A Day of Fallen Night (The Roots of Chaos)

‘Five, you say.’

Shadows wavered on the wall. In the dimness, Tunuva and Esbar stood before the Prioress.

‘Yes,’ Tunuva said. ‘And many smaller ones. All winged.’

‘The Mother never wrote of this,’ Saghul muttered. ‘We expected the Nameless One to return, not new beasts to emerge.’ She drew a deep breath. ‘Do you think one of them was him?’

‘We can’t know,’ Esbar said. ‘It was too dark.’

Tunuva was still covered in ash. The smell of fire and shattered earth was difficult to shake.

‘Prioress,’ she said, ‘when the Dreadmount erupted, Esbar and I made a third kind of fire, a red fire.’ She let the flame gutter in her hand again. ‘Feel the heat of it.’

‘We sensed siden,’ Esbar said. ‘More than we’ve ever felt from the tree. It was . . . in the air, in the ground uncontrolled. As if the Womb of Fire were bleeding.’

Saghul grasped the arms of her chair.

‘The Mother said his fire was as red as his scales,’ she said. ‘We will learn more, but for now, Tunuva, put it out. Let us not meddle with a power we do not yet understand.’

With a glance at Esbar, Tunuva obeyed.

‘Did the Mother ever speak of seeing our magic in him?’ Esbar pressed.

‘I will have the archive searched.’ Saghul tightened her grip on the chair. ‘The battle we have expected for five centuries may now be imminent. Esbar, go to the initiates and tell them what has happened. Double training hours. The men should make as many arrows as they can.’

‘They will begin cutting wood from tomorrow.’

‘Good. Tunuva, while Esbar assists me here, I would like you to oversee ranging. We must find evidence of where these creatures have gone, their numbers . . . and what they mean to do.’

Tunuva said, ‘Do you mean to inform Daraniya and Kediko, since we are bound to protect their lands?’

‘Kediko has always been difficult. He needs to be approached with care. I will send word to Gashan,’ Saghul said, ‘but she may be too busy to notice my letter, worldly as she now is.’ Esbar shook her head. ‘You must visit Nzene before you return, Tunuva, to reinforce my words. You have the patience to convince both Gashan and Kediko.’

‘I am honoured by your trust, and will do what I can.’ Tunuva paused. ‘Siyu and Anyso—’

‘Intercepted on the western boundary of the Basin.’ Saghul reached for her cup. ‘Siyu has decided to keep the child. Since I have already informed Gashan of her posting, I will honour it’ – Tunuva breathed out – ‘but first, she will spend her pregnancy here, without her sisters’ company, so she has time to understand how gravely she endangered them. Yeleni will be confined to her room until I decree otherwise.’

Tunuva nodded. It was a harsh punishment, but it could have been far worse. ‘And . . . Anyso?’

Saghul swilled her wine.

‘We shall see, Tunuva Melim,’ she said. ‘We shall see.’