Ascendancy of the Last - Lisa Smedman [20]
"I can find my way back from any-"
"You're staying here, in the Promenade. That's an order."
Cavatina was about to protest, but something about the look in Rylla's eyes halted her. The battle-mistress nodded at the arch. "The dretch didn't get in this way-that's a oneway portal." She turned. "How else might it have gotten into the Promenade?"
Cavatina fumed, but answered the question. "Dretches are weak. This one wouldn't have been able to breach the Promenade's defenses on its own. The dretch must have been summoned here-summoned by someone already inside the Promenade."
Rylla gave a tight nod. She'd already realized this much.
"Or perhaps it came here by means of a wish spell," Cavatina concluded, still thinking of the Selvetargtlin who had carried teleportation gems into the Promenade nearly four years ago.
Rylla's expression was grave. "I've ordered a full sweep of the temple, from the High House on down."
"Remind them to report any suspicious-looking gems."
"Already done."
"Have the Protectors located Meryl yet?"
"Yes, praise Eilistraee. She's unharmed."
Cavatina sheathed her sword. "Since you won't let me pursue the dretch, you might as well tell me why you summoned me to the Promenade. Did you have a premonition that a demon would show up here?"
"Yes, I did." Rylla's sending came a heartbeat later. I need to talk to you about Lady Qiluй. That's why I sent for you. Something's… wrong with her.
Cavatina felt her eyes widen slightly. She opened her mouth to ask a question, and shut it again. She suddenly realized the dretch might be a symptom of a larger problem. It should have been impossible for it to enter the High House. Qiluй's personal wards should have banished any creature of the Abyss back to the place it came from, the instant it tried to enter her residence-especially a minor demon like a dretch. If something was interfering with Qiluй's ability to ward herself from a comparatively weak foe, Rylla had every right to be worried.
Cavatina nodded slightly, her eyes on the other priestesses. Rylla obviously hadn't shared her concerns with them. Is something eclipsing Lady Qiluй's magic? Is that why the dretch-?
Later. In private.
Rylla turned to Chizra. "Guard this portal. Don't let anything-or anyone-near it. If we manage to flush another demon out of hiding, it may head this way. It may disguise itself, as the dretch did."
The Protector nodded grimly.
"Keep watch on each of the other portals as well," Rylla continued. "Even the inactive ones. We can't be certain of the status of any of them, any more. Give each guard a scroll that will enable her to seal the portal, if necessary."
Orders given, Rylla asked Cavatina to follow her. They made their way to the battle-mistress's residence, not pausing until they reached a sitting room furnished with three crescent-shaped benches that surrounded a scrying font. Tapestries on the walls showed ebon-skinned priestesses on the hunt, swords and horns in hand. Rylla's empty scabbard lay on a bench, next to her lute…
Cavatina spoke first. "What's wrong with Lady Qiluй?"
Rylla turned-sharply-and raised a finger to her lips. No names, she signed.
The battle-mistress obviously didn't want Qiluй eavesdropping on whatever it was she was about to say. Very well; Cavatina would play along. For now. "Battle-mistress, I report as summoned. You said you wanted my assistance in organizing the patrols of the Promenade. I'm happy to advise you on how the Protectors can best be-"
"That's enough," Rylla interrupted. "If she was listening, she'll have stopped by now." She sheathed her sword and continued to the scrying font. She stared into the alabaster bowl, moved her lips in a silent message, and passed a hand just above the surface of the water.
Cavatina struggled to hold her tongue. Her impulse was to tell Rylla she was being unnecessarily cautious. People spoke Qiluй's name so frequently that it must have sounded like overlapping echoes to the high priestess. Listening in