The other two Kakkahaar resembled Lianvis greatly, mainly because their attire and hair were similar. Pellaz touched his brow in a gesture of respect. 'You are welcome here.' He turned to Lianvis. 'Please, sit down. We will talk as we eat.'

Cleis supervised the serving of breakfast, but once he and his staff had left the room, Lianvis got to the point immediately, 'So, the barrier around Gebaddon was broken. Thiede's departure has occasioned unforeseen difficulties for you.'

Pellaz shrugged, drank some coffee. 'Unforeseen yes. I am unconvinced it is a difficulty, however. Has Ponclast attempted to contact you?'

'Yes. The high cabal of our tribe has discussed it in detail. We have decided against allying with him at this stage.'

Pellaz grinned. 'What's this? Is a Kakkahaar morality emerging?'

Lianvis smiled thinly. 'Is it our opinion that Ponclast is dabbling with forces he can neither comprehend nor command.'

'That is true. We have our own thoughts on this matter. Might I ask what yours are?'

'Perhaps if you would share yours...?'

Pellaz smiled. 'Please, you are the guest. The Kakkahaar are great adepts. I'm sure your opinions are of high value.'

'You don't know anything, do you,' Lianvis said flatly.

'I know enough. Will you speak or not?'

Lianvis glanced at his silent companions, who perhaps gave him some unspoken advice. 'Very well. We have picked up some distinctly unusual signatures in the ethers of late. They are not from this realm, and their flavour is foul even for our tastes.' Here, he gave Pellaz a pointed stare, which the Tigron returned unflinchingly. 'If they are working through Ponclast,' Lianvis continued, 'we can only suppose they are doing so for selfish reasons. They will not be acting for the benefit of erstwhile Varrs. They will have offered tempting bait, which Ponclast has gobbled up, but he will be expendable. It is our belief that all hara are expendable to these forces. Something is occurring over our heads, as it were. I think it might well be nothing more than a dispute over territory, but the outcome for us could be severe.'

'We should wonder, perhaps, why they need Ponclast at all.'

'Indeed,' Lianvis said. 'The obvious conclusion is that they lack force in this realm, to some degree. They are empowering the last of the Varrs because they need workers or warriors.'

'I will be honest with you,' Pellaz said, sensing instinctively it was safe to do so. 'We have so far believed that Ponclast summoned these forces. Your words shed new light on the matter. They could, in fact, have summoned him instead.'

Lianvis inclined his head once more. 'That is our thought. For a time, we believed as you did. We thought that Thiede's departure from this realm weakened the barrier around Gebaddon, which allowed Ponclast to use his abilities and escape. However, I communed recently with our deity, Hubisag, and he filled me with a different knowledge. I saw the dark light beyond creation, its tentacles reaching out. I saw that nohar could summon it. I saw Ponclast as a beacon, a lure, a weak spot. He is the gateway to this realm, because of his inner state.'

'You are a casket of jewels, Lianvis,' Pellaz said. 'Thank you for sharing this information with me. Whatever any of us might think of your ways, tiahaar, I have no doubt they have helped you see the truth of the matter, where we of different nature could not.'

'That is obviously so,' Lianvis said, smiling with more warmth now. 'I wonder whether you have ever regretted declining the education I once offered you. It would be of use to you now.'

'I regret nothing of what happened in your pavilions, tiahaar,' Pellaz said, 'even if, with the light of experience, I understand more of it now.'

Lianvis raised his brows, his gaze steady. 'Is that so?'

'Yes, for example, I am aware you drugged or hypnotised me in order to take aruna with me before my ascension to Acantha.'

One of Lianvis' companions nearly choked on his food. Lianvis simply laughed out loud. 'How long did it take you to guess?'

'It took Cal about a minute. Need I say more?'

'I think it did you good. It was necessary. I had an inkling of your future, even if you didn't, and I can see now you are nothing like the ingenuous idealist I attempted to train.'

'Be that as it may, I am glad you are here now.' Pellaz made a dismissive gesture with one hand. 'We have many things to talk about, but now I would like to tell you about Ulaume. He is chesna with a friend of mine from Saltrock. They live in Shilalama now, in Jaddayoth.'

Lianvis cut neatly into a slice of bacon, skewered it with a fork. 'You and Ulaume are reconciled?'

'We are friends, yes.'

Lianvis ate his portion of bacon slowly, with apparent relish, before speaking. 'That is surprising. I chastised him thoroughly for his treatment of you, you know. When he bore a grudge, it was rarely dropped.'

'He has changed a great deal,' Pellaz said. 'But then, it was all so long ago. We have all changed.'

One of Lianvis' companions touched the Kakkahaar leader on the arm. 'Tiahaar, might I speak?'

Lianvis glanced at him. 'Ask what you must, Herien, but be prepared the answer might not be what you seek.'

'What do you wish to ask?' Pellaz said.

'Ulaume disappeared from our tribe at a... crucial time,' Lianvis said. 'Herien, you may explain.'

Herien appeared agonised. Pellaz had never seen such an expression on a Kakkahaar face before. It occurred to him at once what the question was. 'Tiahaar Herien, I believe you must be Lileem's father or hostling. Am I correct?'

Herien put one hand against his mouth. He nodded.

'Hostling,' said the other Kakkahaar. 'I am Rarn, Lileem's father. Given what you've just said, I expect you know the circ.u.mstances surrounding our son's birth.'

'I know that you created a Kamagrian between you, yes,' Pellaz said. 'And I suspect you might have guessed that Ulaume found her in the desert, after your shamans deemed she should be exposed. He took her to safety and brought her up. For some time she lived with him and Flick in Shilalama.'

'Since we heard of the existence of Kamagrian, we realised this was what Lileem must have been,' Rarn said. He put an arm round Herien's shoulders protectively, because it was clear Herien still could not speak. 'We also wondered whether Ulaume might have taken him. I investigated the area where the child had been left and there was no sign of him - her.' He shook his head. 'I'm sorry. That term is strange to me. After Ulaume disappeared, it was fairly simple to come to the right conclusion. Where is Lileem now?'

'I wish I could tell you exactly,' Pellaz said. He paused. 'We need to talk about this in depth. All I'll say for now is that she is not in this realm. But do not fear, she isn't dead. She's working on our behalf, seeking knowledge of both Kamagrian and Wraeththu, in a place beyond this world. It was her choice to go there, and not even maddened horses could have prevented her from doing so. I have no doubt she will return in the future. Consider yourselves blessed, tiahaara. Lileem is a fine individual, respected by many. I'm sure that once circ.u.mstances are resolved here in Megalithica, and we are free to travel, Flick and Ulaume would be more than happy to talk with you about her. I will do all that I can to arrange it, in fact.'

'It was so long ago,' Herien said in a husky voice, 'yet at this moment it feels like yesterday. Thank you, tiahaar.'

'Herien and Rarn have had fine sons since,' Lianvis said.

'They had a fine one to start with,' Pellaz said, gazing at Lileem's parents, 'but many mistakes were made in the early days. Do not blame yourself, tiahaara. Lileem had the best childhood a har, or parage, could wish for.'

'I always knew it was Ulaume who took him,' Herien said. 'Sometimes, at night, I thought I heard his voice, telling me all was well with my harling. It was a great comfort.' He glanced furtively at Lianvis, who expression was unreadable. 'Even though many thought it was a delusion. Eventually, I began to doubt my own mind.'

'Well, now the matter is cleared up,' Lianvis said. 'If you wish to speak with the Tigron further about it, you must do it some other time. I would now like to discuss more pressing issues, like what the Gelaming propose to do about Ponclast.'

Pellaz addressed Herien before responding to Lianvis. 'We shall find time to talk, I promise you.' He turned to Lianvis. 'I can't speak further without the presence of the Hegemony, and other tribal representatives. This will be arranged immediately.' He stood up. 'If you'll excuse me, I'll instruct my aide to convene a meeting. Please, continue your breakfast. We will meet again shortly.'

The Hegemony had a Hegalion building in Imbrilim, and it was here, a couple of hours later, that the meeting took place. Every tribe who was already present on Megalithican soil sent a representative, and Tharmifex, Eyra, Ashmael and Velaxis were also in attendance. Pellaz waited for everyhar to be seated before he entered the main chamber with Vaysh. The place was packed to capacity, with many hara standing around the edges of the room. Pellaz noticed Galdra sitting on the first tier of seats and a hot flush coursed through his body. The secret of their union, he realised, was delicious, but this was certainly not the time or place to be thinking about it. Their gaze met for the briefest moment.

Lianvis repeated his opinions to the gathering, after which Ashmael Aldebaran was the first to speak. 'You say this could be a dispute over territory. Can you expand upon that, tiahaar?'

Lianvis inclined his head. 'We farm animals for the resources they can give us. It is the Kakkahaar belief that otherworld ent.i.ties look upon us, and those like us in other realms, in a similar way.'

'That is a disgusting idea!' Ashmael said. 'Also, I cannot give it credence.'

'We are not aware of it taking place,' Lianvis said evenly. 'Do you give no credence to the idea of higher life forms than ourselves?'

'Of course I accept that is possible,' Ashmael said, 'but surely if they were farming us, we'd know it.'

'As the horse knows that is born to serve and bear us? As the bullock knows it is bred for the slaughter house?'

'Are you suggesting we are food to them?'

'No, feeding, as we do, is a primitive function. Perhaps it is beyond us to comprehend exactly what we provide for these beings.'

'Where is your proof?'

Lianvis opened his arms in an expansive gesture. 'I am merely offering a theory, based on intense etheric research. There is no doubt that Ponclast has unusual allies.'

'He could have summoned or conjured them,' Ashmael argued. 'That, in my opinion, is more likely, and when he goes, they'll go. I will lead our hara to Fulminir and the sedim will help us break through any barrier that has been erected. They've done that in the past, they'll do so again.'

Pellaz had still not told anyhar about his ability to commune with Peridot, nor what the sedu had told him. He, more than any others present, sensed the possible truth in Lianvis' words. 'Tiahaar Lianvis makes sense to me,' he said.

Ashmael glanced at him sharply. 'How so?'

'Well, what are the sedim? Where did they come from and why do they serve us?'

'Thiede made them, or conjured them,' Ashmael said. 'That is common knowledge.'

Pellaz laughed. 'You make it sound as easy as modelling a horse from clay and straw! They are not horses, Ash, as you know. They appear to us as horses, because that is perhaps how we can best perceive them. I don't think Thiede summoned them. I think they found him.'

Ashmael narrowed his eyes. 'Why do you think that?'

'I have worked with Peridot intensely, as you do with Zephyr, but he has taken me to another realm, Ash. I have seen a sedu in its more natural form. They are higher beings than us, of that I have no doubt. If they choose to work with us, it is for a reason. Perhaps they are our shepherds. And perhaps if a higher power does require something from us as a resource, some other power is now trying to take it from them.'

Ashmael uttered a derogatory snort. 'Such fancies will not help us at Fulminir. We need to find Ponclast and destroy him. All this nonsense will stop then.'

'The Tigron has offered interesting ideas,' Tharmifex said. 'We shouldn't dismiss them out of hand, Ash.'

Velaxis raised his hand to speak and Tharmifex gave him permission to do so. 'We should consider that, if any of these ideas are based in truth, we are clearly not supposed to be aware of these powers operating above and beyond us. But, as Ponclast has been contacted by some agency, perhaps those who are opposed to them could contact us, or we could contact them.'

'If there is any truth in it,' Ashmael said, 'we do not contact any of them! We are not farm animals, and if that is indeed what's taking place, it should be stopped.'

'Perhaps it is a symbiotic relationship,' Velaxis said, 'and therefore cannot be ended or changed.'

'And what do you know about it?' Ashmael said coldly. 'You are little more than a clerk or an escort for visitors, Vel. It is not your place to speak here.'

Velaxis stared at Ashmael with eyes that blazed like silver disks, until Pellaz was sure Ash would burst into flames. 'He has a point,' Pellaz said, 'and it's as valid as any other we've heard.'

'What you're all talking about sounds like something out of myths and legends,' Ashmael said. 'Like the wars of the angels, or something. It's insane. We should deal with the crisis, here on this earth, with our feet on the ground. This is about territory, yes Ponclast wanting ours.'

'And this is why you are not Tigron,' Velaxis said acidly. 'You have no vision; you are just a fighter, like any common Varr.'

'Tiahaar Shiraz!' Tharmifex said, simultaneously signalling at Ashmael for silence. 'That is out of order. We have allowed you to speak, do not abuse the privilege.'

Velaxis raised his hands. 'I apologise. May I suggest we hear what other tribal representatives think of these claims?'

'Indeed,' Tharmifex said. 'Would anyhar care to contribute?'

Galdra stood up. 'The Freyh.e.l.lans have always believed this is a war that will be fought on astral ground. My personal suggestion is that we should ask Tiahaar Lianvis if the Kakkahaar have any ideas for a possible strategy we could use.'

Many other representatives made noises of agreement, most likely because Galdra had spoken. Over time, he had become the spokeshar for just about every tribe other than the Gelaming. You are just too d.a.m.n useful, Pellaz thought.

Tharmifex smiled at Galdra. 'Thank you, tiahaar.' He turned to Lianvis. 'Do you?'

'I have spoken with my colleagues here with me and have also communed with the shamans of my tribe before attending this meeting. The Kakkahaar decision is that we will accompany the Tigron to Fulminir. I will do what I can to divine what action should be taken once I have taken stock of the situation at close hand. Ponclast will be waiting for you to come to him, you already know this. The Kakkahaar, with our dark magic...' Here, he stared directly at Pellaz in a challenging manner, '... should be able to provide a level of protection for your forces. I have communicated with our founder on the matter. He is already working on the problem.'

'Velisarius is working on this?' Pellaz asked. He addressed Tharmifex. 'The Kakkahaar founder is a recluse. If he is moved to become involved, I'd say our situation is serious, if not dire.'

'Velisarius is more aware than most of the way our world functions,' Lianvis said. 'He believes that each faction involved in this skirmish has an avatar in this realm. We can only suppose that Tigron Pellaz is one of them, and that Ponclast is the other.'

'Which makes it between him and me,' Pellaz said. 'I've felt this for some time.'

'Heading for a duel, Pell?' Ashmael drawled. 'This is ridiculous. He'll send out his Varrs to confront our forces. He'll use his allies against us. He won't come near any conflict. And neither should you.'

'I will not hide miles away from enemy lines, Ash,' Pellaz said. 'I'm not afraid to ride at your side.'

'You are not a warrior,' Ashmael said. 'Don't get carried away with the whole heroism aspect. Let me deal with the conflict in the tried and trusted way. I saw enough of it when we had to oust Ponclast before.'

'Ponclast was ousted mainly by Swift and Seel,' Pellaz said. 'It was the product of their Grissecon that breached Fulminir.'

'Then find somehar to take aruna with outside the walls,' Ashmael continued, 'I'm sure there are many willing candidates. Politeness forbids me from naming those who ogle greedily Cal's empty throne. And that is no secret.'

Pellaz felt his face flame. He was powerless to prevent it, and realised his first instinct was to glance at Galdra to gauge his reaction. Fortunately, he stopped himself in time.

'Ashmael!' Tharmifex said. 'Enough! You shame us in front of our friends from other tribes.'

'I will do whatever it takes,' Pellaz said. 'Your a.s.sumptions are of no interest to me, Ash. I am focused wholly on what is best and right for Wraeththukind.'

'Very well,' Ashmael said. 'I suggest I do as I am inclined to do, and martial our forces from a military perspective. The rest of you devise a magical strategy, and let me know your plans. I presume my hara will have to provide protection for any magical operation.'

'We know you will perform perfectly,' Pellaz said. 'We know you'll do all you can, in any situation. We must remember that Azriel and Aleeme Parasiel are captives of Ponclast. It's possible that will be exploited.'

'Possible?' Ashmael said. 'I think we can a.s.sume that's a given fact.'

'That is your territory, Ash,' Pellaz said. 'You saved the lives of many in Fulminir before. If anyone can get the Parasilians out, it will be you.'

Ashmael offered Pellaz a grudging smile. 'Thank you.'

Tharmifex stood up and addressed the tribal representatives. 'Does anyhar else wish to speak?'

Many did, although they made it clear that Galdra har Freyh.e.l.la spoke for them in most areas. Clearly, the representatives had been having meetings of their own, away from Gelaming eyes. While further discussions took place, little of which added to what had already been said, Ashmael moved his chair closer to the Tigron's. 'I am not wrong, Pell,' he said. 'Guard your back.'

'What do you mean?' Pellaz asked, in a stiff tone.

'The Hegemony likes the idea of the Aralisian triumvirate. They do not like the idea of absconding Tigrons. I've heard rumours, not least that once this is over, Cal will be stripped of his t.i.tle.'