Azure bonds - Kate Novak [173]
"No," the Turmish mage replied. "I'm simply surprised at the firmness of your theological argument."
"Halflings go to church, too, you know… sometimes."
Alias yawned. The exertions of the past month, the first month of her life, were beginning to catch up with her. "This is all very interesting," she lied, "but what I'd really like to do is catch Phalse and his master and take care of this last blasted sigil."
"But don't you see what this means?" Nameless said. "You really could be human."
"So?"
"So?" the true bard exclaimed. "Doesn't that matter to you?"
Alias shrugged again. "Dragonbait says I have a soul, and that means I'm not a thing. I've already decided that the rest doesn't matter much. Most adventurers aren't particularly fussy about whether you're human or halfling, mage or fighter, and all the rest, just so you pull your own weight and remain loyal to your party. Isn't that what you taught me?"
Nameless nodded, a little astounded that she had come to all these conclusions on her own without guidance. Perhaps, as Akabar had said, his endeavor had been blessed by the gods-better gods than Moander.
"So," Alias said, trying to steer the conversation to more practical matters, "this is the Citadel of White Exile. It used to be your home. Do you have anv idea where Phalse could be?"
"I abandoned the citadel to Phalse. Before I left, Phalse's master built a bridge from here to his own realm, which Phalse uses to report to him. It's in the courtyard below. Unless the little monster hides in one of the tower rooms, there is no place else for him to go."
"Why not? Where does that plain lead?" Alias asked, pointing across the monotonous expanse of gray below them.
"This place was built to be completely secure. Heft a rock into the sky."
Dragonbait broke off a piece of flagstone and did as the bard had instructed. The stone went up smoothly about fifty feet before it exploded in a rainbow of fireworks against the background of the white sky.
Nameless explained, "Above us is the Plane of Life, called the Positive Material Plane by sages. Any unprotected thing that enters explodes as every bit of matter within it achieves its full potential and becomes a star. There is no escape that way."
He motioned toward the gray expanse beyond. "We sit on the border between the Plane of Life and the Plane of Gems, which sages call the Para-elemental Plane of Minerals. Wordy lot, sages. Out on the Plane of Gems, all unprotected living things are relentlessly turned into crystals of stunning beauty and complete lifelessness. Phalse, as far as I know, has no protection against either of these effects. The only way to this place are the two bridges built by Phalse's master, one to his domain and one to the Hill of Fangs.
"You must be very cautious looking for Phalse. When I arrived, I was attacked by one of his master's guard beasts-all mouths and teeth. And Phalse still has Cassana's wand, which still has power over you."
Alias nodded. "What about Phalse's master?"
"None of us has ever seen him. Cassana sent someone through the portal to his domain to find out about him. Her agent was returned in pieces. The saurial can lead you to the other portal. Phalse brought him out of it. Your… shell and his body were branded in the courtyard, then brought up here and taken to the Hill of Fangs, and from there into Westgate."
"Will you be all right here alone?" Alias asked.
"Yes. The energy-wrought sky has certain healing properties. I will wait here until I feel strong enough to walk. Then I will follow you."
"Perhaps, Alias, you should remain here, too," Akabar suggested, "so that Phalse cannot use the wand on you."
"Look, Akash, whose battle is this, anyway? Phalse might try to use the wand, but I've already beaten its power once. I'm not about to cringe from it now." Then, in a more gentle tone, she asked Nameless, "Are you sure you wouldn't prefer that we waited for you to heal?"
Nameless shook his head. "You don't want to give Phalse a chance to call in reinforcements from the lower planes. If you defeat Phalse, you can