Amber and Iron - Margaret Weis [48]
“Mina!” Jenna returned, astonished. “I don’t see why you find her so intriguing. The girl has no mind of her own. She was once a pawn of Takhisis. Now she’s a pawn of Chemosh. She’s merely traded one master for another.”
“I find it intriguing that it is the mark of her lips that is burned into the flesh of these wretched creatures,” said Dalamar.
“Please don’t doodle!” said Jenna, placing her hand over his. “The last time you did that, you burned a hole in the table. As for Mina, she is nothing more than a pretty face Chemosh uses to lure young men to their doom.”
Dalamar rubbed out the sigil with the sleeve of his black robe. “Nevertheless, I believe that she is the key that will unlock the door to this mystery.”
Nuitari was not surprised that his wizard’s thoughts tended in the same direction as his own. The bond between Nuitari and Dalamar was a close one. The two, god and mortal, had endured many trials together. Nuitari planned to eventually establish Dalamar as the Master of the Blood Sea Tower. Not just yet, however. Not until everything was settled with his two cousins.
“I’ll wager you wouldn’t be so interested in Mina if she were an old hag like myself,” said Jenna, giving Dalamar’s hand a teasing slap.
Dalamar took her hand and brought it to his lips. “You will never be an old hag, my dear. And you well know it.”
Jenna, who did know it, smiled at him and returned to business.
“Do you have anything to add, Mistress Coryn?”
“Judging by the clue the Beloved gave you, the way to destroy these things will not be easily discovered by anyone—cleric, wizard, or sorcerer. I would suggest that those apprentices currently studying in the Tower be instructed to search among the old records for some mention of similar beings, particularly in regard to Chemosh.”
“They are already at work,” said Jenna. “I have also contacted the Aesthetics and asked them to research the books in the Great Library. I do not believe that they will have much success, however. So far as I know, nothing like these Beloved have been seen upon Ansalon. Is there anything else? Any other questions?”
Jenna cast a glance around the table. The wizards sat in gloomy silence, shaking their hooded heads.
“Very well, then. Let us move on. The Conclave will now consider the guidelines that wizards will be required to follow if they come upon any of these Beloved. First and foremost, we must find some means of detecting them.”
“And of protecting the innocent, who are bound to be falsely accused,” added a White Robe.
“And of protecting ourselves, who are bound to be falsely accused,” said a Black Robe.
“And so it seems to me …” said a Red Robe.
Nuitari turned away. Such discussions would likely go on for hours before consensus was reached.
“My cousins,” he said. “I would speak with you.”
“You have our full attention, Cousin,” said Lunitari, and Solinari, coming to stand by her side, nodded his head.
The three gods had been watching the proceedings from their heavenly plane and, despite the fact that no mortal eye could see them, each took on his or her favorite aspect. Lunitari appeared as a vivacious, red-haired woman wearing red robes trimmed in ermine and gold. Solinari took the form of a young and physically powerful man. His robes were white, trimmed in silver. Nuitari took his usual form, that of a man with a moon-round face, heavy-lidded eyes and full lips. His jet-black robes were plain and unadorned.
Lunitari guessed immediately that something was up.
“You have information about these Beloved, Cousin,” she said, excited. “Chemosh has said something to you.”
Nuitari was scornful. “Chemosh is too busy strutting about being cock of the walk to talk to me. He believes he has done something quite clever. Personally, I am not all that impressed. A way will be found to destroy these shambling corpses, and that will put an end to that.”
“Then what do you want to speak to us about?” Solinari asked.
“I have built a Tower of High Sorcery,” said Nuitari. “My own tower.”
His two cousins stared