‘Indeed. I daresay Gath Tampoor’s ruler has similar problems. Speaking of which…’

‘Yes, of course; it must be almost time.’ Rhylan backed off a couple of paces.

Felderth carried out a series of subtle hand gestures, a conjuration directed at the heaving contents of the pit. It proved resistant to his command and carried on its unruly bubbling.

‘Do you need help, brother?’ Rhylan asked.

A look of intense concentration knitted the Elder’s brow. ‘I think I have it.’

The pewter liquid quietened, save for a pattern of ripples stirring its surface. In seconds the disorder calmed and an image appeared. It sharpened into a face, then the face took on distinctive features.

The likeness of Empress Bethmilno came into focus.

‘Greetings,’ Jacinth intoned. ‘It’s been a long time.’

‘Let’s get straight down to business, shall we?’ the Empress replied coolly.

‘That’s my intention,’ the Elder came back.

‘I don’t expect us to forget old enmities, bearing in mind how deep they run. But for the moment we need to liaise on matters of importance.’

‘My sentiment entirely,’ Felderth concurred.

‘Very soon our fleets will rendezvous. Yet we’ve managed to get this far without settling the extent of our cooperation. This must be made clear.’

‘I agree that we need to set parameters. I suggest we keep this alliance-’

‘Temporary alliance,’ Bethmilno corrected.

‘As you say. I suggest this transient alliance be restricted solely to the original objectives. Simply put, we cooperate without let until those aims are achieved. Then, at an agreed point in time beyond that, normal hostilities between our states can resume.’

‘That would be acceptable. Though, of course, the temptation to take advantage of the period between triumph and the ending of our pact could prove strong.’

Rhylan said nothing. His eyes flicked between the Empress’s image and his brother’s stern features.

‘It may be a temptation for Gath Tampoor,’ Felderth declared loftily. ‘Rintarah, on the other hand, honours its promises.’

The Empress snorted. ‘I won’t dignify that with a response. Other than to say that we have a mutual interest in survival, as our history attests. We’ll have to trust in that when it comes to honouring pledges.’

‘I’m not sure I infer your meaning.’

‘Then I’ll be transparent. Any premature aggression would invite the full strength of Gath Tampoor’s military capability. Let that be a buttress to our agreement.’

‘And I can offer a similar assurance as far as Rintarah’s forces are concerned.’

‘I see we understand each other, Elder.’

‘Clarity is always my goal, Majesty.’

‘There remains only the matter of when our provisional union should come to an end.’

‘Shall we say forty-eight hours after the eradication of the targets?’

Bethmilno thought about it, trying to see if agreement gave the opposition any kind of advantage. ‘All right,’ she decided. ‘Word will be sent to our fleet commanders.’

‘And to ours,’ Felderth replied, raising a hand.

The link was broken. Bethmilno’s image dissolved.

The Empress watched as Felderth’s likeness fragmented and disappeared into the glutinous liquid.

The throne room in her palace at Merakasa was dimly lit and virtually deserted. Several representations of the empire’s dragon emblem decorated the chamber, and the most prominent, occupying a sizeable wall, throbbed with magical vitality. The Empress came away from the hollow where the quicksilver simmered and turned to the only other person present.

‘Why do we need Rintarah, grandmother?’ he asked. To an eavesdropper, the use of her familial title might have seemed bizarre, given that he was an old man himself.

‘We don’t. Our presence will stop them making common cause with the rebels or Zerreiss against us. It’s all about expediency.’

‘So we’ll betray them?’

‘Of course. Just as soon as they’ve ceased to be of use.’

‘There are some stirrings around the court about all this.’

‘Stirrings?’

‘About the wisdom of cooperating with the enemy.’

‘I’ve just made clear exactly what that cooperation amounts to.’

‘Yes, but there’s talk about whether you’ve got your priorities right.’

Bethmilno adopted an aggressive tone. ‘You’re questioning them?’

He shook his head. ‘I wouldn’t dream of it, grandmother. But there are those who express concern about developments other than the rebels.’

She nodded cannily. ‘You’re referring to the Clepsydra.’

‘Yes. Is it true that it’s been discovered?’

‘It was never really lost. We always knew approximately where it was, but we hadn’t bothered locating it. It’s only come to light now because our agents were shadowing a Diamond Isle ship, which led them to it.’ She smiled in a self-satisfied manner.

‘And is the Clepsydra really indicating an…end point?’

‘It wasn’t far off doing that the last time I saw it. And that was a very long time ago.’

‘Are you saying we have nothing to fear, grandmother?’

‘I’m saying I doubt the Clepsydra’s veracity. Because for all the skill with which it was created, it’s stood unattended for an age. There have been numerous shifts in the earth’s crust during that time, not to mention extremes of weather. Changes that could impair its function, and it goes without saying that it’s beyond the capability of any alive now to repair it.’

‘What of the so-called Source? If the rebels found that, too-’

‘Again, a groundless concern.’ The Empress was growing impatient.

‘But its power,’ her grandson ploughed on regardless. ‘Wouldn’t it be an appalling weapon in enemy hands?’

‘Only hands capable of using it. The rabble has no more understanding of how to master an artefact from what they call the Dreamtime than a dog knows how to drive a carriage. If we thought otherwise, we would have sought out and destroyed the Clepsydra long ago.’

‘I repeat, grandmother, that it’s the Source which causes most concern.’

‘And I say again,’ she replied tetchily, ‘that they have no hope of drawing on it. In any event it seems it’s been put beyond their reach, thanks to a bit of inventive maliciousness on the paladins’ part. Stop fretting’

‘I’ll try. So, how do we proceed?’

‘First we annihilate the rebels. Then we destroy the warlord. There’s nothing complicated about it,’ she assured him.

‘It’s simple,’ Zerreiss repeated patiently. ‘All I’m ordering is a diversion, and not an enormously big one at that.’ He indicated a spot on the hide map pegged up in front of them. ‘From here to around…here. It’ll put just a few days on our schedule. A week at most.’

‘With respect, sir,’ Wellem said, ‘it’s to do with practicalities.’ He jabbed his thumb sternward. ‘Redirecting all this is no small task.’

Their flagship was at the head of a massive fleet, consisting of a singularly ill-assorted collection of vessels; captured, commandeered and hastily built. Most were troop carriers, decks jammed with combatants and lashed-down war engines. Accompanying supply craft, laden with provisions, moved low in the freezing water.

‘Apart from re-plotting our course,’ Wellem continued, ‘the distribution of rations would have to be adjusted. That and a dozen other problems make it a logistical nightmare.’

‘I’m aware of all this,’ Zerreiss replied, ‘and the difficulties aren’t nearly as daunting as you make out, old friend. But I appreciate your efforts to save me from myself, as you see it.’

‘Sir, I would never-’

The warlord raised a hand to silence him, adding good-humouredly, ‘Of course you would. But this detour has great implications for our struggle.’

‘To a rock in the middle of the ocean, occupied by radicals? Do we need allies that badly?’

‘This isn’t about recruiting, is it, sir?’ ventured Sephor, the warlord’s younger aide. ‘It’s about him, isn’t it? The man in your dreams.’