The overcast sky to the east had hints of red as dawn crept over the buildings of Quorge. Jorvanultumn rubbed his eyes and yawned. Down below, the soldiers were moving about, awake and active, though not currently attacking. They had done very little of that, and what they had done had been little more than token gestures. Even the ballista, in retrospect, had been nothing more than a display. A distraction.
It was obvious now that the soldiers at the base of the Hall of Knowledge were only there as a distraction from the ones who had somehow gotten in through another route. Those ones were the real threat; these ones were not. Yet he had to keep watch on them, as unwatched, they could very well become a threat.
Jorvanultumn yawned again and leaned forward on the dragon gargoyle where he was sitting. He was exhausted. Not magically—he had expended very little magical power—but physically. It was more than just being up all night. He had had no opportunity to rest since arriving in Quorge. He was still exhausted from the journey here.
Still, his situation was not nearly as bad as Nin-Akna’s or Felitïa’s. At least he could still sleep when he had time. He just had so little time for it.
A pair of soldiers had approached the based of the steps and were now bent over them. Jorvanultumn squinted and peered forward, but there was not enough light to tell what they were doing. Not that it really mattered what they were doing.
He swung one of his dangling feet in a gentle circle. The ice beneath the soldiers flowed up, around their wrists and hands, and pulled them down. With a cry, they collided with each other and scrambled to pull away.
There was no need to expend energy on holding them long, so after a second, Jorvanultumn let them go. They scrabbled to their feet and backed hurriedly away.
Most of the night had been filled with this kind of thing. After lengthy periods of inactivity, a few soldiers would advance a little, try firing bows, or tossing grapples. Jorvanultumn would respond with some simple magic to push them back a little and they would return to a period of inactivity.
And it just kept repeating.
You should be grateful you’ve had it so easy.
Jorvanultumn slipped a little on his perch, then straightened up. You could warn me when you’re about to do something like that.
Mikranasta chuckled in his head. There is no way to warn of something like this. The warning itself would have to come without warning. Besides, startling you is mildly amusing.
What’s happening inside? Jorvanultumn asked.
As I said, you’ve had it easy. Several of the human wizards are dead, though I think more of the Bloods are dead. Fevionawishtensen has taken some minor injuries, but nothing to worry about.
Jorvanultumn breathed a sigh of relief. He had not expected Fevionawishtensen would come to any serious harm, but it had been a worry in the back of his mind nonetheless.
A weakness in the back of your mind, Jorvanultumn. That kind of worry can destroy your concentration.
Do you never worry about Davorultumn?
Of course, but never when the stakes are high. I choose when to allow myself worry.
Jorvanultumn sighed and peered forward again.
Four soldiers had approached the base of the stairs again, but they split, two going in each direction from the stairs along the base of the Hall of Knowledge. They were probably just staking it out again. They did that from time to time. There was no point his responding unless they did something more.
Do we know how they got in? Jorvanultumn asked.
No, Mikranasta replied. They appear to have their leader, Mitchal Plavin, with them. Fevionawishtensen reports there are only a few of them left. She and the human wizards are trying to lure them into a more open area where they can face them.
Will you assist them?
Mikranasta did not reply right away.
It was decided you would join the battle if they got in. They’ve gotten in.
There are more pressing matters I must deal with.
More pressing? What are you talking about?
Once again, Mikranasta did not respond.
Below, the soldiers walking along the base of the Hall were moving around the sides. Jorvanultumn stood up. It was a bit precarious on the gargoyle, but he did not need to stand here long. He spread his wings and leapt into the air.
He flew almost directly straight up, high enough that he could see all four sides of the Hall of Knowledge. Both pairs of soldiers were walking towards the back. Jorvanultumn circled over the top, keeping both pairs and the main force at the front in sight.
Are you going to answer me? he asked. You are the most powerful of us here. By far. You could save lives.
There was silence in his head for a moment, but then Mikranasta said, I am sorry, Jorvanultumn. Some of the human wizards may die, and that saddens me, but I fully believe they can prevail. They have Fevionawishtensen. And young Meleng Drago… He may not be powerful, but he is crafty, and his love for Princess Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith will bring out the best of him, even if his worry holds him back a bit. He has the strength of mind for it. They will prevail.
The soldiers on the south of the building stopped moving, while those to the north kept moving towards the back. Jorvanultumn circled down a little. He did not want to lose sight of any group, but he did want to know what the two to the south were up to.
And what is so pressing you can’t help? he asked.
The Will-Breaker’s enemy. Felitïa Asa Folith is close to uncovering her enemy, and hopefully prevailing with the help of her friends and Hedromornasta. If I act, I will be found out, and her enemy will withdraw into hiding. We will not catch them.
Jorvanultumn landed on the very top of the Hall of Knowledge and looked down the south side. The two soldiers seemed to be measuring part of the wall. How do you know?
Because her enemy is powerful, and… Mikranasta was silent for a moment. And I have taken a great risk.
One of the soldiers on the south side threw something up onto the first tier, and then the other one helped the first climb up. What were they doing? Surely they knew he would just stop them?
The two on the north side were just reaching the back. Several from the main force at the front were approaching the stairs. Were they trying to divide his attention?
Jorvanultumn reshaped the stone under the climbing soldiers’ feet, sending them sliding back to the ground. Then he gathered water from the air, and snow and ice from the ground. He brought them all together in a large sheet of ice that he laid down over the south side of the building, just like he had previously done on the front. He then did the same to the remaining two sides. They were not getting up that way.
Are you going to explain this great risk? he asked. What have you done?
It involves the other target of Felitïa Asa Folith’s enemy.
Of course. Jorvanultumn had suspected Mikranasta might have had a hand in that. You helped Nin-Akna leave unseen, didn’t you?
Yes.
Why?
I saw an opportunity. She allowed me to...place a tracker in her mind. She has made contact with the enemy.
Do you know who it is?
The enemy has appeared to her in the form of her dead friend. I cannot pierce the illusion without revealing my presence.
And you can do nothing here?
There was a pause again before Mikranasta continued. As I said, I took a risk. I must maintain a connection with the tracker, but it goes in both direction. I am very limited in what I can do without revealing myself. Communicating with you and Fevionawishtensen is about the extent of what I can do right now. When Felitïa Asa Folith engages her enemy, I will come to her aid. Not before.
The soldiers to the south were returning to the front, but the ones at the back seemed to be investigating the ice coating.
Something still did not make sense. He was not a mentalist, but—
Precisely. You are not a mentalist, Jorvanultumn. I know what I’m talking about. I know the extent of my abilities, and I am starting to learn the extent of the enemy’s abilities. I have told you the situation. Accept it or do not accept it, but it is what it is, and it is done. I will inform Fevionawishtensen you have the situation outside under control.
Yes, of course. I’m sorry, Mikranasta.
She did not respond. He waited a little bit, but she still said nothing more. She must have gone.
Jorvanultumn turned his attention to the soldiers at the back. Whatever they were doing, he was bored of it. It was time to return them to the main force so everyone was in one place.
He stirred up the air around them into a heavy wind, then mixed in snow and ice, even a few stones and small rocks. There was no need to seriously hurt anyone, but a few bruises would help drive them back.
The soldiers raised their arms in front of their faces against the onslaught, and stumbled back round the side of the building. Jorvanultumn moved the minor tempest with them, keeping clear, calm air ahead of them to lure them on. Once they were back at the front near the main force, he let them be.
Then he flew down and sat on the gargoyle again.
Mikranasta had to be up to something more than she was saying. Whatever she had put in Nin-Akna’s head had to be more than just a tracker. That was the only way to explain why she was so worried about being discovered. The question was, what? Surely it was not something dangerous to Nin-Akna.
He sighed. He hoped Fevionawishtensen, Meleng, and Sinitïa were all right. He was sure they would be, but no matter what Mikranasta said, he would worry anyway. His worry was his strength.
