Mistress of the Night - Don Bassingthwaite [112]
"Bright Lady of the Night, lay your touch upon me!" she prayed.
Cool magic washed over her, soothing the worst of her burns. Feena gasped in relief and dodged back from another wild swing of Velsinore's rod. She darted swiftly to the side of the big cauldron, putting it between her and the tall priestess.
"You asked me another question," Feena said. "If you're a traitor, why does Selune still answer your prayers?"
"Do you have a homespun answer to that too?" asked Velsinore. She stalked around the cauldron, but Feena just moved with her. "Let's hear it."
"Selune answers your prayers so that you know her power and never forget that she's there for you. She answers your prayers so that one day you will come back to her."
Velsinore's hands slid to one end of the rod and she swept it out in a wide, flat arc. Feena ducked down and let it hum over her head. Thrusting her weight against the cauldron, she sent the huge pot screeching across the floor. Velsinore gasped and stumbled back. The iron rod went flying from her hands to ring against a distant wall.
Feena darted out. Velsinore had already recovered her balance and stood ready for her. They crouched, circling each other like animals.
"Here's a question for you, Velsinore," Feena said. "If the Sharrans are suddenly your friends and allies, what's going to happen to you when they attack Moonshadow Hall?"
"They won't attack. They're too weak, and Bolan is a coward."
"Bolan doesn't lead them any more in anything but name," Feena reminded her. "Variance does and if she's been manipulating us, she's been manipulating them."
Velsinore's face flushed red. "You're lying," she spat.
"You've deluded yourself." Feena stopped and took a slow step back from Velsinore. "Come back to Selune. You're wrong, but we all mistakes. Find your faith again and-"
"I'm not the one who's wrong and I haven't lost my faith! I never left Selune, you mangy dog!" Her eyes flashed and the fingers of one hand curled into a sign. "By the Moonmaiden's light," she howled, "let your hidden spirit be revealed!"
When Mother Dhauna had spoken the prayer, Feena had been caught off guard by the attack of a beloved friend-but she had been facing a friend. As silver light shot out from between Velsinore's fingers, Feena threw herself away across the floor. Face grim, Velsinore swept the light to follow her. On a long counter, polished pieces of silver plate had been laid out in preparation for a feast that would never happen. Feena hurled herself into the shadow of the counter just as distant shouts of alarm and confusion came echoing through the corridors and into the kitchen.
"… dark mist! There's a cloud of dark mist on the west side of the temple!"
"Take positions. Get the novices to safety. Someone summon the guard!"
"There's still a crowd outside the gates!"
"Do you hear that, Velsinore?" Feena shouted over the top of the counter. "That's your friends coming. That's the Sharrans attacking!"
"Focus, Feena," Velsinore replied. "You've never had focus. The Sharrans aren't fighting me right now. You are."
The bright moonbeam of Velsinore's spell wavered overhead as she slid closer to the counter. Feena watched the shadows dance and drew a deep breath.
"Moonmaiden guide me," she murmured.
She leaped to her feet. Moonlight washed over her, stirring the wolf within and trying to force her body to transform. Teeth clenched, she fought back the transformation as she snatched up a big silver platter from the counter and held it up like a shield.
Reflected moonlight flashed back at Velsinore.
Magic intended to affect a lycanthrope had no effect on her, but the sudden reflection of light was dazzling. Velsinore's free hand shot up to block it and she glanced away out of instinct. In that brief moment, Feena jumped up on the counter