Seven Sorcerers(105)
“Now,” said Lyrilan. “Time enough later for ceremonies, gratitudes, and feasts of friends. Let us speak of Almighty Zyung and his Holy Seraphim.”
Iardu’s luminous eyes turned to Khama, then scanned those of Vireon, Alua, Vaazhia, and Sharadza. Finally his gaze settled once more upon Lyrilan.
“We are seven,” said the Shaper. “It must be enough.”
16
The Scroll
A blanket of clouds obscured the sun and sky when Sungui first saw the walls of Uurz. All morning she had glided through the mist and rains above the Stormlands. The green plain grew thick with villages, rivers, streams, and roads as she approached the city. Clusters of spires and domes gleamed like wet amber beyond the granite ramparts. Many of the winding streets and broad plazas were as green as the outer steppe. The city’s double gate was shut tight, its battlements thick with pennons, spears, and the winged helms of sentinels.
Sungui spotted the palace easily, a glittering hill of pinnacles, minarets, and spiked cupolas surrounded by lush walled gardens. A thousand varieties of tree and flower lined the walkways between courtyards. The Emperor’s banner fluttered atop the three highest towers.
Guards pacing the grounds rushed to inform their commander of Sungui’s approach. She had chosen her female aspect for this duty, estimating that a male envoy might enjoy less hospitality. She pulled the tube of yellow bone from the sleeve of her vestment and descended feet first toward the steps of the palace proper. A squad of spearmen in gold and green armor moved to intercept her.
When Zyung’s attendant had roused her from sleep before dawn, she had met with the Almighty on the middle deck of the Daystar. At first she thought he might chastise her for lying with Ianthe. The Panther had still slumbered in Sungui’s cabin. Yet if Ianthe’s sedition and rebellious activities were hidden from Zyung’s eyes, Ianthe herself must be as well. “One does not need to be invisible to remain unseen,” the Panther had explained, “but only to redirect the watcher’s eye. Even the eye of a God-King.”
In that dim hour the sun still lurked below the purple horizon, yet any moment it would rise up red and golden to set the world aflame. Sungui walked into the glow of Zyung’s eyes as wind rustled the main sails above them. The dreadnoughts had not yet taken to the air, the oarsmen had not yet begun to flap the great wing-sails, but when the sun arose the Holy Armada would too. Moving at full speed, Zyung’s forces would reach Uurz well before dusk.
“You will be my envoy to Uurz,” Zyung told her. “A new Emperor sits upon its throne. He is the one who saved the Giant-King from death and set free the Feathered Serpent. His brother was a simple warrior, but this one is clever. He is a sorcerer whose magic hides Uurz from my vision, even as he makes plans to resist us. I offer this new and wiser Emperor the chance to surrender and save his people from further bloodshed. Fly to him, Sungui, and give him this offer. Let him know that we will be at his gates this day.”
Sungui bowed low. “It shall be done, Holiness.”
“Do not make the mistake of Damodar,” Zyung added. “You must enter and leave Uurz without violence.”
Sungui agreed. The Almighty disappeared once more into the shelter of his great cabin.
Before departing the ship, Sungui met briefly with Ianthe. They spoke under the shelter of the Panther’s misdirection. Then Sungui flew into the west as the sun climbed over the New Holy Mountain.
A few short hours later her feet touched down on the rosemarble steps of the Uurzian palace. A thicket of spearheads surrounded her on the instant.
“I carry a message for the Emperor of Uurz,” she told the spear-men in their own language. “From Zyung the Almighty, High Lord Celestial, Heart of the Living Empire. It must be delivered in person.”
She endured the indignity of allowing them to search her for weapons. Finding nothing except the capped tube of bone, they escorted her into the Grand Hall. There sat the ruler of Uurz, an assortment of wizards and advisors gathered about his dais. They watched her intently as she walked the length of the gallery toward the throne.
Four of the eight who stood about the dais were of the Old Breed. Sungui sensed the power seething inside their flesh, like flames dancing inside shuttered lanterns. She recognized Khama the Feathered Serpent in his human aspect. Two of the Old Breed were women, one of them wearing a reptilian aspect. That meant the ageless one in the orange robe and a cobalt flame dancing on his chest must be Iardu the Shaper. Unless they had traded shapes to mislead her.
Vireon the Giant-King stood there, also wearing a human aspect. His Queen, standing pale and silent at his side, was another of the Old Breed. D’zan of Yaskatha wore the marks of battle upon his thick limbs; his invincibility in the face of overwhelming foes had impressed Sungui. The last of the figures Sungui identified was the lean Warlord of Uurz, who had led the retreat after Tyro’s demise.