“Yes, of course. If you’re correct, it will make my life much better,” Alserah replied, looking at Kitania pointedly.
Kitania nodded, taking a deep breath as she glanced around and replied, feeling a little nervous. “In that case, I must warn you that this room is far too small for that, and you don’t have enough guards.”
“What do you mean?” Alserah asked, her voice as icy as she felt.
Kitania looked much more poised than she had in the gardens, and the demoness looked back at Alserah calmly, which made her even more annoyed. Or mostly calmly, at least, since Kitania looked tense.
“I don’t remember everything I told you in the gardens, Your Grace. My memory is a little fuzzy, which I regret. However, did I tell you that the dream spider would emerge from you and that it was the largest I’ve seen?” Kitania asked, pausing as she tilted her head curiously.
“That’s correct. You said that they’re approximately a foot across,” Alserah said, looking at Hanrith, who was watching Kitania with narrowed eyes, one hand on his sword hilt. Kitania didn’t seem to be looking at him, though, and the demoness winced at her answer.
“I… see. I really should have been clearer about just how large they can be, then. I wish I’d explained just how dangerous they are,” Kitania said, taking a deep breath, then looking around the small room and continuing calmly. “The largest dream spider I encountered was ten paces across, destroyed half the village before we could kill it, and the people I was with were experienced with dream spiders. This one is bigger than that. Dream spiders aren’t entirely material, which means they can go through objects or walls that aren’t enchanted, and they let out psychic screams that stun those around them when they initiate combat. I’m sorry, but only six people present in a room which the spider will likely completely fill… that’s a recipe for disaster in my mind.”
Alserah’s annoyance vanished at Kitania’s explanation, and she could see how grave Hanrith’s expression had become. The man looked around the room, obviously thinking he was being subtle, but Alserah could see the worry in his eyes. The room was barely more than ten paces across on its long side, and she could see the guards shifting uncomfortably.
“Is that so? It would have been nice to know this beforehand,” Alserah replied, her voice soft, almost deadly.
“I thought I’d given a better explanation, or I would have told you sooner,” Kitania said, looking at Alserah apologetically. “Dream spiders scare me, being frank. Sure, they couldn’t kill me, but I’m sure I’ve told you what they do to a victim’s mind. I might be a little more resilient than most people, but I doubt I’d last more than a couple of months. I don’t want anyone to have to deal with them, and if I could wipe them out, I would.”
“Indeed? Then how would you handle this spider?” Alserah asked, glancing at Moira as the priestess gave her a surprised look. Hanrith didn’t look happy, either.
“My Lady?” Moira asked softly, but fell silent as Alserah shook her head slightly.
Kitania paused, frowning as she looked around the room. Finally, she spoke, her voice unhappy. “Not very well. If you have a room at least four times the size of this one, with an enchanted floor, ceiling, and walls, that would be ideal. Magical barriers hidden in them or over them would prevent it from fleeing, which would be my greatest fear. I’d suggest archers, but dream spiders are fast, and they can bend in ways that no spider should. That being the case, I’d say four magi who have seeking spells, and a dozen of the fastest soldiers you have is best. Not many things can stop a dream spider’s fangs, so your best odds are to avoid them even hitting. Worse, it has to be hacked to pieces to kill it, so simply caving in its head isn’t enough.”
“I see. You seem awfully confident of this. Would you care to face it as well?” Alserah asked, crossing her arms as she looked at the demoness. Kitania hesitated, looking back at Alserah before she replied nervously.
“Care to? No. But I will, if you give me an enchanted glaive and my magic. As I said, it can’t kill me, and if I get bit… the same concoction would allow us to get rid of any infection before it grows so dangerous,” the demoness said, and Alserah could see Hanrith and a couple of guards stiffen abruptly.
“If you think that I’m going to let a demon into reach of Her Grace with a weapon, you’re absolutely—” Hanrith began to snarl, but Alserah cut him off angrily.
“Lord Commander!” Alserah’s voice was sharp, and she felt a stab of pain from the spider in her mind as her anger was roused. He paled, looking at her as he fell silent.
“Yes, Your Grace?” Hanrith asked, quickly looking down and bowing.
“It would be simple to adjust the restrictions of her collar to allow her to attack non-elves, and to use her magic on such creatures. If I do so, she’ll be unable to raise a hand against me,” Alserah said, and looked at Kitania, a hint of respect welling up inside her as she continued. “Besides, if she’s truly willing to help rid me of this monster, it would be an immense aid.”
“Pardon me, My Lady, but could you not destroy the beast easily, once you awaken?” Moira asked, her voice polite. Alserah turned her gaze to Kitania, who shifted from one foot to another.
“I’d be surprised if it took you more than a single attack. The problem is the shock that your mind is liable to go through when it comes out, Your Grace. I’d guess that it will take a minute or two to recover, even as strong as you are,” Kitania replied, shrugging slightly. “I have no illusions as to my own strength. If I had the weapons I grew up with, and my armor from the war… maybe I could kill the spider on my own. But I couldn’t do it easily; I’m simply not that strong.”
“Indeed. However, all that doesn’t matter. What matters is destroying the monster once and for all,” Alserah replied, unfolding her arms and looking at Hanrith pointedly. “Lord Commander, find additional guards to suit Kitania’s suggestions, and find her an enchanted glaive. Moira, I require a room large enough for us to trap and destroy the spider, one with the enchanted walls to ensure that it doesn’t flee to become a blight on the kingdom.”
The two bowed in acknowledgement, and Alserah looked at Kitania, giving her an icy look that was somewhat at odds with how she felt. Despite everything, Kitania hadn’t had to give all the warnings she had, and it was possible that if she hadn’t, Alserah might have died. It was something she could respect, but would address later.
“Would you like me to tell you all I can about dream spiders in the meantime, Your Grace?” Kitania asked without prompting, looking at the goddess a bit nervously. “I’m not sure how much I truly told you the other night, and I was always told that knowledge is power.”
“It can be. Come, let us walk together,” Alserah replied, gesturing Kitania forward as the goddess started toward the door.
The demoness obeyed, to Alserah’s approval, and they started to walk through the palace, and Kitania began to speak, explaining everything she could.
Niadra paused with the teacup halfway to her mouth, shocked at the sight in front of her.
She was on her own except for Cecilia, taking tea in the garden to help calm herself. Niadra was honestly a little startled that no one seemed to have learned about her near disaster during the ball, and she was rather thankful and ashamed at the same time. Even Cecilia didn’t know the full story, which was probably for the best, since the woman gossiped a bit. She had gotten a gift of fine wine from Lord Navian and a note which was vaguely apologetic, along with an assurance from High Priestess Moira that he hadn’t known that he’d delivered the drug. At the same time, a tiny part of Niadra regretted that she hadn’t been able to get a bit further with Kitania, but considering Alserah’s intervention, there was nothing to be done about it.
On the other hand, seeing Kitania walking alongside Alserah as they followed the hall on the edge of the garden wasn’t something that Niadra had expected, and shock rippled through her. Cecilia was openly gaping, her hands halfway to the teapot as they watched the goddess and demon p
ass. Kitania wasn’t even in a gown or anything impressive, which made the dichotomy even more pronounced. Most of the servants had better clothing than the serviceable tunic and trousers Kitania was wearing, yet the demon was speaking to Alserah seriously, without the slightest bit of self-consciousness on her face. Even more startling was that Alserah seemed to be paying attention to what she was saying.
“I… what’s going on, Your Highness?” Cecilia asked, looking utterly poleaxed.
“I can honestly say that I have no idea. Last I heard, Kitania was confined to her quarters,” Niadra said, her emotions roiling, but she took a sip of her tea and set it down gently as she spoke further, more confused than anything else. “On the other hand, I did hear something about a fair number of people going to see her, despite her confinement. This could have something to do with that.”
A tiny part of Niadra was remembering fragments of the other night, though, when Kitania had been talking about dream spiders, and that Alserah had one in her mind. Still, she wasn’t going to spread word of that around. Not when the goddess was already annoyed with her.
“Ah, I understand,” Cecilia murmured as she shook off her distraction, turning her gaze back to the teapot as she picked it up to refill her cup. “My apologies, Your Highness. The sight of Her Grace with Miss Kitania… startled me.”
“You aren’t the only one who was startled, Cecilia. And when others hear, they will be as well,” Niadra said, smiling slightly as she leaned forward, watching the two move out of sight. “We’ll learn more eventually, I’m sure. For now, I think it’s best not to worry too much. I don’t want to upset Her Grace.”
“Entirely agreed,” Cecilia said, smiling as she held up the teapot. “More tea, Your Highness?”
“Please,” Niadra said, gently pushing her saucer closer to the maid. She could politely inquire if she’d be allowed to meet with Kitania again later on, but she wasn’t going to get her hopes up. Not after Alserah had rather firmly dashed them before.
Chapter 17
“This should more than suffice,” Kitania said, twirling the glaive and nodding happily. It had a better balance than the practice glaive had possessed, and while it wasn’t as heavily enchanted as the sword she’d owned, or as Isalla’s for that matter, it was still more than enough to hurt a dream spider. That was the important thing, after all.
The conversation with Alserah had been interesting, as the goddess had asked several probing questions during Kitania’s descriptions of what she’d experienced. Those questions had led to a few modifications to their plans, but nothing major. They didn’t have time to create the proper incense to weaken the dream spider, not if they wanted to eliminate it before the day was out.
Kitania was nervous, she had to admit that much, but now that Alserah had relaxed the restrictions on her magic and combat, Kitania felt much better. On the other hand, Hanrith didn’t look very happy, and neither did most of the guards in the room. The two heavily armored guards did make Kitania a little worried with how slow they’d be, relatively speaking, but she wasn’t going to argue to have them removed. If the rest of the guards could pin the spider down, the two-handed sword and axe they favored would take the spider apart far more easily than the lighter blades of the other guards.
“I’m glad you approve,” Hanrith said, frowning at the weapon unhappily. “It isn’t as heavily enchanted as I’d prefer, but we don’t have many people who specialize in a glaive.”
“I’m not surprised. It requires looser formations and isn’t traditional among elves,” Kitania replied absently. “My mother favors a rapier, and I avoided specializing in a sword because I was feeling rebellious. A glaive isn’t what I used growing up, either, though it’s close. If I had my cloudpiercer, I’d be much happier.”
“A cloudpiercer?” Moira asked, the priestess’s eyebrows rising suddenly, and Kitania was amused by her unusual surprise. “You used an angelic weapon?”
“I was taught by an angel, so yes,” Kitania replied, grinning as she placed the haft of the weapon against her shoulder. The elves were looking at her in shock, and she shook her head at them, explaining. “I grew up with a few dozen of them in the palace, so it isn’t as strange as you might think. I did have to adapt the lessons, since I don’t have wings, but it isn’t like no one can craft cloudpiercers but angels.”
“No, it’s just that they’re traditionally angelic weapons,” Alserah interjected smoothly, looking Kitania over curiously. “I thought I recognized you, after seeing you fight on the training ground, but now I’m certain. I remember you on the walls of Rosken, wearing midnight blue armor.”
“With silver trim, too,” Kitania said, a hint of shock rushing through her as she looked back at the goddess. Alserah must have a near-perfect memory to remember that. “They’re my mother’s colors, and I commanded the detachment.”
“Interesting. Are you sure you don’t need armor now?” Hanrith asked doubtfully. At least he wasn’t objecting to killing the spider, but Kitania was starting to get tired of his other protests.
“No, since I have my magic that’ll be more than enough. I mentioned that dream spiders can punch through most armor, and I’m not joking. Unless it’s something that can block a ghost, its fangs will go right through it,” Kitania explained patiently, and she took a breath, then raised a hand as she added, “I suppose I may as well layer my defenses now.”
“Layer your defenses? What do you…” Hanrith began, but shut up as Kitania began casting.
The first spell she cast created layers of near-invisible armor over her skin, while the second one hardened her skin to near the consistency of bronze when something hit her. Kitania continued casting her spells, pleasantly surprised at how much mana she could sense within her core. Obviously, the centuries of using it to maintain a transformation spell had helped her capacity grow, and the spells weren’t taking quite as much of her reserves as she expected. Deflection spells and mental shields rounded out her defenses, though she knew that a dream spider would be able to hurt her even with all of them in place. Kitania hoped to simply reduce the damage she took, then she looked up and paused, seeing how Hanrith, Moira, and the guards were all staring at her. Only Alserah didn’t look very surprised, and instead looked intrigued.
“Is something wrong?” Kitania asked, her tone slightly questioning. She felt a little uncomfortable with how they were looking at her, and hoped she hadn’t scared them into kicking her out of the room.
“Your spells are reasonably potent, but I’ve rarely seen someone able to use that variety of protection spells without them clashing,” Moira said, looking Kitania up and down. “You don’t seem to be exceptionally skilled, but to cast them that well is… impressive.”
“I focused almost entirely on defensive spells when I learned magic,” Kitania replied, relaxing ever so slightly as she realized why they were staring. “I know a bit of telekinesis as well, though I’m nowhere near as proficient with that form of magic. Conversely, I’m good enough with wards against scrying that I had an archmage compliment me. He got through them anyway, but him being impressed was something of an accomplishment as well.”
“I see,” Hanrith said, looking like he’d relaxed slightly, then looking at the magi as he asked, “Have you placed your spells to defend against the creature’s mental scream?”
“No, but we will momentarily,” the woman in charge replied, and turned to the others as she nodded. The four magi immediately began casting their spells, and Alserah focused on Kitania.
“I believe we’re about ready to begin, then?” the goddess asked, a hint of impatience in her eyes. Kitania couldn’t blame her, considering everything they knew. She would be eager to get the spider out of her head if she were in Alserah’s place.
“Of course,” Kitania agreed, looking around the broad room. It looked like it was a dance hall, and she was a little concerned about any damage it might take, but the elves didn’t seem too concerned. Either way, it didn’t matter in the en
d. At last she nodded, looking at Moira.
Moira nodded slightly and turned to Alserah, speaking calmly. “It’s time, My Lady. If you’d prepare yourself.”
Alserah nodded and snapped her fingers. Her body emitted an abrupt green flash of light, and Kitania flinched slightly. The light cleared a moment later, and the goddess was no longer wearing a dress, but instead was in full armor. The armor wasn’t quite full plate, using black triangular tooth-like scales for much of the arms and legs, had a skirt, and it was predominantly green with gold highlights in various places. Like the last time Kitania had seen Alserah in armor, the goddess was bareheaded, which slightly surprised the demoness.
The goddess sat down in the chair, which was toward the back half of the room, and extended her hand. Moira handed Alserah the vial and quickly stepped back, stopping next to Kitania, then moved back more as Kitania gave herself a solid twenty paces between herself and Alserah. Frowning, the goddess unstopped the vial then downed the concoction.
“How long will this take?” Moira asked, her voice calm as she watched Alserah, looking rather tense.
“That depends on how well the sleeping draught portion of the elixir works, and how resistant Her Grace is,” Kitania replied, shifting her grip on the glaive nervously. “Then we have to kill the spider, and I’ve no idea how big it’ll actually be. I’m hoping it’s not much bigger than the huge one I saw before.”
“I see. Well, I will stand back and give what support I can,” Moira said, retreating to stand next to one of the other magi.
“Alright,” Kitania murmured, glancing over at the soldiers nervously. She noticed that they were paying almost as much attention to her as they were to Alserah, and that made her almost snort to herself. Obviously, they didn’t trust her very much, even with the restraint collar in place. She thought they should have more faith in their goddess, which was a little ironic.
Mortal Gods (Mantles of Power Book 2) Page 14