‘Why does the Empire gather their forces now?’ Berg said. ‘We had no word of this in the north.’

Darukaviqu, the watch commander huffed out and shook his fur-feathers out. ‘An invading force comes from the southern lands,’ he said.

‘The provinces in the south are poor and sparsely populated,’ said Berg. ‘What is to be feared from the south?’

‘A force of Rivashka - Ice Warriors comes?’

‘Those primitive tribes cannot pose a threat,’ said Berg. ‘They have lived on the fringes of the Empire for an age. They can never agree on any one thing.’

‘Berg?’ said Jupiter. ‘Is this some coordinated plan with the rebels? Is that why everything is happening now? The damage to the fleet on Zenska. The Rebel attack on Qhayuvakham. Is it timed to distract The Imperial Navy from these Ice Warriors?’

‘Perhaps,’ said Berg. ‘I had contact with Tharumiyo, but not with these self-styled rebels you speak of. I did not know of the plans to attack Zenska until the pirates took me from Black Spire. Then I learned they were no pirates in fact, but these disguised navy mutineers.

‘But I doubt this is coordinated,’ Berg continued. ‘We have outraced the news along The Way. I doubt the Empire knows of both the threat of the rebel mutiny as well as this thrust from the south by Ice Warriors. It might be enough to rattle the court, but how could they know?’

‘They somehow knew of us,’ said Maggie.

Berg paced as all eyes followed him. Jupiter saw now what it meant to be a leader, someone who had the charisma that made other wait and listen for their words, and then take action at their command.

‘We will go to Hatunqiri.’ Berg said finally.

‘You throw your lot in with the Emperor?’ said Darukaviqu. The rest of the watch shuffled closer.

‘I still have a personal loyalty to my sovereign leader, the Emperor. But I believe his court has been led astray. The Air Lord, the Aelqemist. I have to warned the Emperor.’

‘But Berg. We agreed.’ Maggie stepped up to confront the manisaur as if she had an aura to persuade him too. ‘We are going to Naz’naska, not this Hatunqiri.’

Jupiter shook off the feeling of some fated destiny rolling towards him. Maggie’s eyes widened as she stared at him. Jupiter nodded to her. ‘And what of Zaj? Your friend, the one you wanted to rescue?’

Berg stared at Jupiter, his unblinking eyes bored into him until that alien membrane flicked across them like a lizard.

‘I have not forgotten Zaj’quetza Tesubahm-zah,’ said Berg. ‘It is she who has been broken, and I do not forget you had a hand in that.’

Jupiter opened his mouth to protest, but Berg continued.

‘However unwitting. But I cannot forget your sejrat’sha brought on her capture. Though she has been taken by blackbirders she is not blackbirded.’ Berg said.

‘How is this so?’ Darukaviqu said. ‘And how do you know?’

‘She has been foully imprinted and enslaved,’ said Berg. ‘The Aelqemist could break it. I know this. But my enemies at court are behind all that has befallen me. My exile. The rise of the Air Lord.’

‘You cannot go to Hatunqiri alone,’ said Darukaviqu. ‘To return from exile like this would condemn you.’

‘Oh. I will not go alone,’ Berg said. ‘Be assured of that.’

‘The Ruthulak security forces will come for you soon,’ one of the watch said. The manisaurs had spread out and some kept a lookout for the Imperial Security forces. ‘They would have learned of you in the market as did we. We will all be for it then.’

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‘Darukaviqu?’ said Berg. ‘How many of the people of Takutshaqa klaed — this province remain true to the old Imperial court? Do the lands of Lirupathi remain independent?’

‘The inner klaed around Thushimar and the provinces up into the Samihamtu have never accepted the new regime.’

‘And what of Lekliruq. Surely those mountain folk remain untamed?’

’They remain ever independent of the Empire, though they pay some tribute still.’

‘That is as I have understood too.’ Berg paced back and forth. He examined the way the other manisaurs regarded him as if judging the effect he had upon them. Berg then seemed to come to a decision.

‘The Emperor is strong in the home provinces, but never made inroads here in the high country. This is why the rebels meet their allies from the south in Hatunqiri.’ Berg said. ‘And if we can bring reinforcements of our own from the high country provinces we can be the pivot upon which the Empire turns again. No. I will not go to the Emperor alone. I can force the Aelqemist and this Air Lord to reverse the course they have plotted.’

‘Hatunqiri?’ Maggie stepped towards Jupiter. ‘But we’re going to Naz’naska. We have to be there in five days, if the portal that will take us home to Earth is to remain open for us.’

Berg fell silent. Jupiter got the sense that he judged carefully what to say to her. Berg believed it all a myth, and Jupiter could not convince him otherwise. He imagined it would be like Maggie had suggested going to the North Pole to visit Santa Claus to help him make toys for Christmas.

But Berg had spent long enough around humans to understand the usefulness of lies, even if they did not work so well amongst his own kind.

‘Tell her Berg.’ Jupiter stepped next to Maggie but faced the manisaur.

‘Tell me what?’ Maggie voice broke in anger and frustration.

All Jupiter had done since arriving in Eoth had been searching, looking for a way home, helping Maggie get home. He had promised. He hoped it lay in Naz’naska and would not give up. But Berg would not help unless they helped him first.

So now it was Jupiter’s turn to lie. ‘The way to Naz’naska runs through Hatunqiri.’

Berg turned to Jupiter who now had to stare into the manisaur’s stare and flashing aura without flinching.

‘Isn’t that the case Berg? And we’ve got to leave now?’

‘Hatunqiri lies at the base of the mountains that led high to Naz’naska,’ said Berg. ‘Fate intervenes. Again we journey the same path. There is no time to spare.’

Berg turned away and Jupiter got the sense he was disappointed in him somehow. As if he had failed some test. Or more than that. Berg had not expected more of a human than another lie. Even if it was one that served his purpose.

‘Darukaviqu.’ Berg drew the local guard leader to him. ‘Come. There is another fight to win. And now you learn the rebels have gathered forces to challenge the court. How do you stand?’

‘If you would promise success I would join you.’

‘And if I would promise failure?’ Berg replied.

‘I would join you. For glory is a promise everlasting.’

Jupiter sighed. A song for everything. Manisaurs seemed to live life as if it was a Bollywood musical. And he laughed at that. If manisaurs were related to birds, then it might be very true.

‘Jupiter. What just happened?’ Maggie stood with her hands on her hips. ‘Are we going to Naz’naska or not?’

‘If that’s where you want to go,’ Jupiter gave her a smile but even he felt it was forced. ‘Then that’s where we’re going. Berg might have a diversion to Hatunqiri. But if the Emperor’s forces are meeting there soon, Berg will want to get there fast now.’

Maggie’s glare mellowed. ‘I’m tired of these distractions.’

‘It’s not like we can get anywhere on our own.’

‘What do you mean? We’re taking them on The Jupiter aren’t we? Seems to me they can’t get anywhere without us.’

‘But we don’t know how to get there. Unless you’ve got GPS or something.’

Maggie shook her head. ‘There’s something not quite right, but if that’s how we’re going to get home then… okay.’

‘I promise we’re getting closer to where Ajiro-san told us to go.’ Jupiter stepped towards her and lowered his gaze to direct his attention at her. ‘And we’ll get there before the full moon.’

She turned away and busied herself finding some of the fruit and breads they had bought in the market.

Jupiter looked up and saw Tamm stared at him. But it was not the strange obsessive look Tamm had worn the few days after Jupiter had saved him. This was more a curious, questioning, and puzzled gaze. If anything it made Jupiter more uncomfortable, as if he had not quite measured up to some standard Tamm had held him to.

If they went to Hatunqiri where rebels and Imperial forces fought then the passage to Naz’naska, would be closed. And every one of them knew it, except her. He had lied to Maggie, and everyone knew it except her.