Temple of the Traveler: Book 02 - Dreams of the Fallen (43 page)

“What about for yourself?” asked Brent, sensing the loophole.

“Once, but only to say that the day I surrender the Void,” she said, sliding her eyes over to the ex-sheriff, “Tashi dies.”

Jotham pulled back. “How do you know it’s him? Are you certain?”

The seeress fidgeted. “It’s
my
reading—personal.”

Sophia tugged on her sleeve and motioned her to one side where the others would see or hear their exchange. Fingers danced. Sarajah whispered to her friend, “If we try to close the Door, one of our own will die—one of the Lovers,” to her friend. Sophia began to cry and placed a compassionate hand aside the green-eyed woman’s face.

Jotham resumed control of the camp meeting. “We need to plan our mission. Tell us what Zariah knew about the priests of the Final Temple.”

The seeress had a seat. “Not much. The ki mages are a very secretive and militant lot. I only remember meeting a few of them in the Dreaming City. I know that they manipulate a lot behind the scenes.”

“I don’t know. I just recognize puppet strings when I see them. The inner circle of ki mages like to control a lot of things in secret. They call themselves the Beyond.”

“Who are they?”

“An elite group of nine wizard-priests who underwent the final ceremony, called the Tearing of the Veil. The leader actually thrusts a sword through their heart. But, as you know, people don’t always die in that temple.”

Simon blanched. “Why would anyone let someone do that to them voluntarily?”

The seeress shrugged. “From what I’ve heard recently, I’m guessing it’s to prove their loyalty and to make it clear that they can never leave the temple grounds again.”

“But how would it benefit them?” Simon demanded, clearly upset.

The green-eyed woman stared at him. “People who have died can often see more clearly in the spirit realms. I’m told not having a body to maintain can increase the amount of energy that a wizard can drain and store.”

“Why would they need so much energy?” asked Tashi.

“The technique of Kissoomfar,” guessed Brent.

Jotham nodded and explained to the others, “They save it up for one big spell, and let it loose all at once. Usually there’s a lethal explosion. Yes, I could see them making such a sacrifice for power.”

“Yes,” agreed the boy. “I have a great memory, but he hasn’t shown me any of the neat things you can do with weapons. I’m a little jealous of what you know.”

Tashi shrugged. “I can teach you if your parents approve.”

Simon nodded. “I don’t see why the boy shouldn’t know how to defend . . .”

Both women interrupted with their objections. Sophia was the most adamant. Sarajah said, “Tashi, I would take it as a personal favor if you didn’t introduce this child to a weapon. Throws, escapes, and blocks are fine, but childhood is too short for such a burden.”

He bowed his head. “Done, in the name of harmony.”

Jotham piped in, “Madam Sophia, could you tell us what you know of the inner sanctum?”

Brent said, “I can reproduce the temple floor plans for you. I’m sure . . . Dad could do the elevations. It may take a day, but we’ll have them for you by the next meeting.”

After a brief staring contest, Sophia began to describe a long list of members of the order. Simon added to the descriptions, when he could. Since his father was a builder, he knew a lot about personalities and responsibilities from a business perspective.

Jotham vacillated, moving his head from side to side as he decided how to respond. “A marchioness is an old Imperial title for the wife of a marquis, or even a woman who bore the title herself. There isn’t really a masculine form.”

“Maybe he was married to a powerful woman and men mocked him for it,” suggested Tashi.

“Perhaps he wanted to take the name of an archfiend, with the -on suffix,” offered Sarajah. “Were there any titled men in the group that you know of?”

Jotham considered for a moment. “Oh, dear. Akashua was the Marquis of Abranega Island.”

“The former warlord who bore the One True Sword for the emperor,” explained Tashi. “That would explain how they managed to substitute a forgery before the Scattering.”

The priest paced. “This isn’t good. He’s been planning something for fifty years. We need to find out why he needed the sword and what he’s up to.” When no one could decide on a good way to accomplish that goal, he wrapped up the meeting. “So, tomorrow, we’ll plan our approach. Sheriff . . . I mean Tashi, please teach our seeress the basics of scouting.”

The seeress turned to Jotham and said, “You should take your turn with embarrassment and discomfort. The rest of us have had ours.”

“Very well, what do you need to know?”

“Given that you could’ve taken any form you wanted, why are you so old?”

The tenor considered this for a long moment. “I suppose because I was a child in Tor Mardun, and I never wanted to be vulnerable again. I wanted to be someone wise that could rescue us all but not . . . sexually threatening.”

Sarajah’s self-righteous look vanished. “I can understand that. We’re all broken here. But when you reach the final Door, don’t let fear decide who you’re going to be for the rest of your life.”

****

Tashi talked to the seeress about walking pace, moving silently, and keeping an eye out for ambush. “Sometimes an area being too quit can be a clue that there are people nearby.”

“You already said that, and quoted the holy canons on the issue,” she told him. “Can’t you talk about anything but work and religion?”

The former sheriff opened his mouth several times to speak authoritatively. Eventually, he answered with a meek, “I want to make sure you’re safe.”

“I’m not looking for protection; I can take care of myself.”

“I won’t have a defenseless woman—” Before he could finish the sentence, Sarajah had tripped him into the dirt. He twisted so that he landed face-up, but she fell on top of him. The seeress tapped him in the neck, several pain points, and groin—not hard enough to hurt, but firmly enough to show she could have.

Sitting on his chest, she replied, “I
am
a weapon. My body hunted prey for decades. Zariah used the Eye to make my muscles stronger and faster than any human should be. I could kill you and jump into the trees before anyone back there could stop me.”

A wide, stupid grin spread over his face as she sat on him, lecturing. Tashi could’ve dislodged her at any moment, but enjoyed the contact. They were both breathing hard now, and he was staring into her eyes.

“You’re impossible,” she said, rolling to the side so that he could stand. She even held out her good, right hand to help him up. Though he could roll to his feet without assistance, he took her hand as he rose. Once up, he didn’t want to let the hand go. This flustered her a little. “Surely you have something else you can talk about.”

“Work and religion are all I can remember.”

“No friends?”

“One—Babu was funny and didn’t stare at me like the others. He died the day after I met him. I never got to say goodbye or thank him.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said, genuinely. For some reason, she let him continue to hold her hand.

“It’s fine. Your boss comes to me as him sometimes. I’m not entirely certain who the real Babu is anymore. But I know Archanos, and he’s been a decent friend, given his constraints.”

“I’ll be sure to engrave that under his statue in the temple,” she said. “Tell me about what you
do
remember.”

He described traveling to old battlefields or tournaments, breathing in the hayfields, and the barest snippets of childhood. By the hour of sundown, she softened, so he felt comfortable asking, “What about you? Do you have any friends?”

“Just Brent and now his mom. Zariah didn’t trust anyone. Since they freed me, everything’s been new.”

“Would you consider me a friend?” he asked quietly. But his voice resonated with a desire for more than friendship. His hormones were holding up a big sign begging for more. But if she could avoid a physical relationship, they wouldn’t be the lovers. And if they weren’t the lovers, his life might be spared.

She gazed at him. “I’m willing to give you a chance. But I’m still a girl inside. We’ll take things slowly and see.” If he’d been a dog, his tail would’ve been wagging. He wasn’t listening, so she decided to spell it out. “Nothing physical until I have my own body again. When we get to the Door, I’ll use the magic there to change back into myself.”
Maybe a little younger
, she added silently. “If we’re ever together, I want you to be thinking about me, not Alana.”

Before she could react, he pounced, kissing her full on the lips. The kiss was awkward at first, but it warmed her all over. It was her first kiss ever and seemed to last forever. When he pulled back, she found herself wanting more.

“Sealed with a promise kiss,” he said.

If that was a down payment, the balance would’ve melted her into a puddle. After they separated, it could have been her imagination, but she could’ve sworn she saw the stains on his armor spin and get smaller. They walked for a while, hand in hand, each savoring the memory.

She was so distracted that she almost said, “Oops” when an out-of-breath panther bounded up to her. She’d inadvertently summoned him earlier when listing demon names for Jotham. Tashi dropped into a guard pose with his staff. He knew something was nearby, but not what.

“You called, mistress?” asked Bagierog.

The seeress invented a plausible mission for the panther. “Yes. Show yourself so my . . . porter can see you as well. I don’t keep secrets from him.”

Tashi had heard the voice and knew what he was up against immediately. He was only slightly shocked when the seven-foot half-beast appeared. The animal head was the only part that gave him pause—giant Dawn creatures were an everyday occurrence.

“I’d have thought him your favored,” said the Fallen.

“Because of the Eog chainmail?” she asked.

“Because of your smell rubbed over his hands, front, and face,” said the panther. “That or you were luring him into the bushes for a snack. But now that you mention it, the armor is quite lavish. Your skills continue to amaze me. What did you require, mistress? Am I to harass the army pursuing you? That’ll cost extra.”

“Army?” asked Tashi.

“Two hundred Intagliosian soldiers, about a day behind you.”

She waved her hand, pretending it didn’t matter. “We shouldn’t need to if we do this right. We’re about to invade the Final Temple. I want to know everything you can tell me about the Left Hand the elite inner circle known as the Beyond, the safest routes to their temple, and how we can avoid other Dawn creatures.”

“We have an uneasy truce with the ki mages of the Left Hand,” the panther relayed. “They can’t be defeated easily on their holy ground. But neither can the strongest of them leave.”

The seeress frowned. “Have you seen any of them using blasts of ki energy?”

The cat nodded. “I’ve also heard they crumble to dust when they leave their grounds. Their leader has sworn a non-aggression pact with us.”