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"Why?" he snarled at her.

"Motivation," she said calmly, "in case your loyalty proved less than I expected."

The elation he had felt, believing he had cast an orison, the joy he'd felt when Variance welcomed him back into Shar's grace after his encounter with Lyraene… "Ask me anything, Variance," he had said, "and I would do it. That's the debt I owe you."

He closed his eyes. He had been dancing to Variance's manipulations like a marionette on strings.

"What do you want?" he asked her.

He half-expected her to smile in triumph, but she didn't.

"Strasus Thingoleir has in his possession a collection of ancient artifacts recovered from the tunnels of Yhaunn a month ago." Variance's words were blunt, the instructions of someone who expected to be obeyed. "Among them is a set of black slate tiles hinged together like a book and inscribed with silver characters that defy translation. I want those tiles."

Keph stared at her. "How did you know about-?" He cut himself off. "Beshaba's arms. They were your goal all along. You've used me from the very beginning."

"Not the very beginning," Variance said. "It took me at least a tenday to identify you as the weakness in your father's House."

The weakness… Keph bit his tongue against a bitter laugh. So that's what he was.

"Well, this weakness isn't going to be enough for you," he told her. "My father has those tiles in his study. No one can get past the wards on it."

"You can," said Variance. "Just as you were able to place the magesbane in your brother's laboratory. Child of a doting, hopeful parent, the wards of Fourstaves House part for you." Keph's eyes narrowed and Variance smiled. "Did you really think the dust was just a whim? It was a test. You told Jarull about the wards and with some persuasion, Jarull told me. I had to be sure that it was true. Your misuse of the dust was a pleasant surprise. Perhaps Shar guided you."

"My father's study isn't my brother's laboratory. It's better protected."

"I have no doubt it is." Her voice hardened. "Retrieve the tiles and Jarull will go free. A simple exchange."

His hands curled into fists. "What if I can't get them?"

"Jarull will remain Shar's prisoner and I'll find another way to get the tiles."

Variance moved to one of the braziers that stood around the temple and lifted the lid. The smell of cold charcoal drifted out. A thin scrap of kindling lay beside the brazier. The dark priestess held it in the flame of the candle until it caught fire, then thrust it among the charcoal. She turned back to him. "I have no interest in seeing you fail, of course. I will provide a distraction to cover your theft."

"A distraction?" The thought chilled him. "What kind of distraction?"

"Mother Night?" Bolan's voice echoed from a tunnel. "Full dark has fallen. The faithful are assembled."

Breath hissed between Keph's teeth. "An attack-"

Variance's hand snapped up, holding him to silence. "Summon them to worship, Brother Night," she called back. "They will receive Shar's blessing before battle."

Keph caught the sound of Bolan's footsteps retreating up the tunnel. He looked at Variance, and she returned his gaze.

"Yes," she said. "An attack on Moonshadow Hall. The age old rivalry of Shar and Selune is brought into the open once more."

Keph's mouth gaped open for a moment before he swallowed and said, "But the memory you forced on Julith-you made her think I promised an attack. The Selunites will be expecting this. It's going to be a massacre."

"No, it would be a massacre if the Selunites were caught unprepared," said Variance. "Do you really want the distraction to be over so quickly? Don't think Shar's faithful so easily brought low. You know what they're capable of. Stand with me during the ceremony, Keph. The others need to see you."

"You want me to help you?"

Variance tilted her head and replied, "If Shar's faithful aren't properly prepared, the distraction will fail. Your supposed capture is the key to their inspiration.