Lister stared into his glass pyramid at the face of the man who looked out at him.
“My Lord of Elcho Falling,” he said, and made a slight bow.
About him snowflakes fell from the sky, twisting lazily in myriad fantastic patterns. As each one hit the ground, it transformed into a birdman or birdwoman, their features and the line of their wings rimed with frost.
The Lealfast.
They gathered about the black-clad Lister in a circle, intensely watchful, their forms gradually solidifying. Three of them—Eleanon, Bingaleal, and Inardle—stood at Lister’s shoulder, exchanging unreadable glances before they looked into the glass spire that Lister held.
“You have been a great trouble to my life,” Maximilian said to Lister, “for I am led to believe that you were the one to orchestrate my seventeen years spent in the Veins.”
“The path to greatness must necessarily be strewn with obstacles that—”
“Don’t feed me such banalities, Lister. I am not in the mood for it this day.” The focus of Maximilian’s gaze changed slightly to take in Lister’s companions. “Who are those who stand about you, and where are you?”
“My companions are the Lealfast,” said Lister, “and they are your servants. As am I. As for our location, we stand at the foot of the FarReach Mountains where they meet the Sky Peaks.”
“How soon will it take you to reach me?”
“The Lealfast could be with you within the day, two at most, should you ask it. I, like my companion Isaiah, am confined somewhat by the limitations of human flesh. Nonetheless, I do command some powers and could be with you within ten days.”
“Then do it. Lister, what do you know of Kanubai? Something has happened.”
“DarkGlass Mountain has eaten him, my lord,” Lister said. “I ever thought the pyramid was the greater danger.”
“Then you will do well to get here as quick as you may, Lister, that you may share with me the benefit of your infinite wisdom—as well as a plan of action that will see us all at home safe and sound before our hearths within the month. Now, step aside, that I may converse with whoever will speak for the Lealfast.”
Lister raised his eyebrows at Maximilian’s tart voice, but obediently stepped aside for one of the Lealfast, a man of handsome aspect and keen, frosty eye.
“Your name?” said Maximilian.
“My name is Eleanon,” said the Lealfast male, “and I speak for the Lealfast.”
“You are their commander?”
“You are our commander,” said Eleanon, his voice heavy with sincerity, “but I speak on behalf of the Lealfast Nation.”
“The entire ‘nation’ of the Lealfast is currently with Lister?”
“Yes, my lord,” Eleanon said. “We number perhaps a quarter of a million. The larger majority are women with children and the older among us, but myself and my brother, Bingaleal, lead a fighting force of bowmen and women of some fifty thousand. We are experienced and able fighters, my lord, and we are at your command.”
Maximilian did not reply for a moment. Then: “And you and yours can be here within two days?”
“If you desire it. Do you wish the entire Lealfast Nation to descend upon you?”
Maximilian’s mouth curved in a wry smile. “I think not, Eleanon. Your fighting force, however, I shall be very glad to welcome. Where will the great number of your people stay?”
Eleanon leaned to one side and conferred with Bingaleal before turning back to Maximilian. “They will stay within the FarReach Mountains, my lord,” he said. “It is safe enough for them at the moment, and provides good shelter. If needed, they can move. Quickly.”
Bingaleal and Inardle exchanged a look and a secret thought: The Nation can move from the FarReach Mountains as needed. Either way, north to Elcho Falling, or south to whatever the One might offer us. “Good,” Maximilian said. “They can also act as sentinels should anyone, or thing, move north. Eleanon, do you have any reports of what is happening within Isembaard?”
“Many thousands, tens of thousands, of Isembaardians are fleeing north through the Salamaan Pass,” Eleanon said. “Men, women, children.”
Maximilian sighed. “We shall need to provide for them. Nothing pursues them as yet?”
“Nothing but rumor from Aqhat,” Eleanon said. “We know nothing of any solid fact about what has happened in Isembaard.”
“Very well. Should I expect you the day after tomorrow, then?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Eleanon, is there any way you can warn me of your arrival two hours in advance?”
Yes, said Eleanon, and Maximilian nodded.
Good. Eleanon, who do you serve? Me, or Lister?
If you tell us to tear Lister’s head from his shoulders we shall do it, even though he has been a pleasant companion to us.
Maximilian raised an eyebrow. “Good,” he said again, this time in his speaking voice. “I shall see you and your fighters soon.” He gave a very small smile. “You shall be some good news from my south, and I have had little of that recently. Is Lister still close?”
Eleanon bowed, handing the pyramid back to Lister.
“My lord?” Lister said.
“I am assuming Vorstus is with you,” Maximilian said, naming the man who had, for all his life, acted as Abbot of Persimius in Escator, and who had conspired with Lister to inter Maximilian in the Veins.
“Yes, my lord.”
“With my crown.”
“Of course, my lord.”
“Then I will see you both within ten days.”
“I shall look forward to meeting you, my lord,” said Lister, “and also to renewing my acquaintance with Isaiah.”
Maximilian gave a very small, tight smile, and the next moment the pyramid that Lister held dulled back into lifelessness.
“Just think, Eleanon,” Lister said cheerfully, “within two days you meet the StarMan, Axis SunSoar himself.”
Eleanon gave him a short look, then turned away.
Are you certain we should still profess loyalty to the Lord of Elcho Falling? Bingaleal said in Eleanon’s mind as they walked away from the group.
Eleanon’s stride did not falter and he gave no outward sign of Bingaleal’s private communication.
For the moment, he replied, while it suits our purpose.
And the One? Bingaleal said.
When we know more, Eleanon said, we can make our choice.
Inardle watched Eleanon and Bingaleal walk away, feeling unsettled and disturbed. Her brothers were clearly attracted to the power the One offered, but Inardle preferred to keep a more open mind. The One was unknown, the Lord of Elcho Falling less so. The way of the Magi suited Eleanon and Bingaleal, but not so much Inardle, for the Magi had despised women and offered them little power.
Still…the way of the Magi, and the One, offered such rewards that it could well be that the One was what the Lealfast needed.
“I hope you have no weakness, Maximilian Persimius,” Inardle muttered, “for otherwise you and your world are dead if the Lealfast should turn our backs to you.”