Citadels of the Lost by Tracy Hickman Read Free Book Online Page B

caused the fall of all the Western Wells,” Liau replied with, for the first time in Sjei’s memory, an edge of anger in his voice. “The power of the Aether is what supports the very foundations of this entire Empire. We maintain control of our slaves by it. We command our armies through it. All trade is built upon it. Our lives are sustained by it. Our very walls are supported with it. Your own Order’s only purpose in existence is the distribution of this power and your enrichment through it yet when all of this was shaken by the hand of a single slave, you consider him ‘unimportant’?”
    Wejon bristled once more. “It was not our Wells that failed, but those of our Occuran brothers. Is it our fault that their poor craft left the Western Provinces in such a state that their Wells threatened the Empire itself?”
    Kyori’s hands gripped the rests of his chair until all color had left them, but a single warning look from Sjei kept him in his place.
    â€œNo,” answered Kyori with barely restrained fury. “But it seems that the efficient auspices of the Myrdin-dai managed to facilitate this ‘unimportant’ slave’s escape.”
    â€œIt is a lie!”
    â€œI have seen this same report from the Iblisi, my brother Ch’dak,” Kyori said in even tones. The Occuran could smell Wejon’s panic at being cornered. “It further states that this ‘unimportant’ slave Drakis used the Myrdin-dai folds to escape northward and beyond.”
    â€œBut is this not what your friends the Iblisi do . . . capture escaped slaves?” Wejon snapped. “If they had escaped into the northern lands, then it was the Iblisi’s responsibility to retake them.”
    â€œAnd so they tried,” Ch’dak said.
    â€œTried?” Liau asked.
    â€œThis same Soen Tjen-rei . . . this Iblisi Inquisitor whose report has been quoted . . . left to do exactly that several weeks ago,” Ch’dak said, shifting his gaze to the elf from the Ministry of Occupation. “Arikasi, you remember Soen . . . he was the Iblisi representative at court at the time.”
    Arikasi considered for a moment behind a frown. “Yes, I remember him. Unpleasant and always moving about.”
    â€œThat’s him,” Ch’dak continued. “His reports refer to an ancient prophesy about a human named Drakis and how he would return to oppose the Empire. It’s all nonsense, of course, but a large number of the Sixth Estate believe in it. They are all looking for some prophet to save them. Shortly after studying these prophesies, Soen went north to hunt down those slaves—and was followed immediately by a full Quorum of Iblisi who had orders to kill him.”
    Sjei raised his eyebrows slightly. This was something he had not known—and he hated surprises. They always had a tendency to bite you when you were not looking.
    â€œNot only did this Drakis escape again but Soen has vanished as well,’ Ch’dak continued. “The Iblisi believe that Soen may have joined this Drakis. They have secured an Imperial Edict for his execution although from what I understand of this elf, asking for his death will be far easier than obtaining it. They’re looking for both this Prophet and Soen now and appear to be going to great lengths to find each, but so far without success.”
    Sjei turned to the Minister of Occupation. “Have you heard anything from the northern marches about either of these persons?”
    â€œWait a moment,” Arikasi said. “Someone said something just the other day . . .”
    Come on, you used-up old fool, Sjei thought. Make the connection!
    â€œA Prophet! I remember!” Arikasi exclaimed. “A trader working the Northmarch Folds told the Paktan guildmasters that there were mass migrations in the north . . . entire villages of Sixth Estate races just picking up and leaving. Everyone was moving past the