Mistress of the Night - Don Bassingthwaite [116]
To the west of the temple, she could see the lingering cloud of dark mist that screams had described as she had struggled with Velsinore. A few of Selune's clerics still looked out that way, but more were racing around the roofs to take positions on the east and south as figures broke from shadows to surge around the temple walls. Feena drew a sharp breath. The mist had been a trick to draw attention from the real attack. On the east the figures had grappling hooks to attack the walls. On the south, outside the gates, they had an easier target: the mob of poor who had gathered to demand a share of the New Moon Beneficence were fleeing or falling before the screaming Sharrans. Selune's priestesses had tried to get some of the poor inside the protection of the temple. Now they struggled to close the gates against the rush of Sharrans!
There were more than just humans among the cultists, too. Feena could see some kind of beasts loping alongside them. Wolves? No, huge dogs-but not natural animals at all. Creatures summoned by dark magic. Feena growled under her breath. Cyrume, the cultist in the Stiltways- had his body been ravaged by one of those beasts in order to frame her? She struggled to turn her head, trying to see more.
Shadows crawled up the roof of the winter chapel toward the top of the walls. The Sharrans had found Moonshadow Hall's weakness. Feena tried to call out a warning to Selune's defenders.
Nothing happened. She couldn't speak. She couldn't move. She just kept rising, higher and higher above Moonshadow Hall, up toward a full moon that hung bigger, brighter, and more beautiful than any she had ever seen in her life.
A blue-haired woman stood in the air before her, soft wings beating slowly at her back, arms outstretched in welcome though her eyes seemed to hold immeasurable sorrow. Feena recognized her from legends and from the tall relief that stood against Moonshadow Hall's pale walls-one of the seven Shards, Selune's greatest servants. The Shard smiled softly, sadly, and beckoned to her.
Fear sharper than pain stabbed through Feena.
No, she whimpered silently. No, I can't. I won't. I'm needed!
"Feena! Feena!" Julith's voice called again, growing distant.
Closer-much closer-there was a growl. A chorus of growls, like a pack of wolves at her back.
No, like a Pact. Feena was aware of Niree Swifthands's lean gray form to one side of her and Rade's black bulk to the other. More animal voices rose behind her. Tyver Thorndrove's human voice rang out in triumph above them all.
"She denies death, Shard! There is still hope. She denies death!"
The Shard's beckoning gestured slowed, then stopped. Her arm fell back to her side and her eyes… her eyes shone with joy.
She faded from the sky and the glorious full moon faded along with her. Darkness fell.
A darkness that surged with whispers. Feena stared into it. Selune's warning? That couldn't be right. The New Moon Heresy was dead once more, killed along with Velsinore. The New Moon Pact had been rediscovered. What more was there?
She found her voice and called, "Tyver!"
The Peacemaker was crouched in front of her. "Feena! Feena, listen to me! The Pact-"
"The darkness, Tyver!" Feena screamed at him "What is it? I still don't understand what Selune wants of me!"
"There are things that should not be understood. There are things that must not be spoken. When the time comes, you'll know what to do," Tyver said, then he reached down and grasped her shoulders. "Feena, if you would deny death for Selune's service, enter the Pact!"
"Tyver, J don't-"
"The Pact, Feena!" Tyver shook her hard. "Enter the waters of the moon-" "Feena! "shouted Julith.
Feena coughed. Blood sprayed out of her throat and she gulped air.