Lady of Poison_ The Priests - Bruce R. Cordell [87]
"I'm looking for anything that we can use to our advantage," huffed the wizard.
Ahead of Marrec, Victoricus slid to a halt before a salt-white dome. They had traveled several hundred yards, picking their way through the vault field, and Marrec decided they might well be in the center of the cavern.
The ice demon pointed to the vault and said, "The Queen Abiding's token lies within."
Apprehensive that Eschar was watching them, so close to their goal, they spread out around the dome, looking for a door, window, or even a crack large enough to provide entry. The dome, like many of the smaller containers surrounding it, seemed sealed but unbroken. As far as Marrec could determine, the dome was carved of a single piece of limestone.A line of symbols ran around the periphery of the dome. That was all.
Dissatisfied with the time they were spending, Marrec grunted, "I suppose these are in the language of ancient Narfell?" He pointed to the symbols. He couldn't understand why Eschar hadn't already attacked them. His neck hair continually prickled, but no threat materialized to justify his tension. Yet.
Ususi studied the symbols. She read, translating, "Once for the First; Twice for the Archduke; Thrice for the Viscount; Four revolutions for the dual lords; Five for the Prince, Six for the Hag; Seven for the Seventh; Eight for the Eighth, and Nine for the King."
"That doesn't sound like a healthy litany," noted Elowen, looking around nervously.
"It does have the sound of a summoning, doesn't it," mused Ususi.
"Is it?" asked Marrec.
The wizard shrugged, said, "I do not believe so, no, but it does remind me of something." She pulled upon the flaps of one of her voluminous side satchels in which she carried various slim tomes and parchments covered in crabbed runes, sorted through the contents, then pulled forth a slender volume bound in blue leather. The edges were crumbling, and the symbols were faded, though they seemed similar to those on the dome.
Ususi explained, "This tome is banned in some cities of Faerun, if you can believe it. Some people don't understand that to fight demons and devils you have to first recognize them.".
Marrec's eyes widened. He asked, "You carry a tome of demonology?"
The wizard said, "I carry many bits of knowledge. You never know when you'll stumble upon something better left alone, but how would you know it, unless you can identify it as such? Ah hah!" her finger, scanning lines, stabbed at an entry.
Ususi said, "The writing on the dome refers to the Lords of Hell itself."
All stood silent a moment, digesting the mage's pronouncement. Finally Marrec said, "So… what now? Are we dealing with something far beyond our ability? A gate straight into Hell? I hate these damned Nar sorceries."
"I'm not sure, but I suspect it is a riddle, merely playing with the names of Hell. If we can answer the riddle, I predict we can open the dome and reveal the queen's token, along with whatever else Eschar stores here."
"And Eschar himself, no doubt," muttered Gunggari.
"Hold on; why devils?" asked Marrec. "Aren't the Nar known for the demons they kept in thrall?"
Ususi replied, "Demons, devils, 'loths… the Nar were not picky in those creatures they pressed into service. We say demons, but the Nar embraced a much wider swath of foulness."
Elowen wondered, "These devils are called the First, the Second, and so on?"
"Yes, well, that is only part of their name. For instance, a devil named Bel is Lord of the First. The Lord of the Second is Dispater."
Marrec studied the dome for any activity following the utterance of the names. Nothing visibly changed. He said, "You said something about revolutions. Does that have something to do with the position of the moons around Faerun?" Marrec was rightfully proud of his astronomical knowledge.
"Maybe, but that would severely limit the times Eschar could get into his centermost stash," said Ususi.
"Though he can flit into and out of spaces magically," noted Gunggari.
Ususi nodded but said, "Let's try this-walk around the dome nine times. During