Curse of the Shadowmage - Mark Anthony [40]
Mari wanted to say how sorry she was, but the words would not come, so she settled for gripping Jewel's hand fiercely. Jewel laughed and caught Mari in a maternal embrace. "There's no need to cry, Mari. Don't you see? We've already become friends."
Despite a flood of tears, Mari couldn't help laughing, for it was true.
It was Cormik who politely reminded them all why they had come to Jewel's invisible tower, and they got down to business. It took some time to recount all they knew concerning Caledan's transformation, yet Mari was amazed that Jewel absorbed it so quickly and with such aplomb.
"I have heard of this Stiletto," Jewel confessed when Mari finally finished. "But I'm afraid I know very little about him."
"Very little would be more than I know at the moment," Cormik replied gruffly.
"Why doesn't that surprise me in your case, Cormik?" Jewel asked smartly. "As far as my sources have been able to determine, Stiletto is a new underworld power in the Western Heartlands. He-or she, for no one really knows-appeared about two years ago, and since then has quickly risen to power in the world of thievery. Each day, more and more underworld operations fall under Stiletto's control. Every thieves' guild west of the Sunset Mountains has felt Stiletto's bite, and I'm afraid the
Talondim clan is no different. We're all losing obscene amounts of money, so you can imagine that the location of Stiletto's base of operations is something every guild-master and crime lord in the Western Heartlands would give his pickpocketing hand to know. Despite all our efforts, Stiletto has managed to keep his lair-and his identity-a secret."
Mari chewed her lip in thought. "Well, at least now we know that Stiletto is somewhere in the Western Heartlands. That narrows it down a bit."
"Oh, indeed," Cormik replied drolly. "Now we have only a quarter of a continent to search rather than the whole thing."
Mari scowled at him. "I was just trying to look on the bright side."
"I think you'll have to look harder," Morhion advised gloomily. "I fear we have little chance of finding Stiletto before Caledan does. I have no doubt that the Shadow-star beckons Caledan. It may take time, but eventually its call will lead him to Stiletto."
Jewel gave the mage an appraising look. "At the risk of uttering the obvious, why don't you just let Caledan do the work for you?" Mari, Morhion, and Cormik stared at her, uncomprehending. "Think of it, loves. If Caledan is going to try to get the Shadowstar from this Stiletto, then why don't you simply follow Caledan for now, and ask questions about Stiletto along the way? You might get lucky and learn where Stiletto is in time to beat Caledan there. And if not, at least you won't be far behind."
New hope flooded Mari's chest. It wasn't perfect, but it was a plan. "Jewel, you're brilliant!"
The matriarch of the Talondim clan shrugged modestly. "It's a gift."
Eight
The gateway was ready. Morhion stepped back and regarded the stone arch.
With red ochre, for power, he had outlined the runes carved into the rock. In front of the arch he had laid down a pathway of willow branches to symbolize travel. At present, the archway opened onto only a wall of rough-hewn stone. But when he spoke the word of opening…
The gateway stood in a chamber beneath Morhion's tower. It had been placed here by the powerful mage who had first raised the spire, three centuries ago. Yet the gateway was an artifact whose age was better measured in eons. It had taken Morhion long years of study to unlock the gateway's secrets. Even now, he was not certain that he truly understood the arch's ancient, alien magic.
"You risk great peril by using the gateway, Morhion," a sepulchral voice spoke behind him.
Morhion spun around, breathing in air suddenly turned chill. The hateful word escaped his lips with a hiss. "Serafi."
The spectral knight drifted closer, bringing with him the scent of dry dust and rot. His eyes glowed like drops