Sara Douglass – The Serpent Bride – DarkGlass Mountain Book 1

so much to comprehend, but somehow I am not surprised.”

“Thank you,” Maximilian said. “Georgdi?”

The man sat for a long moment, looking at Maximilian, considering his position and the

words he would speak. “This is my land on which we stand,” he said. “The Outlands. Why

should I hand my loyalty to a man who comes to take it from me?”

“Because that is the only way you will ever keep it alive, Georgdi,” Maximilian said.

“I am with Ezekiel,” Georgdi said. “My heart remains reserved.”

“I can accept that,” Maximilian said, “if you can stay your knife, the both of you, until I

have a chance to prove myself.”

Georgdi laughed, and even Ezekiel raised a reluctant smile. “You have a great task ahead

of you,” the Isembaardian general said.

“Oh, aye, I know,” Maximilian said. “And somehow I think the two of you shall be

harder even than Kanubai.”

Axis and Maximilian sat alone in the tent, everyone else having departed.

“That was some stunt you pulled today,” Axis said. “Why did you do it?”

“Because it was time.”

“Had you discussed it with Isaiah beforehand?”

“No.”

Axis gave a small laugh of admiration. “You have balls, Maxel, I”ll give you that. But

how confident are you? There is an appalling journey ahead for you…for all of us. How good are

you, my Lord of Elcho Falling?”

Maximilian gave a great sigh. “Axis, can I confide something to you? I have told no one

this, although Isaiah and Lister will need to hear it eventually.”

“Why do I feel like this is going to be bad news, Maxel?”

“Because you have experience behind you, Axis.” Maximilian paused, then told Axis

about the Twisted Tower. “It is our memory palace. Where is kept all the knowledge needed by

whichever poor bastard had to shoulder the burden of Elcho Falling. But so much has been lost.

It is well over half empty. I don”t know what to do…” Another small pause. “I hope that when I

get to Serpent”s Nest, when I raise Elcho Falling—”

“You can do that?”

“Yes, I can do that, at the least. I hope that when Elcho Falling rises out of Serpent”s

Nest, somewhere within its corridors I will find enlightenment.”

“Stars, Maxel…what if you don”t?”

“Then I shall be running to you for advice, my friend.”

“Ishbel doesn”t know?”

“No. She has no knowledge of the Twisted Tower.”

“But she was archpriestess of the Coil. You”d think that if the answer was in Serpent”s

Nest, then—”

“Thank you for your thoughts, Axis,” Maximilian snapped. “Do not think I haven”t

worried over that as well.”

“Well, perhaps Isaiah or Lister—”

“Yes, perhaps.”

In DarkGlass Mountain, Kanubai turned his dog snout north and sneered.

So, his adversary had opened his mouth to spout drivel and declare himself.

Kanubai was not perturbed. The Lord of Elcho Falling was weak; the stink of his

vulnerability could be smelled even from this distance.

The man might once more wear the title, but Kanubai doubted very much he would be

able to wield the power that came with it.

CHAPTER TEN

Entrance to the Sky Peak Passes, the Outlands

I watched you, Maxel. I watched what you did today in front of that army.

You constantly amaze me.”

Maximilian had been walking back to his own tent when Ishbel spoke. Now he stopped,

looking at her as she emerged from behind a line of tethered horses. It was late at night, and

Maximilian was weary beyond belief, but something in his heart lifted at the sight of her, at her

beauty, and at the softness in her eyes.

How he wished he had not lost her.

She smiled, a little teasingly, walking much closer. “But I should not have been so very

amazed, eh? You are the same man who walked into my chamber in Pelemere, and led me

straight to the bed. You overwhelmed me, and I could not resist you.”

“I wish the Isembaardian army were as easy to seduce as you, Ishbel.”

She laughed. “I will try not to take that as an insult.”

He smiled, too, thinking how ironic it was that now they were torn apart, how close and

easy they could be with each other. Oh, to have had this camaraderie when they had shared a

bed.

Her amusement faded. “Do you have a few minutes, Maxel?”

“Yes, of course. What is it?”

She hung her head, as if gathering courage, then she lifted her face, and looked him

straight in the eye.

“I have been such a fool, Maxel. I have let go the one thing that could have made of my

life a paradise. You.”

Maximilian went cold. No, Ishbel. Not this, I cannot stand it. Not now, when it is too late.

“Maxel, I love you.”

He made as if to speak, but she hurried on.

“I have made so many mistakes, so many ill choices. I have said so many foolish things.

I—”

“You have visions of despair engulfing your life because of me, Ishbel. You cannot—”

“I am your wife! We have never formally ended the marriage.”

He laughed, harsh and lost. “I think our marriage is well and truly over, Ishbel.”

“I can accept whatever you bring into my life, Maxel. Whatever it is, because that will be

easier than losing you completely.”

“Oh, gods, Ishbel…I”m sorry, but—”

“No!” Ishbel literally threw herself against him, desperate for his touch and for his

warmth. His hands closed about her shoulders, and she leaned back to gaze at his face. For an

instant, he leaned down to her; she was sure he would kiss her, she could feel his breath wash

over her face, she willed him to kiss her, then he pushed her away and stood back.

“We can”t,” he said. “I”m sorry. What was once between us must be ended.”

“What was between us was misunderstanding and blindness, Maxel, and I agree that it

should be over. What can be between us is—”

“We can work, we will work, together to raise Elcho Falling, Ishbel. I can”t do that

without you. But our marriage is over.”

“You love me,” she said. “You do.”

“I—”

“He doesn”t love you, Ishbel. You tore his world apart. He will never forgive you.”

Ravenna walked out of the darkness, a cloak wrapped tightly about her. “Maximilian was

always mine, from the moment I first laid eyes on him. I helped free him from horror—what

have you ever done for him? What Maxel and I have between us is not something you could ever

understand.”

Ishbel stared at Ravenna, then looked at Maximilian, pleading with her eyes for him to

refute what Ravenna had just said.

He dropped his eyes away from hers.

Ravenna let the cloak fall free, and one of her hands rested on her as yet flat belly. “I

carry his child, Ishbel. His heir. Maximilian Persimius will cleave to me now.”

She stared at Ishbel”s stricken face for a long moment, her eyes gloating, victorious, then

she turned on her heel and walked away. “Maxel?” she called over her shoulder.

“I”m so sorry,” Maximilian whispered, staring at Ishbel. “So sorry.”

Then he also turned, and walked away.

He paused, just before he vanished from the faint light, and turned his head, ever so

slightly, to look over his shoulder at her.

I”m sorry.

Then he was gone, lost to the darkness and to Ravenna.

Ishbel stood, tears streaming down her face, hating Ravenna more than she could ever

imagine hating anyone, but feeling above all a tide of despair and sorrow and loss wash over her

as she watched the Lord of Elcho Falling walk away from her into the night.

It was then she understood, finally, what her visions had been trying to tell her: that it

would be the loss of the Lord of Elcho Falling that would disfigure her life with despair, and she

sank slowly to her knees in the snow, weeping with wrenching sobs as her world shattered into a

million pieces.

GLOSSARY

Alaric: a nation in the extreme north.

Allemorte, Baron: a nobleman from Pelemere.

Aqhat, Palace of: the home of Isaiah, Tyrant of Isembaard. Armat: one of Isaiah of

Isembaard”s generals.

Axis: see SunSoar, Axis.

Aziel: archpriest of the Order of the Coil.

Ba”al”uz: court maniac in the Tyranny of Isembaard. Ba”al”uz is pronounced

“bay-uz.”

Baxtor, Garth: a physician who employs the Touch (the ability to determine sickness

through touch). Garth was primarily responsible for freeing

Maximilian Persimius from the Veins eight years before this tale begins. Bingaleal: one

of the Lealfast.

Borchard: son of King Malat of Kyros, and friend of Maximilian Persimius.

BroadWing EvenBeat: an Icarii, and friend of Maximilian Persimius.

Brunelle, Lady Ishbel: an orphan from Margalit, raised to be archpriestess of the Order of

the Coil.

Cavor, Count: cousin to Maximilian of Persimius, Cavor kidnapped Maximilian as a

fourteen-year-old youth, imprisoned him in the gloam mines, and seized the throne himself.