Ascendancy of the Last - Lisa Smedman [45]
Cavatina nodded. Her thoughts were on the archway at the top of the stairs, and the ooze pressing against it. "Let's just pray that the oozes haven't fed on anyone wearing gold jewelry," she said, thinking of the sacrifice she'd seen earlier. "Or the ones that aren't ethereal will escape too."
"I hadn't thought of that," Leliana said. Then she shook her head. "But oozes are mindless things. They don't have enough intelligence to open the barrier on purpose, and the odds of any gold they carry inside them coming into contact with the barrier by random chance are small."
The Nightshadow flicked a hand. Something's happening.
"What is it?" Cavatina hissed. "The ethereal ooze?"
The Nightshadow shook his head. He slid his fingers along the intricate carving that formed the frame of the arch. "The stone feels warm," he whispered back. "I think the portal may be activating."
"Finally!" Leliana exclaimed. "Go on through, Naxil."
The Nightshadow started to move toward the arch. Cavatina caught his shoulder. "One moment, Naxil."
He halted. "Lady?"
"Once we're back in the Promenade, say nothing of the planar breach until I've had a chance to report it to the battle-mistress. We don't want to start a panic." The real reason, of course, was that she didn't want it known she'd seen the planar breach first-hand. If word of that reached Qiluй's ears, the high priestess would realize that Horaldin had not only recognized her portal for what it was, but had led Cavatina to it.
Naxil bobbed his head. "Of course, Dark Lady."
"Off you go, then," Cavatina said.
"Wait for me on the other side, Naxil," Leliana added. "I'll guide you to the Hall of Healing."
"Someone else can take him there," Cavatina said. "Battle-mistress Rylla will want to hear your observations, as well."
"But it will only take a moment to-"
Cavatina held up a warning finger. "You're coming with me. That's an order, Protector."
The Nightshadow crouched by the arch, waiting.
Leliana's cheeks darkened, but she made no further protest. "Go on through, Naxil," she said gently. "I'll catch up to you once I've made my report."
He nodded, crawled forward into seemingly solid stone, and disappeared.
As soon as he had gone, Leliana wheeled on Cavatina. "There's something you're not telling me. What is it?"
Cavatina sighed. Suddenly, she felt utterly exhausted. "Rylla will explain."
"What about Lady Qiluй? She'll want to hear our report too. Has she been called back to the Promenade?"
Cavatina hid her wince at the use of the high priestess's name. She resisted the urge to glance around. Was Qiluй now listening in on their conversation? Was Wendonai? "She'll be contacted, if Rylla deems it necessary."
" 'Necessary?'" Leliana repeated, her voice incredulous. "Of course it's necessary that Qiluй-"
"Lady Leliana," Cavatina said sternly. "This portal may only remain active for a short time, and we don't want to be trapped down here. Step through it, please. Promptly."
Visibly fuming, Leliana at last stepped into the portal. As the Protector disappeared, Cavatina briefly closed her eyes. If Qiluй had been corrupted by a demon, the Promenade was in danger from two fronts: from without and within.
What was it that Qiluй had said, when she'd ordered the attack on the Acropolis of the death goddess? The memory of that conversation returned like a chilling premonition. "Cut off the head, and the temple will fall."
"Eilistraee protect us," Cavatina whispered. "Grant that it not be so."
She squared her shoulders and walked through the "stone" that filled the arch. A heartbeat later, she emerged on the other side, within the Hall of Empty Arches. Leliana and Naxil stood there, together with Rylla, who must have been called to the hall the moment the portal reactivated.
Qiluй was just behind them.
* * * * *
Cavatina exchanged glances with Rylla as they followed Qiluй back to the Hall of the Priestesses. Leliana was