by Sarah Hawke
Solemi shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I? We are all searching for ways to help the city, are we not?”
“What she meant to ask is whether you have any more information on this wyvern hatchery,” Jorem said, glaring at Val again. “Defenses, number of soldiers, that kind of thing.”
“I’m afraid not,” Solemi said. “Given the tactical importance of the wyverns, it’s safe to assume the outpost will be guarded quite heavily…but even the Inquisitrix only has so many soldiers. I doubt she can afford to keep an entire army parked in the mountains.”
“One would hope not,” Jorem muttered.
“All the riders we have encountered so far have been channelers,” Kaseya commented. “The Inquisitrix may not need an army to defend the hatchery, not if it is protected by her new minions.”
“True, though you do have one very unique advantage,” Solemi said, shifting her gaze to Valuri. “Whatever spells or tricks your former mistress may have taught them, I doubt they will be able to overcome your Senosi defenses.”
The Huntress hissed softly between her teeth. “The Inquisitrix knows my vulnerabilities. She created the vatari ritual that empowers the Senosi; she can completely shut us down. For all we know she’s taught her new channelers the same technique.”
“Do you honestly think she would share those secrets with anyone?” Jorem asked. “The Senosi are still her vanguard. I doubt she’d risk letting her enemies know you have a weakness.”
“I suppose not,” Valuri conceded.
“Then we should go—immediately,” Kaseya said. “The enemy’s reinforcements are already on the way.”
“I would suggest you speak with General Serrane first,” Solemi said. “She will undoubtedly wish to accompany you.”
Yet another warning tingle wormed its way down Jorem’s spine. As suspicious as he was of Varassa randomly volunteering information to Selvhara, Solemi doing the same thing with them now almost seemed worse. Something else was clearly going on here…
“Maybe if we bring Serrane along we’ll actually get paid for once,” Valuri said sourly. “That would be nice.”
Solemi grinned. “My resources are stretched thin right now, as I’m sure you can imagine, but I can provide you with supplies and some coin.”
The Huntress cocked an eyebrow. “How many coins, exactly?”
“Anything would help, thank you,” Jorem said, grabbing Valuri’s trim waist under the water and yanking her over to him. He tried his best to maintain a neutral expression—Solemi didn’t need to know how skeptical he was.
“At the very least, disrupting their plans might buy us a little more time,” Kaseya said. Thanks to her collar she definitely knew how skeptically he was, but she was playing it off with a surprising amount of grace. She really was a fast learner…
“Whenever you are ready, my attendants will provide you with whatever you need,” Solemi said. “All I ask is that you please be careful. Highwind is going to need all our help to survive this war.”
Jorem squeezed Valuri’s waist before she could fire off another sarcastic quip. “We’ll do our best,” he said instead.
The Black Mistress smiled and offered them a half bow. “Then I wish you the grace of the gods on your journey. And remember that no matter what happens, you will always be welcome here in Darkwind.”
After flashing them all another warm, welcoming smile, the Black Mistress turned and strode back across the cavern. Her guards followed closely on her heels, and after about a minute Jorem and the girls were once again alone.
“That was far more amicable than I expected,” Kaseya said.
“A little too amicable,” Valuri muttered as she spun around in Jorem’s lap. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Jorem grunted. “You mean how she just conveniently offered us information that will send one of the last few members of the dwindling Highwind Council on a dangerous mission into the mountains?”
“Yeah, that. How much do you want to bet that Serrane is one of the people standing in the way of her plans for an ‘alliance’ between the city and the underworld?”
Jorem took a deep breath and idly brushed his fingers through her wet black hair. “I’d say it’s a near certainty.”
Kaseya cocked her head at him. “You believe this is a trap?”
“At the very least, I believe it’s an opportunity for Solemi to kill two birds with one stone,” Jorem said. “She’ll get Serrane out of the city for a while and she’ll have a chance to deal a blow to the Inquisitrix, all without lifting a finger of her own.”
The amazon glanced back over her shoulder to where Solemi had vanished. “I do not enjoy being manipulated,” she said.
“Join the club, Red,” Valuri grumbled.
Jorem shifted his gaze over to Selvhara. The druid had barely moved a muscle in the past few minutes. “Do you have any thoughts on this?”
She abruptly turned and looked at him. “I beg your pardon?”
“You’ve never met any of these people before—I wondered if you had a different impression than the rest of us.”
Selvhara seemed like she had to pull herself out of a dark, distant place before she could respond. “I am not familiar enough with local politics to provide any insights. Though I can tell you she was quite pleased when you agreed to her offer.”
“What are you basing that on?” Jorem asked.
“The subtle shift in her heartbeat and breathing pattern,” Selvhara said.
“You could hear her heart beating from ten yards away while you’re soaking in this pool?” Valuri asked.
“Yes.”
The Huntress’s lip twisted in disgust. “Congratulations, you’ve managed to creep me out even more now. Can we dump her in a ditch yet or what?”
Jorem kept his eyes focused on the druid. “You seemed especially interested when Solemi mentioned rumors about an Eternal Priestess in the city. Are you familiar with their cult?”
“No,” Selvhara said, shaking her head. “But if there is another Conduit here…it could change everything.”
“I wouldn’t put too much stock in baseless rumors just yet,” Valuri cautioned. “The knights in the city are probably delusional and desperate. Someone could just be running a grift on them.”
“Possibly,” Jorem said, frowning. Selvhara still seemed genuinely flustered, and not in the same fish-out-of-water way as when they had first met her. Something about the Eternal Priestess in particular was bothering her…
“A few days ago you mentioned that Varellon has many Conduits,” Kaseya said. “Did they all receive their powers the same way?”
“Yes, they have all absorbed power from one of the many Godsouls scattered across the world,” the druid explained. “Most souls were locked away in other Avetharri prisons, but over the years some have fragmented into even smaller pieces.”
“How do you fragment the soul of a god?” Valuri asked.
“It is a crude metaphor, like the term Godsoul itself. The point is that many echoes of Fallen Gods linger in this world. Perhaps the shattering of the prison beneath Nol Krovos released other fragments this Inquisitrix did not know about.”
“That’s a terrifying thought,” Jorem murmured. “Though it still might be worth investigating. I mean, if there is someone out there who could empower the Knights of the Silver Fist, even for just a little while…”
“Then Highwind could defend itself,” Kaseya said.
“Perhaps we should investigate these rumors ourselves,” Selvhara suggested.
Valuri twisted in Jorem’s lap and glared at the druid. “Why are you suddenly so interested, wolf girl? Ten minutes ago you were talking about the ruins of a drow city, and now suddenly you want to ‘investigate’ some insane cultist?”
“I…” Selvhara paused for a moment and swallowed heavily. “Another Conduit could be a powerful ally, but I also believe that the ruins of Vel’shannar could contain valuable information on dragon magic.”
“Uh huh,” Valur
i muttered. “Look, I agree that Solemi is probably trying to screw us over somehow, and I sure as hell don’t trust that creepy dark elf. For all we know there’s an ongoing power struggle in Darkwind and in Highwind, and frankly I don’t want anything to do with either of them.”
Jorem studied the Huntress for a long moment. As always, he didn’t need a magical collar to know that she was planning something.
“But you’re still making your ‘I have an idea’ face,” he told her.
“Yeah, well, you’re making your ‘I’m an idiot’ face. What’s your point?”
He sighed. “If you have a plan, spit it out.”
“I prefer to swallow, thanks,” she said, playfully clamping her thighs around his waist. “But you’re right—I do have an idea. The thing is…you aren’t going to like it. In fact, you’re going to hate it.”
“Try me,” Jorem said.
Valuri sighed and finally rolled off of him. “There’s only one way we can go after those wyverns and still keep an eye on Solemi here in the city,” she said. “We need to split up.”
“You’re right,” Jorem said. “I do hate this idea.”
“As do I,” Kaseya added.
Valuri waved a hand in front of her face. “Just hear me out. From everything we know about the Ranger-General, she’s a hands-on type of woman—she’s going to go after the wyverns whether we help her or not. And assuming this ‘hatchery’ actually exists, stealth is going to be far more important than raw firepower. I’m a hell of a lot sneakier than the rest of you, and Solemi is right that I’m in the best position to neutralize the Inquisitrix’s new channelers.”
“Wait, you want to go all by yourself?” Jorem asked incredulously.
“Not particularly, but it does make the most sense,” Valuri said. “At the very least, the general and I should be able to scout the area and figure out what we’re dealing with before reporting back.”
“And what if there is an army stationed up there?” Kaseya protested.
“Then two of us will have a much easier time escaping than a whole group. And if there isn’t an army, we can do some real damage.” Valuri paused and sighed. “Look, it’s just an idea, but it’s the only way we can do two things at once.”
Jorem sighed and scratched his chin in thought. As much as he wanted to reflexively shoot down her idea, it did make some sense. Kaseya could have gone with them too, of course, but Val obviously didn’t want to leave him alone with Selvhara. This was the only option unless they all wanted to leave the city again.
“Solemi probably has some attuned calling crystals she could loan us,” he murmured. “That way we could stay in touch.”
“I wouldn’t trust any device like that from her,” Valuri replied sourly. “I’m not an artificer, but I’ve fought underworld kingpins my whole adult life. She’ll have a way to listen in on the conversation, I promise.”
“I still don’t like it,” Kaseya said. “What are we supposed to do while you are gone?”
Valuri smiled. “Isn’t it obvious? You go and check out this drow city that wolf girl was talking about.”
“But you said that was a stupid idea!”
“Ten minutes ago, it was.” The Huntress sighed and pulled herself up out of the pool. “Look, we can’t afford to pass up an opportunity to go after these wyverns, but that doesn’t mean we have to do exactly Solemi wants, either. If she really is raiding that drow city, she probably doesn’t want anyone to know about it—including us.”
“You’re assuming that Varassa was telling Selvhara the truth,” Jorem pointed out.
“I’m assuming she wasn’t making the whole thing up out of thin air. What would she have to gain?” Valuri sighed and nibbled at her lip again. “I mean, the obvious conclusion here is just what wolf girl said: some of Solemi’s ‘attendants’ are basically slaves. Presumably Varassa was driven out of Vel’shannar with the rest of the dark elves. She probably wants back in and hopes we’ll find a way to help her.”
Jorem shook his head. “Maybe, but I’m really not interested in helping settle any scores.”
“No one is, but that’s not the point. If wolf girl think there is information down there that could help you, then you might as well have a look. And if you discover something in the process—say, something nefarious enough we could tell the Council…”
“Then maybe Serrane could use it to help keep Solemi out of power,” Kaseya reasoned, nodding. “Sometimes I forget how devious you can be.”
“I was trained to be an assassin and a spy, Red,” Valuri replied sourly. “Don’t think for a moment I’ve gone soft just because I let you fuck me in the ass once.”
Jorem grunted and scratched at the stubble on his chin. “Solemi built all of her wealth and power by smuggling in magical relics. At the very least it would be nice to know what she’s collected. Maybe there’s something we can use to defend the city.”
“And if we get caught?” Kaseya asked.
“Then you do what you’re best at and kill a bunch of idiots,” Valuri said. “Everybody wins.”
Jorem pulled himself up onto the edge and reached for a towel. Skulking around the Underworld was an even less appealing prospect than trudging through the mountains, but he couldn’t argue with her basic point. Doing something was better than doing nothing, and at least he would still have Kaseya around to watch his back.
“Let’s get dressed and see what supplies Solemi’s people can actually provide for us,” he said. “After that…we’ll see.”
***
The Darkwind vault contained a truly impressive stockpile of supplies ranging from the magical to the mundane, and Selvhara couldn’t help but wonder how this “Black Mistress” had assembled such a vast hoard in a relatively short period of time. Jorem and the other girls seemed equally impressed, and they quickly gathered up enough rations and ammunition to last them several weeks if not months. Valuri took even more, naturally, including enough coin to buy a year’s worth of wine. When the others complained, the Senosi silenced them with a tart glare.
Personally, Selvhara was far more interested in the alchemical ingredients. Many of the local herbs were completely foreign to her, but she found more than enough firenettle to brew another potion for Jorem. With luck, it would help him unlock even more ancestral memories.
Not that it matters anymore. If there truly is a second Conduit here in Highwind, then the dragon and his harem are no longer your concern. You should be out there right now scouring the city for this Eternal Priestess…
“Is this everything you need?” Jorem asked.
“Um…y-yes,” Selvhara stuttered as she cleared her throat. “This is quite an impressive collection.”
He nodded and glanced over her shoulder. “Do you really think that another potion will help?”
“It should,” she said, smiling back at him. “There’s enough here to mix a far more potent brew.”
“The last one seemed potent enough. I’m not sure I can handle even worse indigestion.”
Selvhara frowned. “I don’t—”
“It was a joke, forget it,” Jorem said, waving a hand. “But the prospect of breathing fire again isn’t particularly appealing.”
“It is merely one of many skills you must learn. The transformation itself will be even more…strenuous.”
“Wonderful,” he muttered with a heavy sigh. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
The group returned their chambers, and after organizing their equipment the Senosi prepared for her trip to the surface. The others remained skeptical of her plan, but her departure was about to present Selvhara with an opportunity she couldn’t afford to waste…
“I still don’t like the idea of you going off on your own,” the amazon said.
“I love you too, Red,” Valuri said, snickering and giving the other woman a long, deep kiss. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back and playing with your tits again before you know it.”
Kaseya sighed. “This is serious. You have n
o idea what type of defenses you’ll encounter up there.”
“Honey, I know these people and their tactics better than you do, remember? I’ll be fine.”
Jorem pursed his lips and glanced back at Selvhara. “Do you mind giving us a moment?”
“Of course not,” the druid replied, forcing a smile. “I will wait for you by the pools.”
Selvhara didn’t even bother trying to eavesdrop as she made her way down the stairs towards to the bubbling pools. As frustrating as it was that Jorem still didn’t trust her, she needed to be alone with her thoughts for a while anyway. When the Black Mistress’s attendants swarmed over her to see if she needed anything, she politely shooed them away. She had no interest in being social…not while her stomach was frantically twisting into knots.
The moment you tell the One God about the other Conduit, he will order you to abandon your mission and find her. He might even command you to kill the sorcerer and his harem right here…
Selvhara found a dark, empty corner by one of the pools and buried her face in her hands. This entire mission—and her entire “relationship” with Jorem—had always been a means to an end. He was a weapon to be wielded against the Inquisitrix so that the One God could harvest her Godsoul. Once Dathiel absorbed its power, he would finally be able to escape his prison in the Pale and restore order to this broken world.
But if this other Conduit was as vulnerable as she seemed, then perhaps Jorem was irrelevant. Selvhara could almost certainly dispatch this Eternal Priestess on her own, and then the One God could claim her power instead…
Selvhara shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts. Dathiel could see through her eyes when he wished, and he could even read her mind when he was so inclined. She needed to stay focused if she was going to hide this new revelation from him. Her mental discipline was the only thing standing between her new companions and the wrath of her true master.
Why do you even care what happens to them? You barely know them, and they obviously don’t care about you. Why not use this opportunity to earn the One God’s favor? You have betrayed plenty of temporary allies before. Why is this any different?