“No. Wrong,” Karma said. “He chose to use blood magic without first releasing the blood from his body. He chose to run to the sorceress, knowing full well the skywalk was a neutral area. This was not a series of ‘accidents’, Splinter. These were deliberate actions.”
“What was he supposed to do? Let Roxanne get blown to bits?”
“I didn’t say that,” she said. “The same way your impact on causality is a result of the choices you have made. He lies here because of the choices he has made.”
“I’m his shieldbearer, I need to help him.”
“Do you?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“A simple one. All of our choices are linked, and interact with the choices others make. I’m not passing judgement. I am simply a mirror to your life.”
“A ‘you reap what you sow’ sort of thing?” I asked. “Isn’t that a bit cliche?”
“Like deeds lead to like effects,” Karma said. “That is a simplification. The truth is deeper and more complex…like you. What choice are you making now?”
“I’m choosing to help Monty. To do that, I need your help.”
“What if I refuse?”
“I’ll have to find another way,” I said. “It’s not like I can make you help me…you have to choose to do so.”
“Precisely,” she said, as if I had uncovered some secret known to everyone but me. “The time will come when you will see the choice you’ve made.”
“I hope by that time, I can understand half of what we just discussed.”
“There may be hope for you yet, Splinter,” Karma said with a nod. “The door you need is through that archway.” She pointed straight ahead. “That will lead you to Kali’s domain…and to your next choice.”
My gaze followed her arm. She was pointing to a series of ornate, sequential arches that increased in size with each arch. The last arch was the most ornate, with decorations of a sword-bearing dancing goddess sculpted into the marble.
“Could I have found it without you?”
“That’s not the real question, Splinter.”
“Then what is the real question?” I asked, keeping my frustration in check. I didn’t forget that Karma was off-the-charts powerful, and that while time was in stasis…I was mortal. “Can you tell me the real question?”
“No, I cannot,” she said, shaking her head. “That would only set you back.”
“Not even a hint? I mean, really.”
“I really enjoy our conversations, Splinter,” she said, tapping me on the cheek and nearly dislocating my jaw. “They are…refreshing.”
“I’m glad one of us is enjoying these conversations,” I said, rubbing my face. “I usually leave them more confused than when we started.”
“I will tell you one thing that can help,” she said, standing. “The way to balance your signature is in your possession. Think inside the box.”
“Right,” I said, as time regained its normal flow. “That makes perfect sense.”
Karma was gone.
TWENTY-SIX
“Where are we?” Monty asked as he came to. “Where’s Roxanne? Who placed a stasis field around me?”
“Jersey, Haven, and Roxanne,” I said. “She said you’ll go schizo if you cast, so no wiggling of the fingers. If you try, I will be forced to break them.”
“You realize that the hand gestures are not what power the casting?”
“Don’t care,” I said. “I see your fingers wiggling, I’m snapping them like twigs.”
“It’s ‘schism’ not schizo, by the way,” he answered, standing unsteadily. “I underestimated the strength of the neutral area.”
“You blew up the skywalk?” I asked.
“No,” Monty answered. “It was the side effect of casting that sphere of protection around Roxanne. There were runes present that shouldn’t have been there.”
“Basically, what you’re saying is that someone sabotaged the skywalk expecting you to cast on it?”
“Yes.”
“And that in your sense of urgency, you cast to protect Roxanne?”
“Obviously, her safety was paramount.”
“The sphere of protection you cast, interacted with the runes on the skywalk, causing a chain reaction which blew the neutral area to bits,” I said. “That about right?”
“We’ve already been over this…yes.”
“Then YOU blew up the skywalk…right?”
“Well, if you want to get technical about things, I suppose I had some small part to play in the disintegration of the neutral area,” Monty said, waving my words away. “More importantly, how is Roxanne?”
“She’s fine,” I said, shaking my head. “Your sphere of protection transported you both several levels under Haven.”
“We need to get back,” Monty said. “Whoever cast that sphere is very likely still in the vicinity.”
“Evers,” I said. “That name ring a bell?”
“Bloody hell, that’s impossible. I saw Evers die.”
“Well, I don’t know what you think you saw,” I said. “I had a little chat with her as she was trying to melt me.”
“You faced her?”
“Hell, no,” I answered. “I ran away. She threw some silver-black orb at me. It gave off a serious ‘I’m going to erase you painfully’ vibe. I took a dive off the skywalk, and Peaches caught me…because he’s a good boy.”
I rubbed Peaches’ massive head as he padded close.
I just got outlogicized by my Zen Meatmaster hellhound.
“Evers is a chronomancer,” Monty said. “If one of those orbs hit you…”
“Roxanne explained the killer orbs,” I said. “Time stasis followed by time acceleration equals dead me.”
“Not exactly the terminology I would use but yes, it would result in your demise. Or anyone’s for that matter,” Monty said, looking around. “Why are we here?”
“You screwed up something when you blew up the skywalk by using blood magic,” I said. “Roxanne placed your body in stasis, but whatever you did is serious. She said we need serious firepower to deal with the damage you did to yourself.”
“I need to go deal with Evers,” Monty said. “I’m sure Roxanne is overreacting; it’s the doctor side of her. I’m fine.”
“Doubt it,” I said. “Take a moment and assess, why don’t you?”
“I don’t need to ‘assess’,” Monty answered, raising his voice. “I’m fine.”
“We are going to Kali,” I said. “I’m not a mage, and even I can sense your energy is all over the place, probably worse than mine.”
“Rubbish. You’re probably picking up on the ambient energy of this place.”
“Humor me,” I said. “If you try to cast a teleportation circle, I’ll tell my cute hellhound puppy to latch onto your leg and keep you in place.”
“This is a Zegna,” he said, pointing to his suit. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“It’s not like you haven’t ruined suits in the past,” I said, staring at Monty. “What’s a little hellhound slobber on a bespoke suit? It has healing properties. It’s good for you, like sunshine.”
“I hadn’t realized you had become a mage doctor during my incapacitation.”
“Didn’t need to,” I said. “I had access to a sorceress doctor…assess please.”
“Fine. If you insist on this ludicrous theory of my being a hair’s breadth away from a schism, I will oblige your insanity.”
“Please do,” I said, waving him on. “Try not to take all day. I have a goddess
of destruction to convince.”
Monty sat down on the marble floor and crossed his legs. He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing.
“This will take but a moment.”
“Remember, no casting,” I said. “I’m serious.”
“As am I,” he replied. “I will show you I’m perfectly fine.”
“Nothing more I would prefer to hear than you being fine.”
He became silent for a few seconds, focusing on his breathing. After a moment, he opened his eyes. It didn’t look good, but I wanted to hear him say it.
“As I said, this diagnosis is just another example of Roxanne’s overprotective…bollocks.”
“Roxanne has overprotective bollocks?” I asked. “Is there something I should know?”
“She’s right,” Monty said, his voice tight with tension. “If I cast, it could set off a chain reaction causing a schism. How did I miss that?”
“This schism thing is where you go dark and become Monty the Terrible?” I asked. “I mean that’s what Roxanne said would happen.”
“A schism would increase my power considerably and cause me to go dark…yes.”
“Turning you into a Sith mage?”
“There’s no such thing as a Sith mage,” Monty said. “It would, however, affect my thought processes, with an inclination towards more uninhibited acts.”
“Uninhibited…do you mean, evil?”
“I mean, with a lack of any moral compass. I would take an action because it suited or benefitted me, without consideration for how my actions may impact others.”
“Would you be dangerous?”
“Imagine my uncle without a moral compass.”
“Um…he’s dating the Morrigan,” I answered. “I’d say his compass is a bit off already.”
“True, his taste in partners is questionable at best, but his moral compass, his sense of right and wrong, is unwavering,” Monty answered. “If he lost that and went dark…I doubt all of the Ten could stop him, and you’ve seen some of them in action.”
“You would become that strong?”
“Stronger. Darkness is easy to underestimate and will overcome you without you even knowing it,” Monty said. “It is enticing, captivating, and alluring. Even the strongest mage must fight that internal battle…daily.”
“You just described becoming a Sith. Are you sure there aren’t any Sith mages out there?”
“Certain,” Monty said. “This isn’t some science fiction fantasy. When a mage goes dark, it’s very unlikely they return to the light. Usually, the Black Orchid must step in and terminate.”
“I heard. So, Roxanne was right?” I asked, making sure. “You cast and you’re toast?”
“Whoever rigged the skywalk—Evers—placed runes that would accelerate a schism if I tried to cast,” Monty replied, while standing up. “I cast, and a schism is likely.”
“Can you undo the damage?” I asked. “Prevent the schism from happening?”
“No,” Monty said. “It would be like asking a surgeon to operate on himself. He could start an incision, but it would go pear-shaped from there.”
“Roxanne said we need serious firepower to fix whatever it is.”
“She’s correct,” Monty said with a nod, as he sat on the bench. “Evers outmaneuvered me in every step of this. All I can tell is that she used lost runes to set this trap. We’d need power beyond an Archmage. We’d need a…”
“A god…or goddess in this case.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
“Kali is a particularly dangerous goddess,” Monty said, walking next to me as we approached the doorway. “It may be best to let me do the talking.”
“I’m skilled in non-destructive diplomacy, unlike some mages I know.”
“I’ve seen no evidence of your diplomatic expertise,” Monty answered. “This isn’t a joke, Simon. If things go sideways, and they usually do, I can’t cast or do much to help, outside of using my swords.”
“It’s not going to come to that, trust me. Besides, no one wants to hear your creepy, wailing swords.”
“How do you know this portal will work?”
“Karma said it would, why would she lie?”
“But how? It’s not like you can cast. Is it tied to you somehow? To your mark?”
“I think it’s because I’m the Chosen of Kali.” I said. “I didn’t get into the ‘how’ so much, just the what. If she says it’ll work, I think it will.”
“You would make a terrible mage,” Monty said, as we stood in front of the last archway. “Mages—I—don’t operate on blind faith. We need to know the inner workings of things. We always ask for the how first.”
The mark on my hand began giving off golden light again. In the archway, suspended in mid-air hung a large, golden endless knot made of faintly glowing light.
“I’m thinking that’s the door we need, and my mark is the how,” I said. “You ready?”
“Hardly, but I don’t see an alternative,” Monty said. “This may be our only opportunity to rectify both of our situations.”
“My thoughts exactly,” I said, placing my glowing hand in the large endless knot hanging in front of us. “I hope this works.”
The glow from my hand expanded and traveled to the suspended design. The light from my hand raced along the larger endless knot as it expanded and filled the archway. Within seconds it was gone. In its absence stood a large, stone door, covered in runes. In the center of the door was another endless knot, pulsing faintly with orange light.
I grabbed the handle and Monty grabbed my arm.
“It could be rigged to detonate,” he said. “Slowly.”
“If I open it slowly, does that mean the explosion will happen slowly too?” I asked, opening the door normally. “See? No explosion. Not everyone walks around with a blast radius, like a certain mage I know. Let’s go.”
We stepped through the door, and found ourselves in a large courtyard.
“I’m getting a serious Inception feel here,” I said, looking around. “This is the temple, inside of a temple, inside of a building. It’s like a crazy nesting doll of temples.”
Monty remained silent and slowly turned, looking around the courtyard.
“This is the Kailasa temple, but I don’t recall many of these engravings,” Monty said, examining one of the nearby walls. “This location feels much older than Kailasa.”
We stood in the U-shaped courtyard of a stone temple complex cut out of the side of a mountain stone. On three sides, the mountainside towered above us. In the center of the cutout sat the temple. Like the mandir in Jersey, every inch of the stone temple was covered in intricate designs.
Stone obelisks and columns were cut into the surrounding mountain. There were images of elephants, lions, and turtles, along with depictions of dancing goddesses all around the temple.
The dark stone looked weathered with age, but all of the designs were clear and easily seen. None of them were missing parts, nothing was chipped or broken. I could sense energy emanating from the temple. What really threw me was the size and scope of the work. This temple was easily three times the size of the mandir in Jersey, and every bit as ornate and intricate.
“How did they get the stone up the mountain?” I said, looking out at the opening of the courtyard. “That must have been some amount of carrying.”
“They didn’t need to carry any of the stone,” Monty said. “It was all here.”
“They quarried the stone from the mountain?”
“No, the temple is one solid piece carved out from the mountain. The artisans carved what they wanted, working top down, and excavated the excess.”
“How did they manage that?” I asked, amazed. “I can’t even imagine that now with our technology.”
“I’m sure Shiva probably had something to do with it,” Monty said, pointing ahead. “Those statues to the left of the entrance are Shaivaite—based on Shiva. The ones on the right are Vaishnavaites—based on Vishnu.”
“What, no
Kali? In her own temple?”
“Kali and Shiva are intimately linked,” Monty said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if images of her aren’t spread out over the complex. This is, however, a Shiva temple, judging from the central shrine. Are you certain we’re in the right place?”
“You’re asking like I was driving the Dark Goat here,” I said. “If we’re here, this is the right place.”
A roar filled the temple complex. Monty drew his crying swords and I unholstered Grim Whisper.
“What are you doing?” I asked. “Those crying swords are only going to attract attention.”
“They’re not crying swords, they’re Sorrows, and that roar was probably the temple guard.”
“The temple guard feel the urge to roar when they’re patrolling the grounds?”
“They do when they’re Rakshasas,” Monty said. “You do remember them? Kali’s bodyguards and first line of defense?”
“How I am supposed to forget them?” I hissed. “Those things were hideous.”
“Don’t forget lethal,” Monty added. “One would think the ‘Chosen of Kali’ would get some kind of preferential treatment in her temple.”
“Oh, ha ha, good to see that stasis hasn’t frozen your brain in place,” I said, looking around the corner. “I don’t think Kali is the welcoming type. You don’t get to be called the Destroyer by being warm and cuddly.”
“Good point,” Monty said. “Well, we’re here. Where to?”
“How should I know?” I said with a shrug. “How about we find the place with the scariest vibe?”
“Find the place with the scariest vibe?” Monty mocked. “That’s your plan?”
“Hey, I got us here while you were taking a stasis nap,” I shot back. “I’m the one that had to dodge an orb of death while you were busy playing rescue with Roxanne.”
“Playing rescue?” he answered, raising his voice. “Playing rescue?”
“Did I stutter?” I asked, as one of the Rakshasas rounded the corner. “Oh shit, were we too loud?”
“You were,” Monty said. “I was merely asking what the next step was when you lost control, thus attracting the attention of this monstrosity of mayhem.”
Dark Glass: A Montague and Strong Detective Agency Novel Page 16
