Gates of Ruin (Magelands Eternal Siege, #6)

has too many inhabitants, and a cull would do the place some good. I estimate that there are at least half a million economically inactive mortals living in the slums who are nothing but a drain on resources. Perhaps we should allow the collapse of the economy to run its natural course.’
Leksandr turned to Belinda, who was sitting next to them on the wooden platform that had been erected in front of the gallows. ‘Your opinion, Third Ascendant?’
Belinda frowned.
‘Why are you asking her?’ said Arete. ‘The old Belinda might have been an experienced ruler, but this new one knows nothing about the hard choices we face.’
‘It depends on what you want to achieve,’ Belinda said, ignoring Arete’s comment. ‘If you care about the long term future of Lostwell, then we should take every practical step to alleviate the famine, and do all we can to assist the poor and unemployed in the city. If, however, you only care about keeping Old Alea secure for long enough to find Kelsey Holdfast, or to activate the Sextant, then it makes no sense to do anything to help the mortals.’
Leksandr raised an eyebrow. ‘Succinctly put. See, Arete? Belinda has a talent for cutting straight to the heart of the matter.’
Arete rolled her eyes.
‘Do you care about Lostwell?’ said Belinda.
Leksandr shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. ‘Lostwell has no future. Its oceans are poisoned, and the land groans under earthquakes and volcanoes. This world is doomed. Thousands of years of conflict have brought it to the edge of destruction, and barely a twentieth of its landmass remains inhabitable. Within a few decades, at best, they will have used up all of its freshwater, and timber supplies, and they are running out of everything else. On top of that, the climate is getting drier and hotter, thanks to the indiscriminate use of god powers during the wars. Once we have achieved our objectives, I would be tempted to put this world out of its misery.’
Belinda kept her face expressionless, despite the turmoil she was feeling. ‘Could it not be fixed?’
‘What for?’ said Arete. ‘It would be far quicker, and easier, to create a new world to replace it, if we manage to get the Sextant to work. And if we don’t, then, does it matter? There are plenty of other worlds.’
‘Don’t say that,’ said Leksandr. ‘We shall get the Sextant to work.’ His face darkened. ‘We have to.’
The Sixth and Seventh Ascendants fell into silence for a moment, and Belinda could sense the fear each of them felt. She hadn’t yet dared to go into their minds, conscious that she was unable to hide her presence from them, but was becoming attuned to their moods, and had watched their anxieties increase over the month that they had been in Old Alea.
‘I shall spend the rest of the day meditating by the Sextant,’ Leksandr said, as he stood. ‘I’m close to discovering its secrets; so close.’
Around them, a company of soldiers stood to attention as the Ascendants rose from the platform.
‘Belinda,’ Leksandr went on, ‘I want you out searching again today.’
‘I search every day,’ she said.
He flashed her a glance of anger. ‘Then do it better. Khatanax is a small continent, and the Holdfast girl is hiding somewhere. Find her.’
‘I’ll do my best.’
Arete smirked. ‘How do we know that she hasn’t already found her? Do you believe that she would tell us?’
‘Yes,’ said Leksandr.
‘For our sake,’ she said, ‘I hope you’re right. We are running out of time.’
‘Don’t test my patience, Arete. Work with Belinda today; search alongside her. You know where I will be.’
Leksandr turned, and strode off towards the rear doors of the residence.
Arete frowned as she glanced at Belinda. ‘You may have fooled him, but I don’t trust you.’
‘I know.’
‘We should have sent you to Implacatus so that Lord Edmond, the Blessed Second Ascendant could examine you. Leksandr is playing a risky game keeping you here, when you could easily be a traitor.’
They began to walk in the direction of the western tower of the residence, where the Ascendants had their quarters. Around them, Banner soldiers formed an escort, and they passed the gallows, where the corpses of twenty merchants were being cut down from the nooses.
‘Where shall we search today?’ said Belinda.
‘Do you listen to anything I say?’
‘Yes.’
Arete glared at her as they walked towards the base of the tall tower. ‘Is that it? I accuse you of treachery, and you change the subject? Leksandr believes you need time to adjust, but I think your mind has gone. You had a reputation for wisdom and cunning, second only to the Blessed Lord Edmond himself, and now you behave like a slow-witted mortal.’
A few of the soldiers glanced over at Arete’s words, but the Ascendant didn’t seem to care who was listening.
‘You’re hiding something,’ Arete went on, ‘and I will find out what it is. You’re in league with the Holdfasts, and are conspiring against us – is that the truth?’
Belinda said nothing.
‘Well? Answer me.’
‘You’ve already made up your mind,’ Belinda said. ‘If there’s nothing I can say to change it, then why speak?’
They entered the cool passageways of the western tower, where officers and courtiers bowed before them. They stepped into the lift shaft, and a team of servants began turning the winch, raising them up through the levels of the tower. It had been three months since Sable Holdfast had broken her leg in the destruction of the lift, and the platform and pulleys had been recently repaired, and retained their odour of fresh wood.
Belinda closed her eyes as they ascended. Arete was still talking, but she ignored the words spoken by the Seventh Ascendant. The lift stopped on the second-highest floor, where Arete and Belinda had their rooms, occupying the quarters once lived in by Lord Maisk and Lady Joaz. Leksandr had selected the apartment on the top floor, where Lord Renko had stayed, and the Sextant was taking up most of the space in the study