Ascendancy of the Last зкp-3

by Lisa Smedman

  Cavatina held up a warning finger. "You're coming with me. That's an order, Protector."

  The Nightshadow crouched by the arch, waiting.

  Leliana's cheeks darkened, but she made no further protest. "Go on through, Naxil," she said gently. "I'll catch up to you once I've made my report."

  He nodded, crawled forward into seemingly solid stone, and disappeared.

  As soon as he had gone, Leliana wheeled on Cavatina. "There's something you're not telling me. What is it?"

  Cavatina sighed. Suddenly, she felt utterly exhausted. "Rylla will explain."

  "What about Lady Qilue? She'll want to hear our report too. Has she been called back to the Promenade?"

  Cavatina hid her wince at the use of the high priestess's name. She resisted the urge to glance around. Was Qilue now listening in on their conversation? Was Wendonai? "She'll be contacted, if Rylla deems it necessary."

  " 'Necessary?'" Leliana repeated, her voice incredulous. "Of course it's necessary that Qilue-"

  "Lady Leliana," Cavatina said sternly. "This portal may only remain active for a short time, and we don't want to be trapped down here. Step through it, please. Promptly."

  Visibly fuming, Leliana at last stepped into the portal. As the Protector disappeared, Cavatina briefly closed her eyes. If Qilue had been corrupted by a demon, the Promenade was in danger from two fronts: from without and within.

  What was it that Qilue had said, when she'd ordered the attack on the Acropolis of the death goddess? The memory of that conversation returned like a chilling premonition. "Cut off the head, and the temple will fall."

  "Eilistraee protect us," Cavatina whispered. "Grant that it not be so."

  She squared her shoulders and walked through the "stone" that filled the arch. A heartbeat later, she emerged on the other side, within the Hall of Empty Arches. Leliana and Naxil stood there, together with Rylla, who must have been called to the hall the moment the portal reactivated.

  Qilue was just behind them.

  *****

  Cavatina exchanged glances with Rylla as they followed Qilue back to the Hall of the Priestesses. Leliana was with them, but Naxil had been led away to the Hall of Healing. Just as well-that was one less person who might let something slip in Qilue's presence. Cavatina noticed Rylla toying with a strand of hair. The battle-mistress was keeping her hand close to her holy symbol.

  Qilue walked at the front of the group, looking imperious in her silver robe. She never once looked back at her priestesses, expecting them to follow her without question or pause, as they always had done. The scabbard at her hip was empty, and Qilue held the Crescent Blade in her hand. Its blade rested lightly on her shoulder, just below her ear. Cavatina wondered if the sword were whispering to the high priestess, even now.

  "Praise Eilistraee you've returned, Lady Qilue," Cavatina said. Her fingers moved in a silent question at her side, where only Rylla would see them. When?

  Just now, Rylla replied.

  Cavatina silently groaned. The high priestess must have heard Leliana speak her name-and the snatch of conversation that had followed. Out loud, Cavatina continued, "We found a portal in one of the tunnels south of the river. It leads to caverns below the level of the old mine. We sighted oozes down there. I'm worried the Pit may have developed a breach."

  Leliana shot Cavatina a quick look, obviously noting Cavatina's use of the words "may have." Fortunately, the Protector was well behind Qilue, and the high priestess didn't notice.

  "Troubling news," Qilue answered in a flat voice, without even breaking her stride. The high priestess's shoulders had tensed, Cavatina noted, at the word "portal," then relaxed again at the mention of it being south of the river-a location that was nowhere near the ancient temple.

  Detection? Cavatina signed to Rylla.

  No evil seen. You try.

  Leliana had dropped back slightly, forcing Cavatina and Rylla to shift awkwardly to hide their silent conversation. The Protector obviously realized something serious was in the offing-even if she had no idea, yet, what it was. She watched them out of the corner of her eye.

  Cavatina was forced to sign with Leliana watching. Report dretch, she suggested.

  Rylla moved up beside Qilue. "Lady Qilue, there was an intrusion you should know about. A dretch was spotted…"

  As Rylla sketched out the events that had followed the dretch's discovery, Cavatina dropped back another pace and sang under her breath-softly, so Qilue wouldn't hear her. Her prayer took hold, causing the holy symbol that hung against her chest to softly vibrate. She scanned the Crescent Blade, looking for the bruised purple aura that accompanied evil. To her surprise, the sword was clean.

  Had she been wrong about Wendonai being inside the Crescent Blade?

  Rylla glanced back briefly. Cavatina flicked a quick message at her. Nothing.

  Illusion?

  Doubtful. Cavatina had never heard of a balor capable of conjuring illusions.

  Banished? Rylla signed without looking back.

  An excellent question-one that Cavatina didn't know the answer to.

  "The oozes concern me more than one lone dretch does," Qilue told her battle-mistress. "They're the real threat to the Promenade. Are the seals on the Pit intact?"

  "Yes, Lady," Rylla answered. "I checked them myself, earlier today."

  Cavatina, still well back, whispered a second prayer. The silver aura that accompanied holiness sprang into view around the high priestess. But it was fainter than it should have been: a dull gleam, rather than a sheen so bright it caused the eyes to ache. The silver glow was faintest near the hand that gripped the Crescent Blade-the hand whose wrist was marked with a small, still-visible scar.

  The Crescent Blade itself was devoid of an aura. For an item forged from moon metal and consecrated to Eilistraee, that was telling indeed.

  Wendonai must have been inside it, Cavatina decided, even if he wasn't there now. Perhaps, having done Lolth's bidding by persuading Qilue to open a portal to the Pit, he'd departed. The Spider Queen could very well have restored his corpse to life, allowing him to return to the Abyss.

  All well and good, but it left a gaping hole. With Wendonai departed, there was nothing to prevent Qilue's priestesses from pointing out to the high priestess what she'd been tricked into doing-and then reversing it. Lolth might be insane, but she was cunning. She wouldn't have overlooked this flaw in her plans.

  The more likely possibility-vastly more terrifying-was that Wendonai had departed the Crescent Blade for a living host: Qilue.

  Cavatina shifted her song a second time, and saw what she'd missed before: a faint purple glow, just above the scar. That was where Wendonai must be hiding.

  She fought to hide the revulsion she felt. The situation was more grave than she'd dreamed. Was Qilue's mind still her own? Was this a demon Cavatina was talking to?

  No. Some part of Qilue remained. A significant part. Or her aura wouldn't have shone silver at all.

  Cavatina prayed that Wendonai wasn't listening in on her thoughts. If he'd heard what had just passed through her mind-or was listening to whatever Rylla was currently thinking-he'd counter whatever they tried next. She prayed that redemption was an armor he couldn't penetrate.

  There was still time to arrange an exorcism-as long as nothing happened to tip their hand. No rash moves, she decided. Nothing that would force the demon to react before they were ready. She'd play along, make her report, and slip away as quickly as she could to make the necessary preparations.

  Cavatina directed a sending at Leliana-a carefully worded one that wouldn't send the Protector into a panic. This may be an imposter, not Qilue. I need to question her without alerting her. On my signal, sing a truth psalm. Do nothing more.

  Leliana's lips tightened. She nodded.

  They approached the High House. Rylla reached for the door, but Qilue blocked her. "Thank you for your report, battle-mistress. Please return to the Mound, and re-inspect the seals on the Pit."

  "Su
rely someone else can tend to that, Lady." Rylla nodded in the direction of Cavatina and Leliana. "It's important that I hear what these two have to."

  "Do it," Qilue said in a terse voice. "Now. A thorough check, this time, or I will hold you personally responsible for whatever follows. As will Eilistraee."

  Exorcism, Cavatina spelled while the high priestess's back was turned. Prepare.

  Rylla stiffened. Hopefully, the high priestess would think this a reaction to the insult she'd just handed her battle-mistress. Rylla bowed stiffly and hurried away.

  Qilue watched her leave, then pulled the door open and motioned for Cavatina and Leliana to enter. Cavatina tensed. Was the demon taking them somewhere out of the public eye, somewhere it could attack?

  Qilue directed them to the room at the very heart of the High House: the chamber that housed her private altar. A holy place, filled with Eilistraee's blessings. Was the demon trying to prove something? That Eilistraee's relics were of no consequence?

  As Leliana paused before the door, she caught Cavatina's eye and lifted one eyebrow slightly. Cavatina decided the time was not yet ripe. She would play this move out, and see what followed. "After you, Protector," she said.

  Qilue closed the heavy stone door behind them.

  The circular room, shot through with hair-thin threads of moonlight, had walls painted with a mural of a forest. When the stone door was closed, the illusion was complete. Moss, sustained by magic, carpeted the floor, filling the shrine with a woodland smell. A pedestal plated in gold, its top even with Cavatina's eyes, stood at the center of the room. Perched atop it was a rust red, deeply pitted rock the size of a loaf of bread: a fragment of the boulder that had parted from the moon and streaked through the sky on the night Ghaunadaur's avatar had been defeated.

  Qilue raised the Crescent Blade above her head and began to dance around the altar. As the high priestess passed behind the pillar, Cavatina caught Leliana's eye and nodded before beginning her own dance. Leliana lifted her blackened singing sword and joined in, her lips moving in a whispered song. She spun her blade in a tight circle above her head-a gesture that looked as though it were part of her dance, but was actually part of her spellcasting.

  In the same instant that Leliana unleashed her truth-compelling prayer, Qilue quickened her dance and spun behind Cavatina, out of the spell's path. Cavatina felt the tingle of magic and realized, to her horror, that Qilue had maneuvered her into the path of the magic.

  Qilue wheeled on her. "How did you know the Pit has a breach?" she demanded.

  "I-" Cavatina tried to lie, but couldn't. Words tumbled out of her mouth-not the carefully worded "report" she'd been rehearsing, but the truth about what had transpired. Horaldin showing her the portal; Cavatina slipping through it and becoming ethereal; seeing the planar breach, the ooze flowing out of it, the self-sacrifice of the green-eyed drow…

  Qilue cut her off at that point with a curt, "That's enough."

  Cavatina hid her relief. The high priestess hadn't thought to ask why Horaldin had shown Cavatina the portal. Yet.

  Leliana had listened, sword in hand. Now she glanced uncertainly back and forth between Cavatina and the high priestess-as though she'd like to silently ask what to do next, but didn't dare. Her singing sword let out a low, worried hum.

  "Sheathe that," Qilue ordered.

  "Why would you have me do that, Lady Qilue?"

  "Because it's annoying."

  Leliana shifted the weapon slightly. "It no longer fits in its scabbard, Lady Qilue."

  "Then find another way to silence it!" Qilue barked. "Lay it down."

  Leliana obediently placed her sword on the floor, ending its song.

  Cavatina smiled to herself as she realized why Leliana had asked the question. Qilue's blunt answer seemed to indicate the truth spell had taken hold of her, as well, despite her attempt to shield herself from it by stepping behind Cavatina. Before Qilue could gather her wits, Cavatina spat out a question of her own. "Why did you open a portal to the Pit, Lady Qilue?"

  Qilue scowled-an expression as foreign to her face as a look of mercy would have been on the cruel visage of the Spider Queen. Then, as abruptly as it came, the scowl disappeared. Cavatina could see, how Horaldin had known there was something wrong with the high priestess. Everything about Qilue's posture, tone, and expression was subtly wrong. Even Qilue's color was off. Her skin looked clammy, like that of someone who ought to be confined to a sick bed. She even smelled bad-as if it had been some time since she'd bathed.

  "Fortunately for you, Cavatina, my preparations are incomplete."

  Cavatina's heart fell. Qilue wasn't answering her question! Was the demon capable of resisting Leliana's magical compulsion? Or was the answer simpler: that it was Wendonai who had opened the portal-if so, the demon wouldn't have been compelled to answer a question directed at Qilue. Cavatina's hands dampened with sweat. She resisted the urge to clench her sword tighter; Qilue might spot the slight movement and attack.

  Cavatina tried another question. "What preparations?"

  "A symbol. Had you blundered upon that ruined temple once it was visible, that would have been the end of you. You would have wandered the Ethereal Plane forever, gibbering and broken."

  "I did see a symbol-the mark of the Ancient One. Is that the one you mean?"

  "Of course not," Qilue snapped. "I'm talking about the symbol I inscribed on top of it."

  Cavatina cautiously nodded. If there had been another symbol atop Ghaunadaur's, she'd failed to detect it. "What symbol is that?"

  "One that provokes insanity." Qilue smirked: another expression she never used. "The idea came from Ghaunadaur's own scriptures." She spoke quickly, as if she couldn't get the words out fast enough. Maybe Leliana's prayer was affecting her. "Millennia ago, the Ancient One rendered mindless the oozes and slimes that were his original worshipers. I'm going to do the same to the drow who worship him. They're incapable of redemption, so we're going to destroy them instead. That's why I opened the portal in the abandoned temple. Our spies will lure his clerics into it with a feint the fanatics can't help but follow. Especially once I open the door for them."

  "You're going to allow Ghaunadaur's fanatics to enter the Promenade?" Cavatina gasped.

  Qilue missed the point. "They won't realize we've 'allowed' it. Each group will think it's mounting a sneak attack. They'll never realize that others have preceded them, since the ones who have gone before won't be in any condition to warn them, once the trap is sprung. They'll all walk into it one by one, as meek as rothe."

  Cavatina was absolutely certain that this was Wendonai speaking. Qilue would never have slain drow outright-even those who worshiped so vile a god-without first offering a chance at redemption. Nor would she have allowed the Promenade's defenses to be compromised.

  "When are these 'sneak attacks' to begin?"

  Qilue smiled. "My plan is already in motion."

  Leliana broke in. "But Lady Qilue, if the symbol is not yet visible-"

  Qilue whirled around. "I know what I'm doing! Your opinion is not wanted, Protector."

  Leliana stood, her mouth open. Her fingers spread slightly, and her posture shifted. In another moment she'd lunge for her singing sword. Behind Qilue, Cavatina frantically shook her head. Not yet! Play along! she signed.

  Leliana bowed. "Lady, my apologies for speaking out of turn."

  "The plan has its merits," Cavatina said, trying to draw the high priestess's attention back to her. "But the Protectors will need to be notified."

  "Of course," Qilue said without turning around. She pointed at Leliana. "They just have been. A little sooner than I would have liked. There may be spies among us."

  "Not among the Protectors," Leliana assured her.

  "Not among the priestesses, you mean. There are Nightshadows whose loyalties I'm less certain of."

  She at last turned to Cavatina. "You can see why I've been so short-tempered, of late. It's a big gamble I'm taking-but one that, if all goes well
, will prove as rewarding as our assault on the Acropolis."

  Cavatina nodded, trying not to betray the tension she felt. "I don't like it," she said. "It's too risky." Then she shrugged, as if in resignation. "But I bow to your greater wisdom, Lady Qilue."

  "As do I, Lady," Leliana echoed.

  For a moment, no one spoke. Then Qilue nodded. Cavatina relaxed-a little. Hopefully, Wendonai was arrogant enough to think he'd fooled them.

  A knock sounded on the door. As Qilue crossed the room to answer it, Leliana caught Cavatina's eye. Her hand nicked a word: What-?

  Ask to leave.

  "Lady," Leliana said. "May I check on Naxil?"

  "Not yet," Qilue said without turning around. "There's more we need to discuss."

  "Agreed," Cavatina interrupted. "And the battle-mistress should hear it. Leliana, go find Rylla. Ask her to join us."

  "No!" Qilue snapped. Her hand was on the door. "Remain where you are, Leliana. I've already sent for the battle-mistress."

  Cavatina's heart sank. She could think of only one reason for Qilue to keep the Protector here: Wendonai hadn't been fooled. And it was worse than that. As Qilue turned back to the door, Cavatina caught a glint of something: silver fire, kindling deep within the high priestess's eyes. Was Wendonai about to unleash it? Could he? If so, their lives would be measured in heartbeats unless Cavatina did something, and quickly.

  Eilistraee, she silently prayed. Dancing Lady, aid me.

  She caught Leliana's eye and glanced down at the other female's singing sword. One finger flicked. On my signal.

  Leliana moved her feet slightly, getting ready to dive for her sword. With luck, the Protector would survive long enough for Cavatina to take Wendonai down and stop him-by killing Qilue, if necessary.

  Cavatina prayed that it wouldn't be.

  Qilue opened the door, revealing Meryl. The halfling held up a tray on which stood a single goblet. Or… was it Meryl? For all Cavatina knew, this might be another dretch in disguise.

  Cavatina raised her hand slightly, about to give the signal to attack. Before her fingers could move, a voice sang into her ear. Wait.