‘Well, my boy,’ he said shortly, ‘you’ve been gone a long time.’
‘The Sorcerer,’ choked Raphael handing him the crumpled letter, ‘has escaped by submarine with Cassie.’
‘I thought so,’ remarked Empyrean without surprise. ‘My lieutenants reported earlier in the evening that they had seen a large fish swim from underneath the castle. It is easy to see such things from the air.’
‘Then Cassie is lost for good?’
‘Nonsense,’ said the eagle. ‘The war has only begun. I commanded my lieutenants to follow the submarine, and bring us news. Come, we must join them.’
Raphael scrambled upon Empyrean’s back, and they winged their way into the night. Behind them the empty castle of the Sorcerer rose in the moonlight like a silver monument out of the black sea.
CHAPTER VIII
ON TO MECHANA
Raphael settled back between the eagle’s wings. He felt tired and very hungry.
‘Here,’ shouted the eagle, ‘lean down.’
Raphael leaned down, and Empyrean handed him something cold and slimy.