The High Priest and the Idol

by Jane Fletcher

  Where was Tevi? Jemeryl peered around the scene of chaos, eventually spotting her with some fellow rioters at the other side of the room. The group was in the process of toppling a huge metal statue of a child holding a fish. Jemeryl worked her way through the excited mob.

  “Tevi.” Jemeryl yelled to be heard above the tumult of shouts and the deafening clang as the idol hit the ground. The fallen copper statue did not shatter like stone, but the child and the fish parted company. An arm also came loose, which one resourceful rioter claimed to use as a club.

  Tevi was moving on to the next idol, but she turned at her name. “What?”

  “That’s where he’d have put it.” Jemeryl pointed upwards. She suspected her voice was drowned out, but Tevi’s expression showed immediate understanding.

  “How do we get up?” Tevi mimed the words.

  “I don’t know. I…” Jemeryl twisted, peering around the hall.

  No stairs or ladders were visible, but a small door was set into the wall opposite the entrance. She tapped Tevi’s arm. “There.”

  Jemeryl followed on as Tevi shoved her way across the hall, clearing a path. At the door, Tevi grabbed the handle and rattled it vigorously for a few seconds. She bent and shouted into Jemeryl’s ear. “Locked. Do you think he’ll have used magic again?”

  “Count on it.”

  Tevi nodded and took a few steps back. She launched herself at the door. The wooden boards rattled in their frame, but did not crack. The noise attracted the attention of several nearby rioters and the uproar abated slightly.

  “Get the trough. We need this door down. There are more idols up above.” Tevi shouted the command.

  A section of the mob started to obey, but at that moment, a fresh outcry erupted by the entrance. The difference in tone was unmistakable compared to what had gone before. Fear rather than excitement lay beneath the cries, and then Jemeryl heard the crisp orders, barked in military style. The sentinels had arrived.

  All around her, the hall was emptying. The mob poured from the basilica, screaming, fighting, shoving. A few rioters, less prone to panic, still had their hand full of whatever loot they had gathered. Others had dropped everything and fled.

  “We’ve got to go,” Tevi said into Jemeryl’s ear.

  “Right.”

  “Just run and be ready to duck. The sentinels won’t be looking for a prolonged fight, but they’ll take a swipe at you as you go past.”

  “Doesn’t sound too good.”

  “It’ll be better than being caught standing here on our own when the sentinels came in. Come on.” Tevi grabbed her hand and towed her through the fleeing mob.

  Dozens of the red-cloaked warriors were drawn up in ranks outside the door. Most were doing no more than maintaining their intimidating stance, waiting for the mob to leave the basilica. A few were striking out at the fleeing rioters as they passed, using batons rather than swords. Their obvious aim, as Tevi had said, was to speed the crowd’s dispersal, rather than get into a fight or inflict serious casualties—although they clearly felt there was no harm in applying a little extra deterrent for anyone who might be tempted to repeat the disturbance.

  Jemeryl dodged one blow and saw Tevi fend off another. A man ahead of them stumbled, diverting the nearest sentinels’ attention. Jemeryl sidestepped the obstruction and then pelted on, still holding Tevi’s hand. The mass of runners in front was thinning out, and then suddenly there was open space, with nothing between her and the safety of the surrounding streets. Jemeryl would have kept on, following the path of the other fleeing rioters, but Tevi steered her down a deserted side alley. The shouts faded behind them but they did not stop until they had reached a quiet square, far from the basilica.

  Tevi collapsed on a step in the sun, clearly trying to look an ordinary pilgrim and not a fleeing rioter. She grinned. “That was fun.”

  Jemeryl flopped down beside her. “I don’t know about that, but I guess we made progress.”

  “One door down and only the idols on the upper floor left to deal with.”

  “We won’t get away with the same tactic again.”

  “We may not need to. Sefriall isn’t tolerant of other religions. I bet she’ll destroy the other idols. If the emanator’s in one, she’ll do our job for us.”

  “We can’t count on it, and she won’t destroy the Cyclian idols. Ci might have put the emanator in one of those.”

  “In which case, Sefriall will move it into the temple.” Tevi shrugged. “It’s a public place. We can get at it there.”

  “Depends on how many Cyclian idols there are. If it’s just one, we ought to be able to hit it before the sentinels on duty stop us. If there’s five or six…” Jemeryl did not need to finish.

  “So you think we should try to destroy it before she has a chance to move it from the basilica?”

  “That would be nice. How long do you think we have?”

  Tevi wrinkled her nose in thought. “I guess Sefriall will start with clearing out the wreckage. Given the mess we left, it will take her people the rest of today. Tomorrow, she’ll break down the door to the balcony and retrieve any idols she finds up there.”

  “Then it has to be tonight. Do you think she’ll set a guard on the basilica?”

  “Probably.” Tevi smiled. “So isn’t it a good thing that we hung on to the sentinel uniforms?”

  *

  Tevi and Jemeryl stomped around the corner of the infirmary. The lack of synchronisation in their footsteps would not allow Tevi to think of it as marching. It was the bleak hour before dawn. The wind gusting across the herb garden was cold enough to steal the heat from Tevi’s bones. Off to the east, the sky was starting to pale, but not yet enough to show the rooftops of Kradja in silhouette. The setting moon was low on the horizon, washing the scene with pale blue.

  The basilica stood crouched before them, a paler patch against the dark mass of the temple. One small yellow lantern shone over the sentinels on guard duty by its broken doors. Tevi and Jemeryl headed directly for them, without breaking step.

  The two sentinels had been talking, huddled in the doorway out of the wind. They turned at the sound of boots hitting cobbles, but the sight of uniforms immediately put them at ease. They relaxed visibly and made no move until Tevi and Jemeryl had reached the doors.

  “Right. We’re here.” Tevi delivered the announcement in an upbeat tone to imply that she was not merely stating the obvious.

  The two sentinels exchanged a confused look. “Are you supposed to be?”

  Tevi now mimicked their confusion. “Yeah. An hour before…” She glanced at Jemeryl as if seeking confirmation. “Yeah. We…er…definitely. We’re on duty.”

  “I thought we were here till dawn.”

  “That’s not what we were told.”

  “Who by?”

  Jemeryl scowled and chimed in. “Shit. Do you mean I could have stayed in bed? It was warm there.” She started to back away.

  “Hang on.” The sentinel clearly realised he was in danger of arguing himself into a longer stint in the cold. “You sure you’re on duty now?”

  “That’s what my captain told me last night,” Tevi said.

  “Can’t tell his arse from his elbow,” Jemeryl muttered, still edging away.

  “Someone’s made a screw-up on the rota.”

  “Not the first time.”

  “So…er…”

  The first sentinel’s uncertainty was not shared by his comrade, who had been listening and watching with growing animation. She pushed in front of him. “But since you’re here, you might as well…” Not bothering to finish the sentence, she turned and immediately marched away. The clear intention was to prevent Jemeryl’s departure by beating her to it.

  The remaining sentinel took a sharp breath, a decision made. “Right. Cheers. We’ll be off.” He hurried to catch up with the woman who was already well on her way to the barracks.

  Tevi watched them go, shaking her head in disgust. “They don’t know how lucky th
ey are I’m not their commanding officer.”

  “The failings of one’s enemies are cause for celebration, not complaint.” Jemeryl grinned as she lifted the lantern off its hook by the door.

  “Unless you’re wanting excuses as to why you didn’t win.”

  “Which we’re not.”

  Tevi took one last look at the moonlit scene and then joined Jemeryl inside the basilica. All the wreckage from the afternoon’s riot had gone. The ground floor was clear. Tevi walked to the rear door and pulled on the handle.

  “Still locked,” she called over her shoulder.

  Jemeryl had turned the lantern wick up and was squinting at the dark balcony. “I can see the idols still there.”

  “Great.” Tevi unwrapped the rope from her waist and swung the grapple. “Let’s see if this works any better on the inside.”

  “Wood shouldn’t crumble like mud brick.”

  “It might if it’s rotten.”

  The grapple caught on the rail of the balcony and lodged firmly. Tevi gave an experimental tug and looked at Jemeryl. “Do you want to go first?”

  “Climbing isn’t my strong suit. You can pull me up.”

  “Have I told you that you need to take more exercise?”

  “Yes. Have you forgotten my answer?”

  By way of reply, Tevi blew a kiss.

  The balcony quivered, bouncing Tevi gently as she hauled herself up the rope, hand over hand. However, the grapple held firm and there was no sound of splintering wood. Not until Tevi reached the top of the rope did the wood start to creak. The railing spindles were leaning out at a worrying angle and did not look overly secure in their mounting, but after a bit of tricky manoœuvring Tevi was able to get her toes onto the lip of the balcony floor and roll over the handrail.

  The wooden planks of the balcony were old and worn. It was too dark to be sure, but from the rough texture under her hands, Tevi guessed they had been subject to insect attack. Fortunately, the structure still appeared sound. Tevi stood and looked around.

  The balcony was five feet wide, running in an unbroken circle around the basilica hall. The light from the Jemeryl’s lantern was just sufficient to pick out the ring of idols, staring out in silent witness. A darker patch of shadow, a short way to Tevi’s right, looked to be an archway, doubtless the top of the stairs reached from the door below.

  Tevi leaned over the railing. “Right, Jem. I’m good. Tie the rope under your arms and I’ll pull you up.”

  “How many idols are there?”

  “Loads.”

  “Any sign which one has the emanator?”

  “Don’t know. It’s too dark to see if one has a big cross painted on it. Perhaps when you bring the lantern up.”

  Jemeryl pouted at Tevi and then laughed. “Right.” She grabbed the dangling rope.

  While waiting for Jemeryl to secure herself, Tevi stood, listening to the wind gust over the roof, the trill of grasshoppers and the distant screech of a night bird. Not much longer, and their mission would be over. She was eager to leave Kradja, eager for her and Jemeryl to be back living their lives together in mundane domesticity. Saving the world was an overrated pastime. With any luck, Alendy would have too much on his plate to bother them.

  The wind dropped. In the resulting hush Tevi heard something else, faintly at first but rapidly getting louder—running footsteps, approaching the basilica.

  “Jem. There’s no time. Someone’s coming. Just grab hold.” Tevi spoke in an urgent whisper.

  Jemeryl spared one sharp glance for the door. “Right. Pull.”

  Tevi hauled on the rope. The sounds of feet were louder and closer, pounding with the hard beat of soldiers’ boots. There had to be at least a dozen sentinels. This was not a patrol returning to barracks on the double or some other unrelated group. The sentinels had urgent business at the basilica, and that could only mean one thing. The replaced sentries had not been quite so gullible as they seemed. Tevi clenched her teeth, pulling even more urgently.

  Light flared from the floor of the basilica, bright enough to reach the rafters. Voices called out. “You, stop!”

  “Quick. Archer.”

  Desperately, Tevi heaved again. Jemeryl’s hands came into sight, above floor level, clasping the rope. One more pull and Tevi would be able to grab her.

  A bowstring twanged. Jemeryl cried out and the rope went slack. At the sudden loss of tension, Tevi stumbled backwards, losing her balance and colliding with an idol.

  “Jem!”

  The answering chorus from below was jubilant. “Got her.”

  “It’s the sorcerer.”

  Tevi scrambled back to the rail. She hung over, looking down on the group clustering around Jemeryl’s crumpled body. Just in time, from the corner of her eye, Tevi saw the archer raise her bow. Tevi dived back. The arrow hit the wall above her head.

  A new, authoritative voice spoke out. “Is she alive?”

  Tevi flinched, recognising Sefriall.

  “Yes ma’am.”

  “Bring her here.”

  Jemeryl was not dead, but the situation was desperate. Quickly, Tevi pulled the rope out of the sentinels’ reach. For the moment, they could not get to the balcony, but the respite was temporary. Soon they would break down the door to the stairs, or get their own grapples. Tevi stared around wildly. The sentinels had brought more lanterns with them and the light was now strong enough to see the idols clearly. Twenty of them in a ring. Huge and heavy. She would not have the time to destroy them all. Which one was the emanator inside?

  Tevi twirled around and latched on to the idol she had previously bumped into. Time was limited. Every second would count. She had to destroy the emanator. Her hands and eyes ran over the marble statue, hunting for some sign that it had been tampered with, some clue that Ciamon hidden his emanator inside.

  “You up there,” Sefriall called out.

  “What?” Why not speak if it might buy a few moments more?

  “Give yourself up.”

  “Why?” The idol appeared intact with no joins or removable parts. Tevi moved to the next.

  “Are you a fool?”

  “Maybe. My mum said so.”

  “You can’t escape and we have your companion prisoner. If you don’t surrender, I’ll have her killed.”

  Tevi’s hands clenched on the idol. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to think rationally. “Go on, then.”

  Judging by the silence, this had not been the expected response. Tevi tried to make herself continue, but she could do nothing until she knew whose bluff would win. As Sefriall had pointed out, she was trapped. The threat to Jemeryl was purely an attempt to save a little time and effort. If Sefriall had any use for Jemeryl alive, then she would not kill her. And if Sefriall did not, then she would kill Jemeryl, regardless of whether or not Tevi gave herself up.

  Tevi scrunched her eyes shut. She knew all logic was on her side, and yet—

  The only thing that would guarantee their safety was if she found the emanator and destroyed it. Tevi opened her eyes, unclenched her fists and continued her search.

  “Let me put it another way.” Sefriall’s tone was angry. Clearly she was not used to being defied. “Give yourself up, or I’ll make your companion wish that I would have her killed.”

  A scream, sharp, piercing, and agonised, filled the basilica, echoing off the rafters, striking at Tevi’s gut. Jemeryl had made the sound. Tevi knew it. For a moment, Tevi could not move, could not speak.

  “I’ll kill her.” Tevi whispered the words under her breath. “I’ll rip her heart from her body and I’ll…”

  Again Jemeryl screamed. Tears filled Tevi’s eyes.

  “Give yourself up.”

  Tevi fought for control of her voice. “You’re not making it sound inviting.”

  “I just want information.”

  “That’s what they all say.”

  “This basilica. What’s so important about it? Why are you so keen to get in here?”

  �
�We’re just nosy.”

  “I think not. This basilica meant something to Ciamon. I know that. I saw the way he watched it. I’d wondered what was in here.”

  “Idols.”

  “What are you intending to do with them? I know you’re working for the Coven. My agents in the square recognised you this afternoon, but they couldn’t get near you with the mob. But I guessed you’d be back. That’s why I had a watch set.”

  Tevi clenched her teeth. Of course Sefriall had.

  “I’ve questioned your associates, the ones we took prisoner after your depraved attack on Toqwani, but they’ve told me nothing except sacrilegious nonsense. I know you’re planning on performing some dark ritual here. That much is obvious.”

  “There you go. If you know that, you don’t need anything more from me.”

  “Which god do you serve?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  Sefriall’s angry sigh was loud enough to be heard on the balcony, and then Jemeryl screamed again, longer and more harshly than before.

  Tevi clamped her hand over her face, furious at both herself and Sefriall. She had allowed herself to become sidetracked and waste time she did not have. She had to move on to the next idol, but her hands were shaking and her vision was so blurred that if Ciamon truly had painted a large cross on the idol, she doubted she would have been able to see it. The search was pointless. Why not just pick an idol at random and heave it off the balcony? She stood one chance in twenty that it would be right.

  The ringing clunk of metal on wood made Tevi flinch. A grapple had landed on the balcony to her right. A moment later and another followed. Sefriall had also been stalling for time. Now Tevi knew she had mere seconds left. The ropes went taut as sentinels started to climb.

  Think. Tevi stabbed the order at herself.

  On the way to the basilica, she and Jemeryl had been talking, light-heartedly running over the events of the afternoon. Jemeryl said she had known the emanator would be on the balcony because Ciamon would have put it as far from the door as possible. She had joked at the total lack of logic on his part, but she was right. It was the way Ciamon’s mind had worked. Tevi raised her head. It also meant the emanator would be in the idol furthest from the way up.