Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 554
little Wind obliged, spiralling out and up at a giddying rate.
Soon the entire palace was laid out below Jordan, like an
architect’s model.
Familiar skills came to his aid now. He could see the
different layers and periods of construction of the place; as at
Castor’s or the Boros manor, the history of the Summer Palace
was written in its stones. Armiger kept his eyes on the task at
hand, which was negotiating the narrow way, so Jordan had
ample time to contemplate his surroundings. He saw the type
of stone in the passage Armiger was walking through, and had
judged its age in the glow of the lantern held by Armiger’s
guide. That style of construction was used in particular types
of wall or embrasure... He stared down from Ka’s height,
looking for the structure he knew must be there.
"Jordan, we’re out of time."
Opening his eyes, he looked up to see white branches,
like frozen lightning, gently touching down at points in the
nearby hills.
He felt the stirring of the Swans’ attention. They had not
spotted him yet; it seemed they were here for another reason.
Beyond the pressure of their searching gazes, he something
else as well--a deep murmuring from underground.
"Mediation," he said, "we need shelter from the swans.
Disguise us, or create a diversion--something, anything!"
"Come on," said Tamsin. "We’ve got to hide!" She
pointed to the palace, where forms like living flames were
rising into the air.
"Just one minute more." He clenched his eyes shut, and
reentered Ka’s perspective. There had to be something...
There it was: a long, faint line in the sand, the crumbled
remains of a causeway that extended all the way from the
central buildings of the palace past its walls. And at its