At last he stood on the surface, within the small grotto. Tekthyrios sat there next to a beautiful, mysterious creature. Myshik supposed it was Kashada, though she was nothing like he had seen of her within the sphere.
A tall, lithe woman stared at him from behind a hood and veil made of equal parts black cloth and shadows. Her eyes, once so feverish with dementia, studied him with keen interest. As black as midnight, they bored into his very core. For a long moment, Myshik noticed nothing else, but finally he managed to tear his gaze away from hers and see the rest of her.
She was swathed in tight-fitting black clothes, reminiscent of an assassin's garb. They, like the hood and veil, danced with shadows. The ensemble made Myshik's eyes hurt, and when he glanced away, she seemed to vanish several times. Forcing himself to keep her firmly in view, the hobgoblin studied the rest of her newfound gear. A belt kept several sheathed daggers handy at her waist, and he noted two more protruding from the tops of her soft black boots. She stood on the balls of her feet, light and delicate, ready to spring in any direction.
"Myshik," Tekthyrios said from beside the mysterious woman. "This is Kashada."
Without waiting for the half-dragon to say anything, Kashada bowed with a deep flourish. "My thanks for your part in my rescue," she said. Her voice was soft, throaty, little more than a sultry whisper. "That… place"-and she seemed to shudder, though Myshik wasn't certain he saw it clearly-"was unbearable."
"I only spent a moment there, and I can imagine," the hobgoblin replied. Then he turned to Tekthyrios. "Now that we have rescued your prize, what are your intentions?"
Tekthyrios laughed, a deep rumble that reverberated through the grotto. "She is but the first of many, my eager little half-dragon," he said, fanning his wings. "There are much bigger prizes awaiting us. But we must bide our time for a bit, wait for the sign to come."
Myshik cocked his head to one side. "What sign?" he asked.
A sudden roar filled the sky above, and all three flinched from it. The draconic hobgoblin risked a glance upward and saw what he imagined the end of the world might look like. The clouds had turned to ash and flame in some places, and to pulsing, throbbing, sickly green in others. In between, like great fractures in the foundation stone of a massive keep, jagged stretches of midnight sky gleamed through.
A howling wind rushed through the trees overhead, stripping the leaves from their branches and uprooting many of them. The winds swirled and sent a spray of water from the nearby falls. The force of the wind knocked the three companions flat. They even shoved Tekthyrios downward from the crush of the violent blast. Myshik cowered and imagined being scoured from the small floating island. Only the protective walls of the grotto had saved him. The thought of spinning out into the maelstrom made him blanch.
"There we go," Tekthyrios said. "The sign has come. Helm is dead at last." He rose up onto his feet again. "Gather close, you two. We have a journey to make."
Myshik shifted his gaze between the dragon and Kashada, stunned at the news. Helm, dead? Can this be?
From behind her veil, Kashada's eyes glowed. Without any fear at all, she approached the huge storm dragon and allowed him to grasp her in his foreclaw. As Tekthyrios lifted her into the air, she gave one small, throaty laugh. "All praise to the Dark Goddess. It has begun."
Myshik began to dread that he had gotten himself into the middle of such a tangled mess. Whatever Vhok had been chasing, the barbaric hobgoblin could not imagine that it involved the plots of gods. But his father's instructions had been clear. He would see the task through, no matter what. Bring honor to the clan, he reminded himself.
Shrugging in acceptance of his fate, Myshik allowed Tekthyrios to take hold of him as well.
The storm dragon rose up to his full height. "Come, my little thieves. We have a prize to steal, and a god to steal it from!"
With that, he launched himself skyward.
CHAPTER SIX
Aliisza started awake. A feeling of worry washed over her, though about what, she couldn't figure. Something wasn't right.
She glanced at Kaanyr, still sleeping beside her. He appeared at ease, peaceful, unaware of any danger.
The alu slipped from the covers and dressed, listening for any sounds that might indicate a threat. She fingered Pharaun's ring and scanned the room with its magical energy, seeking anything out of the ordinary. She detected scattered and powerful images, part of the existence and amenities of the room, but nothing threatened her.
The feeling wouldn't go away.
She crossed the floor to the door leading out and pressed her ear against it. There was only silence beyond. She sighed, wondering if her nerves were just a trick of her imagination.
Too long wary of bad dreams, she decided.
Trying to relax, Aliisza turned and headed to the balcony. The storm still raged beyond it, though why it didn't penetrate the interior of the room, she could not say. Nothing actively blocked it, but nonetheless it was as if she watched it through a heavy window or scrying glass. The light was odd, disconcerting. She stepped closer, taking in more of the sky.
Clouds tumbled around, both above and below. They seemed to boil, and lightning raced through them, crackling with purple and green. The storm obscured everything, though Aliisza knew from past experience there was little else out there to view. No land spread out below the great white-stoned city known as Tyr's Court. No top or bottom defined the endless space that stretched beyond where she stood.
Just about to turn back to her bed and her lover, Aliisza felt it. A soft rumble and a quivering vibrated in the stone beneath her feet. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but she had no doubt it was real. The energy to make the mountain rumble would have to be great indeed, and with that realization, Aliisza knew something dire was happening.
"Kaanyr, wake up," she called, still staring out at the furious sky. When he did not answer, Aliisza turned and strode across the chamber with a purpose born of fear. "Kaanyr!" she said again, shaking his shoulder.
"Hmm? What?" he asked, rubbing his eyes. "What's wrong with you?" he snarled, rolling over and trying to yank the covers tighter around himself. "You wear a fellow out, then won't let him sleep."
"Something's wrong. The whole place is shaking. Can you feel it?"
Kaanyr sat up, looking at her. "I've known you long enough not to question that tone," he said. His voice was gentler, almost concerned.
As she returned to the balcony, he rolled out of bed and slipped into his clothes, then he came to join her. "What is it?" he asked, holding her shoulders and pressing in close from behind. "What do you feel?"
"The Court," she said. "It's shaking, vibrating. Can't you feel it through the floor?"
Kaanyr stood still and quiet for a moment.
Aliisza felt it again, a soft rumble, as though far below her a part of the rock was cracking or crumbling away. "There, did you feel that?"
"No, lover, I didn-"
Both of them pitched off their feet and went sprawling across the room as a vicious quake rocked the place.
Aliisza landed on her shoulder. She rolled to ease the impact and wound up crumpled against the base of the large tiled basin where she had once bathed in perfectly heated water and scented oils. She rapped her head against the stone and winced.
"Gods and devils, I felt that!" Kaanyr grunted from somewhere on the far side of the room. "What the blazes is going on?"
Aliisza found herself earnestly wishing Tauran were there. "Let's find out," she said, trying to rise. Another forceful heave threw her off balance, and she hit the floor once more. When she recovered her balance, she realized the room was no longer level. In fact, it was slowly tilting.
"We must flee!" she cried, scrambling to Kaanyr. "We cannot stay here!"
"I cannot go," the cambion said, his voice low. "The angel's magic binds me here."
"No," Aliisza said softly, dismayed. She remember all too well a time when she wanted more than anything to launch herself from the balustr
ade of that balcony, to soar free in the open sky outside, beyond the Court. The magical coercion she had agreed to then had held her there, had prevented her from acting on her thoughts. It had nearly driven her to madness.
"There has to be away to get around it," she said, thinking aloud. "Self-preservation has to count for something."
"Don't you think I've been trying to make that work?" the cambion said, almost snarling. Whatever fleeting moments of gentle affection he had shown during their carnal pleasures vanished in his frustration at his predicament. She sensed that he still blamed her, at least in part, for her role in his ensnarement. "Just go," he said. "Go find out what's tearing the place apart. Find the angel, if you can."
Aliisza looked at Kaanyr for a moment, trying to get a read on his intentions. His face was clouded with anger and fear, but he seemed earnest. She felt a new sense of respect for him pass through her. Respect, and something familiar and tender. "Very well," she said, spinning back toward the door. "I'll return as soon as-"
A knock came at the portal, cutting her off. She reached for the handle and yanked it open, ready to chastise Tauran for his part in leaving Kaanyr trapped within the chamber, but the words died in her throat.
Micus stood there, accompanied by two of the hound-headed creatures-or archons, as Aliisza had learned. "You two must come with me at once," he ordered. "The High Council has questions."
Aliisza shook her head and backed away.
"No," she said. "Where is Tauran? He should be the one to come for us."
Micus took her retreat as an invitation to enter the room. He stepped through the doorway and the archons followed. "Tauran has been relieved of his responsibility for you," the angel said. He made a gesture to the creatures behind him, and the pair vanished, reappearing just inside the balcony, blocking that egress. "The High Council has put me in charge of your well-being, and I have questions. Now come with me."
Behind her, Kaanyr snarled. She turned in time to see him draw his enchanted scepter from the loop on his belt and drop into a crouch. He took a couple of steps toward Micus.
"You're sealing your own fate, demon," Micus said, pulling his own mace free. "I'll send you to oblivion and be pleased to be rid of you. Tauran's coddling of the likes of you sickens me."
Aliisza tried to step between Kaanyr and the deva. "Stop it!" she shouted. She directed the outburst mostly at her lover, but it was intended for both of them. "That's not going to help!"
"The Hells with helping," Kaanyr growled. "I struck my bargain with one angel and one angel only."
Out of the corner of her eye, Aliisza saw one of the archons step closer, loosening his sword. She groaned, unsure how to get all of them to stand down.
"Vhok!" a voice bellowed. "Back away! Do not confront Micus!"
Aliisza's heart leaped in joy at the sound. She turned in the direction of the voice and saw Tauran, with Kael at his side, standing in the hallway. Tauran stepped in as Micus glanced back over his shoulder. Kaanyr snarled in frustration as he retreated, backing up and replacing his weapon in its belt loop. Aliisza could see in his expression that the cambion fought with all his will to resist the command, but it was futile.
"I knew you would come here," Micus said to Tauran, turning and stepping back so that no one could maneuver behind him. He also made a subtle motion to the approaching archon, who nodded and stepped back to rejoin his companion by the balcony. "In fact, I almost expected you to be here already, trying to help them escape."
"Micus," Tauran said, his tone plaintive. "You can't really intend to carry out the High Council's instructions, can you? We have to find out what has caused this tragedy!"
"That's precisely what 1 intend to do. The High Council will sort this out. It is not for us to question. But I knew you would go against them and try to stop me, because you have lost all sense of propriety, Tauran. You can't even see how off balance you have become." Micus's own words sounded sorrowful to Aliisza. "You must surrender to me. I can't let you run off with them, not now. The Council has spoken."
Tauran shook his head. "But Cyric is out there, somewhere, making all this happen! If we don't stop him, if we don't catch Zasian and end his scheme, this whole terrible catastrophe is just going to get worse!"
"That all may be," Micus said, coming to stand close to Tauran and placing both his hands on his counterpart's shoulders. "But that is not for us to deal with. The High Council heard the charges and your explanation, and they found it wanting. You're breaking your oaths by disregarding their commands, my friend. I can't let you ruin yourself over this."
Aliisza snorted in disgust. "I don't know what the Hells you are talking about with this High Council, Micus, but you ought to listen to him. Zasian is out there, and he's up to something. We can help you find out what."
The angel turned to glare at her over his shoulder. "You'd like nothing better than that, wouldn't you, fiend? We should just let you and your rutting partner here run free across the House, bringing all your clever schemes to fruition, is that it? Well, I've got news for you. The days of you two despoiling our sacred home are at an end." He turned back to Tauran. "Now, if you have any desire at all to stay in the Council's good graces, instruct this foul trespasser to come along without any trouble."
Tauran shook his head again. "No, Micus. I can't just stand aside and let you take them to their doom. I gave my word."
"Your word is not fit to give! You've violated everything you stand for, Tauran. Now see reason."
Tauran gazed at Micus a moment longer, then sighed, looking resigned, and hung his head. "Vhok…" he said.
To the Hells with this, Aliisza thought, feeling old self-preserving emotions rise up within her. Time to go my own way.
But the alu hesitated. She felt rooted to the spot, unwilling to leave Kaanyr behind. Or Tauran, or Kael, she realized. The price you pay for love, she thought in dismay, remembering Tauran's teachings. She tried to shake off those new, vulnerable feelings. Blast them all! she silently admonished. I'm not under any oath! And Micus is a mule-headed fool!
Aliisza still hadn't made up her mind when Tauran completed his command. "Micus and his two companions are not to be killed, but they are preventing you from aiding me."
Aliisza's stare flew to Tauran in disbelief. Behind him, Kael grinned and stepped deeper into the room.
Micus gasped. "Are you mad?" he demanded. "You'll be-"
The angel's next words were cut off by a warning shout from one of the archons. "Beware!" he said, fumbling for his sword.
But Kaanyr, already straining to get at Micus, reacted swiftly once freed. He had his scepter back in his hands in the blink of an eye. The cambion took two rapid strides forward and walloped Micus across the back of the head. A concussive thump accompanied the strike, and Micus grunted in shock and pain and sank down to one knee.
"Vhok!" Tauran shouted, dismay clear on his face at watching his former friend struck so viciously.
"He'll live," the cambion replied, turning toward the balcony. "Let's get out of here before he realizes it." He took a step toward the two archons blocking his way, swishing his mace back and forth with a malevolent grin on his face.
Aliisza smiled and pulled her own sword free. "Nice to have the old you back," she said, stepping beside him to face the hound-headed creatures. Kael moved to join them as well.
"No!" Tauran said from behind them. "We go out this way!" As the angel finished his statement, a shimmering blur of a wall sprang up between the combatants, blocking the archons off from the rest of the chamber. Aliisza saw that the humming barrier consisted of dozens of razor-sharp blades, small knives and daggers, spinning and whirling. "We're leaving. Now!" Tauran commanded.
Kaanyr snarled in frustration, eager to get at the archons, but with a huff he stepped back and turned to follow the deva. Kael nodded once at the two creatures before he, too, spun on one foot and dashed to the door leading out.
Aliisza risked a quick glance down at Micus, who was clutching
his head with both hands. In the time it took the alu to look away from the archons, they disappeared from beyond the wall and reappeared on the near side. They rushed at her, blades raised. She cursed her foolishness and scampered backward, muttering the words of a spell. She made a quick sign in the air with one hand and backed through the doorway. A dense fog filled the chamber, obscuring her foes, and her from them.
Then she turned and sprinted after her companions.
The storm dragon hovered above a small clearing within the mist-filled woods for a moment then dropped through the opening in the canopy. He settled to the forest floor and released his two companions. Kashada slipped free of his grasp and found herself standing on soft, spongy ground. She stepped away and turned to look back at her companions. Myshik bulled his way free of the dragon's foreclaw, all rippling muscle and stocky resolution.
Around the trio, the strange forest remained still. The howling storms and bizarre, color-streaked sky of before were gone. In their place, a pall had settled over the plane, a gray, misty world that whispered of dreary winters along a jagged coast. The damp weather permeated the odd trees and muffled distant sounds.
The trees, exotic in shape in their own right, became even more peculiar when viewed through the veil of mist. They took on twisted, warped forms half hidden behind curtains of gauzy light. They challenged the senses, thrusting from the ground at odd angles. The ground, too, varied from that of most forest floors. It surface, uneven and coarse, undulated into the distance like some ancient giant thing's cracked and weathered skin.
A bird cawed not too far away, but the fog stifled its cry. Somewhere deeper in the distance, Kashada detected a muted conversation. The words were much too soft to make out.
"Remember," Zasian said quietly in the deep, rich tones of the storm dragon's voice, "this is not a fight we need to win, nor do we even want to try. The object is to distract them long enough for you to slip past and enter the caves. Are we clear?"
Kashada nodded. Myshik scowled in displeasure, as if the concepts of deception and subterfuge were the most unnatural things in the world. His attitude made plain his constant desire to fight, to prove his mettle and prowess.
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