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ignoring the look that Lord Daren shot her. He set great store by matters of protocol. “Sir, madame,” the term “Majesty” did not yet come easily to Bridget. “The Firebird is still in the world, and it means to have its revenge.”
    Mikkel blanched white, and even Ananda looked suddenly pale.
    “How is this?” cried Lord Daren. “We searched, Majesties. All across the world and through the Land of Death and Spirit. The Firebird was nowhere.”
    “I know,” said Bridget. “But it’s back now.”
    “The Vixen showed you this?” Ananda’s fingertips touched the back of Mikkel’s hand. “That power is not to be trusted.”
    “No, but she said she was showing me … this event because of the favor I’d done her family. She wouldn’t lie about an obligation.”
    Mikkel glanced to Lord Daren. “No, Majesty, that is quite true,” admitted the lord sorcerer. “No spirit power will tell a falsehood about a promise or a debt, although they may not tell the whole truth.”
    “Can you ascertain the truth of what the Vixen showed Mistress Bridget?” asked the emperor.
    Being consulted on the matter appeared to mollify Lord Daren. “The Firebird is one of the great guardians. It could not be fully in the world and remain unseen.” The statement neatly sidestepped the issue of how it had remained unseen before. “All the sorcerers of your court will bend their sight to it.”
    “Thank you. If the sorcerers of the land must be alerted, I do not wish to send out any false missive.” Mikkel’s mother had exiled all sorcerers but one from her court. He had begun to find and recall those who had served the old emperor and empress, but although none had disobeyed, it was well known some were not delighted to be pressed into service of such a family again.
    “There is another point which should be considered,” said Daren.
    “Which is?” Apprehension touched Mikkel’s words, and Ananda drew minutely closer to her husband.
    “Whether this vengeance is the Firebird’s own, or is sent by the Nine Elders.” The Nine Elders were the sorcerers who defended the empire of Hung-Tse from all ill-intentioned magics, whether they were malevolent or merely mischievous.
    Bridget shook her head. “I think the Nine Elders are in at least as much trouble as Isavalta, and I sincerely doubt they know it’s coming.” She shuddered at the memory of the Firebird’s voice as it spoke of those who should have rescued it but did not.
    “Which leaves us with the possibility that they will think we are the ones who unleashed the Firebird on them,” said Mikkel. “That was ever my mother’s threat.”
    A look of swift calculation took hold on the empress’s face, and she did not seem to like the conclusions she was reaching. “Could we not warn them?” Ananda asked Sakra. “Is there not some way …?”
    Lord Daren was the one who answered. “There may be, Majesty, it is a question of whether there is time enough.”
    Mikkel drew back his shoulders. He was about to give an order, his whole stance said it. That was not always easy for him, and Bridget tensed. “Let there be no delay. Use whatever means you have to reach the Nine Elders. I will send a message by courier as soon as may be. All efforts are to be turned toward finding the Firebird and divining its movements, under your direction, Lord Daren.”
    Bridget softly expelled the breath she’d been holding.
    “Majesty,” Lord Daren reverenced, but Bridget caught the victorious gleam in his eye. It had been acknowledged in front of Sakra that Daren was the one in charge. She suppressed a sigh. Did the man never think beyond petty politics?
    The empress glanced around ruefully. “I think no one will sleep much tonight, but return in the morning and we may face this trouble in the full light of day.”
    Dismissed, Bridget, Sakra, and Lord Daren reverenced and backed out of the doors that were closed, leaving them standing again in the antechamber with Prathad and