"His name?" Kieron asked.
"Geller. Geller of the Marshes. It is said that he is a conjurer of devils ... and that he can create homunculi! Out of the very filth of the marshes! Oh, Kieron!" Alys shuddered.
An awful plan was forming in Kieron's mind. He was thinking that Ivane must be stripped of the sigils and powers of this devil-man. With such powers at her command there might be nothing impossible of attainment. Even the crown of the Imperium itself....
"Where," Kieron asked slowly, "can this warlock be found?"
"On the street of the Black Flame, in the city of Neg ... on Kalgan."
"Kalgan!" Kieron's heart contracted. Was there a connection? Kalgan! What had Ivane to do with that lonely planet beyond the dark veil of the Coalsack? Was it coincidence? Out of all the thousands of worlds in space ... Kalgan.
"Is there something wrong, Kieron? You know this man?"
Kieron shook his head. It had suddenly become more than imperative that he go to Kalgan. The mystery of the Imperial Consort's connection with a warlock of Kalgan must be unraveled. And the star-kings were gathering....
The Valkyr was suddenly taken with a new and different fear. If Alys had spied on Ivane, then she must be in danger here. Ivane would never tolerate interference with her plans from Gilmer's daughter.
"Alys, are you a prisoner here?"