story by searching for people who had disappeared without a trace. In his story, it was mentioned that his recovery was bittersweet, as his best friend was believed to have been one of the curious onlookers who got too close to the newly appeared maelstrom of Atlantis and were swept in.”
Mrs. Hancock looked at Fairfax. “Remember what you said about the elemental mage who created the maelstrom having probably been the Bane’s first instance of sacrifice? You were exactly right. And decades later he moved across the breadth of Atlantis—no mean feat in those days—to become Palaemon Zephyrus.”2
“What happened after the baby was taken away?” asked Aramia, her voice low and tight.
“The curse on the family seemed to lift after that—no more unnatural misfortunes. And then came Delius, who changed from a rather mediocre boy to an immensely accomplished young man almost overnight. Oh, I do want to mention that Delius had a twin, who is said to have died in one of the battles. Buried. Once the Bane took power over all of Atlantis, he put many of his ancestors and relatives on one huge pyre and finally offered their ashes to the angels.”
All evidence destroyed, in other words.
“To sacrifice your greatest enemy is evil enough. To practice sacrificial magic on those who love, trust, and respect you—that is despicable beyond words. Especially”—Fairfax briefly clamped her teeth over her lower lip, as if trying to control a bout of nausea—“especially since he knows exactly what sacrificial magic entails, the unspeakable agony the victims must endure, the extraction of brains and marrows and goodness knows what else while their hearts still beat.”
Aramia covered her own mouth, as if she feared she would vomit otherwise.
“Sorry about that,” said Fairfax. “It is what it is.”
“I got completely distracted, didn’t I?” said Mrs. Hancock to Kashkari. “All you asked was how best to get to the Commander’s Palace, and here I wouldn’t shut up about everything that happened decades ago.”
“No, no, of course. It always helps to know what we are dealing with,” answered Kashkari. “And you did mention that the no-vaulting zone around the Commander’s Palace is a hundred miles in radius. Do Atlanteans never have cause to go into the area?”
“Our population has always been concentrated in the coastal regions. The interior of the realm is largely empty of inhabitants, especially the region around the Commander’s Palace. The terrain is ill-suited for just about everything—the land mass is too young and the volcanic rock hasn’t had enough time to become rich volcanic ash. Some places you can scarcely walk. The land beneath your feet is like a forest of knives.”
Obsidian flows sometimes produced such landscapes, the volcanic glass, upon cooling, fracturing to produce blade-sharp edges.
“Would you happen to have a map?” Titus asked.
“Maps are to be had everywhere. But none of them will have the location of the Commander’s Palace marked. You can, however, have a guess as to its general area. It would be the sector in the northwest quadrant of the island that is entirely covered by wilderness preserves.”
Mrs. Hancock moved to a desk and opened a drawer. “Here are two maps. One of Lucidias and one of the entire realm. I’ve marked them where I thought there might be inaccuracies or information you could use.”
Titus took the maps and offered his thanks.
“Now you just have to get out of Lucidias.”
“Via the tunnels?” asked Amara.
“The tunnels have their uses, but are hardly necessary for you: I still have freedom of movement. Tomorrow morning I will take the Crucible, with all of you inside, for an outing in the country. There are a couple of designated recreational nature areas not far from here. Once you are there, you can proceed with far fewer eyes on you. And I bought some simple tunics and cloaks for all of you, so that your clothes won’t stand out.”
Kashkari leaned forward in his chair. “Can you not vault out of Lucidias directly? That would make it safer for everyone.”
Mrs. Hancock shook her head. “The entire city is a no-vaulting zone.”
This was not welcome news.
“Will we stand out?” Amara gestured at Kashkari and herself.
“Somewhat, but we do have a small population of mages who moved to Atlantis from realms in the Indian Ocean. So your appearance alone won’t get you dragged off to be interrogated.” She rose. “If anyone is still hungry, I have some eggs in the kitchen and I can make omelets. Would that be all right?”