Stardeep_ The Dungeons - Bruce R. Cordell [65]
The construct noted her glance and said, "Delphe, please allow me to apologize for my earlier lapse. Because of the attack on Stardeep's gate, I committed the bulk of my attention there. I recognize that this behavior violates protocol, and I am frankly at a loss to explain myself."
"Do you… do you suspect a breakdown of some sort?" Delphe swallowed, knowing the answer to the question was a definitive "yes," whether or not the sentient idol would admit it.
Cynosure responded, "Delphe, I am forced to confess- something is indeed interfering with my decision-making. I am unable to determine what. I recommend you take me out of the command and control loop. Doing so will eradicate the possibility that my next lapse will imperil the Well. I can use the time to trace the source of the difficulty, and if possible, remedy it."
The construct wasn't wrong, though she could hardly believe she would follow its recommendation…
Delphe's voice quavered as she responded, "I agree. I hereby command you to extricate yourself from Stardeep. Disengage all higher order functions, both in the Inner Bastion and the Outer. Please leave those functions available for Telarian and I to use manually."
"Yes, Delphe. I am retreating into my original form. I wonder what it will feel like to be singular again…"
Silence stretched. The Keeper looked up at the sculpted stone on the ceiling, knowing it was empty. Cynosure was disengaged. Had that evet happened before in Stardeep's history? Not that she could recall.
She poured her attention into the Well and anxiously studied the patterns of sigil and flame. Had the Traitor exhausted himself? A dimensional veil separated Stardeep from the invaders Cynosure had shown her. She was not planning on permitting the Causeway to be opened again anytime soon.
The most pressing question was whether the idol's leave of absence in monitoring the Well was more risky than allowing it to remain active. Cynosure had eventually perceived the escape attempt, and provided the impetus necessary to reenergize the boundary horizon. But if the construct were functioning properly, would the Traitor have been able to launch his probe in the first place? It chilled her to think the lattet might be a possibility. The heart of Statdeep's defenses may have become corrupted.
Where was Telarian? Cynosure couldn't help-perhaps could only hinder her. She and the other Keeper had to confer immediately.
She mentally extended her senses, searching for the magical ley lines that threaded Stardeep. When asked, Cynosure quickly and easily manipulated those functions on her behalf. In some ways, those functions were one and the same as Cynosure… better not to worry about that tight now.
Delphe closed her eyes and began to search the stronghold.
Telarian grabbed the sweat-slicked guardroom lever and pulled. The mechanism yielded slowly, with a drawn-out screech resembling a banshee's scream. The gate tunnel's iron-reinforced floor ratcheted into place, sealing the Knights-their corpses, at least-in their final resting places.
The Keeper rushed into the tunnel to gaze across the Causeway. He estimated the Knights who remained outside were unlikely to succeed. It was time for him to directly intervene. His grip tightened on Nis's pommel. He stepped…
The landbridge faded into pale mists.
Several blinking Knights appeared in the gateway tunnel, turned around and nauseated from their sudden recall. What-
The Causeway had closed!
"Cynosure! Open the Causeway! Immediately!"
No answer. He sheathed Nis to wipe his brow. The instant he lost contact with the hilt of his darkling sword, Telarian's composure collapsed.
With a voice now breaking with sudden fear, he called again, "Cynosure? Answer me! Cynosure, open the Gate!"
Telarian looked left, right, up, down as his mind whirled with confusion. His eyes finally settled on the two niches in the gate tunnel, one on either side. Each was filled with a hulking stone shape.