Sara Douglass – The Serpent Bride – DarkGlass Mountain Book 1

Maximilian, who had avoided all contact with Vorstus since their conversation on Maximilian”s

return to Ruen.

They all looked stunned, unable to believe BroadWing”s news. Maximilian looked

particularly pale, and Garth thought that he”d taken the news of StarWeb badly.

“How could Axis SunSoar be alive, and in Isembaard, of all places?” Egalion said, and

by the manner of his tone, Garth knew that question had been asked many times over the past

half hour or so.

Maximilian shrugged. “From the legends of Tencendor that I have heard, Axis has

escaped from death on a number of occasions. What is one more time?”

“But Isembaard?” Vorstus said.

“Has he been involved in the murders, do you think?” Garth said.

Maximilian gave a slow shake of his head. “Not if he fought for Broad-Wing”s life

against those who had stolen Ishbel, no. But what he is doing down there…who can tell?”

“What will you do?” Vorstus said.

For the first time in weeks, a look of determination and resolve lit Maximilian”s eyes. “I

am going to find my wife,” he said.

“No,” said Vorstus. “No!”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The Royal Palace, Ruen, Escator

It was a massive risk, leaving Escator so soon after he”d arrived home, but Maximilian

knew he had to do it. He couldn”t abandon Ishbe or their child. He needed to rescue her for

purely personal reasons—he loved her and wanted both her and their child safe—and for darker

reasons, as Ishbel had been sent to him for a purpose: she was somehow intimately connected

with Elcho Falling and she could not be allowed to fall into the hands of Kanubai.

Kanubai wanted her. More than anything else, that fact reinforced in Maximilian”s mind

that she was somehow integral to Elcho Falling.

Well might Kanubai want her, but at least for the moment she was in the hands of

Axis…and Maximilian thought Axis was the better bet than Kanubai.

Just slightly.

Maximilian lay awake at night, thinking of Ishbel, ill and alone, dragged through the

FarReach Mountains. He lay awake, racked with gu ilt that the face he”d shown her in their last

days together had been one of anger and accusation.

Maximilian grieved for StarWeb and carried a burden of guilt for her death, as well as the

other three Icarii who had died trying to rescue Ishbel, but for the most part his thoughts were for

Ishbel and her plight. This time he would not send others to do what perhaps he should have

done in the first instance. This time he”d find her himself.

No one was happy with Maximilian”s decision, whether the Privy Council of Preferred

Nobles, or Egalion representing the Emerald Guard, or Garth Baxtor, or most particularly

Vorstus. The abbot of the Order of Persimius spent hours arguing with Maximilian, saying it was

pointless to risk his own life when there were many others who could go. Others who were

trained for this kind of thing, damn it! Maximilian was risking both his own life and Escator”s

well-being unnecessarily—not to mention Elcho Falling.

“Ishbel is intimately connected with Elcho Falling,” Maximilian said to Vorstus as the

abbot tried yet again to persuade him against mounting his own rescue effort.

“You are more important than Ishbel,” Vorstus said. “Elcho Falling is more important

than Ishbel!”

“Not to me,” Maximilian responded quietly.

Vorstus was not the only one to try to persuade Maximilian against his plan.

“We can”t afford to lose you,” Baron Lixel said to Maximilian on a day that he, Egalion,

Vorstus, and Garth met once more with the king to persuade him against this venture. “You are

needed here. Only this morning we received word that the Outlands have declared formal war on

Pelemere and Berfardi. Sire, I beg you, reconsider. Our world is disintegrating into war. We

cannot afford to have you chase off after—”

He stopped, seeing Maximilian”s eyes slide his way.

“Ishbel can be rescued as easily, more easily and with less risk, by someone else,” Lixel

finished.

“I”m sorry,” Garth said, “but I don”t like any of this. Is Ishbel worth risking your life, and

Escator”s peace, over?”

“I do not like you going after her personally,” said Lixel. “I fear for you, and for Escator.

I would prefer you sent Egalion, and the Emerald Guard. And what do any of us know about this

land of Isembaard? Nothing! It is huge, and you have no idea where to search, and—”

“I will find her, Lixel,” Maximilian said. “I am sure I know where she is going.”

Lixel made a gesture of helplessness. “If you must, then go, Maximilian. But, please,

gods, return to us!”

“I and the Emerald Guard will ensure that he—” Egalion began, before Maximilian raised

a hand and stopped him.

“I”m sorry, Egalion, I do this with only a very small party. Two of the best of the

Emerald Guard. No more. Three of us all told. We can travel light and fast and undetected. My

friends, if I could survive seventeen years in the Veins, I can survive a journey into Isembaard.”

He shot Vorstus a dark look then, daring him to say something, but the abbot remained

silent.

“Maxel,” said Egalion. “I insist that you take with you—”

“Two of your very best men,” said Maximilian. “But just two. Choose for me.”

Egalion gave a tight nod, unhappy, but accepting Maximilian”s decision.

“And I?” Garth said softly.

“I think it is better you stay, Garth. I am sorry.”

Garth”s face tightened, then he jerked his eyes away.

Maximilian watched him for a moment, then looked to Baron Lixel. “Baron, I hesitate to

burden you with this, but I would that you act on my behalf while I am gone. I am meeting with

the Privy Council in the morning, if you will join me.”

Lixel nodded. “And to think I”d thought to enjoy my „retirement” in Escator.”

Maximilian managed a smile. “I have just made you a king, Lixel. Do not look so glum.”

Vorstus remained behind when the others left. “This is madness, Maximilian,” he said.

“It is too dangerous. Elcho Falling needs you. You must not dash off on some foolhardy mission

into utter danger. Maximilian, if your bloodline ends here, then our world dies.”

“I need her, Vorstus, and I am certain that Elcho Falling needs her as well. I am going.

Do not try to persuade me against—”

“Do you not know what awaits you down in Isembaard?”

“Kanubai? Is he risen already? If so, then we may as well lay down and die now, Vorstus,

for at the moment I have not the heart, or the ability, to shoulder all the aches and pains of Elcho

Falling.”

“Then promise me one thing,” Vorstus said, moving forward with a speed and litheness

that belied his years. “Promise you will not go near DarkGlass Mountain. Stay in the north if you

possibly can, but do not go near DarkGlass Mountain!”

“I will do what is needed to retrieve Ishbel,” Maximilian said, “and then I will come

home to Escator, Vorstus. I promise you that.”

Then he turned on his heel and was gone.

Vorstus stood and looked at the door through which Maximilian had vanished.

“Wrong,” Vorstus whispered, his eyes glittering as if with madness. “You will never

come home to Escator at all. Your time here is done, and Escator was doomed from the moment

you rose from the Veins.”

Then, closing his eyes and tipping his head back slightly, Vorstus sent an urgent message

north to Lister.

Lister, disaster upon disaster. Maximilian now thinks to travel into Isembaard after

Ishbel.

Vorstus thought about telling Lister what Maximilian had told him about the Twisted

Tower, but decided against it. The Twisted Tower could wait—what everyone needed to do now

was to ensure Maximilian”s survival.

“Fool,” Vorstus muttered one more time.

The day after Maximilian had left, accompanied only by two Emerald Guardsmen called

Serge and Doyle, Vorstus went to Maximilian”s bedchamber late one night.

He was dressed in traveling clothes, and he carried a leather satchel that hung loose and

empty.

Vorstus went directly to that particular section of floor and made the same gesture with

his hand that Maximilian had used to open the trapdoor.

Then he descended into the Persimius Chamber.

The column that had once held the queen”s ring was empty save for its cushion.

Good. Maximilian had taken the ring with him.

Vorstus turned his eye to the crown.

It seethed with a darkness so profound that its three entwined bands of gold were all but

hidden.

“I wonder if Maximilian came down here to see this before he left?” Vorstus muttered to

himself, knowing that Maximilian probably hadn”t—that he”d wanted no reason to abandon his

foolish quest for Ishbel.

Vorstus walked over to the crown and, without any hesitation, seized it in both hands.

The crown hissed at him, the darkness writhing in agitation, but Vorstus took no notice.

He thrust the crown into the leather satchel, secured it firmly, then left the chamber.