’

‘What? Whose banners?’

‘Many, some unclear. But I can see the silver star of the Clayr, and the blazons of Navis and the Bridge Company,’ said Mogget. ‘Many Charter Mages, some of the greatest power; I can feel the Captain of the Rangers, the Chief Librarian, three of the four Bridgemasters … another who I do not know, most powerful of all … They are marching fast, as if any delay could brook disaster …’

‘The Clayr?’ asked Clariel. She felt curiously relieved and deflated at the same time, and suddenly uncertain in her purpose. ‘They have come … So they will take care of Kilp, rescue Aunt Lemmin. I don’t need to do anything. We could turn away now, fly to Estwael …’

The cat stood up on his hind legs, one well-clawed paw hooking into Clariel’s leg. He had been sitting at her feet, because the sword with the Free Magic symbols lay across Clariel’s knees, the blade naked to the wind.

‘I suppose they are hurrying because the Palace is on fire,’ he said. ‘That is smoke, not cloud.’

‘On fire!’ exclaimed Clariel. ‘How … how much on fire?’

Mogget shrugged and sat back down.