Storm of the Dead - Lisa Smedman [43]
"Go on," Q'arlynd said, intrigued despite himself.
"I'll cast a tightly targeted spell into the clip and make the actions of the kiira the contingency. The instant the lorestone tries to kill me, grease will appear on my forehead. The crystal won't be able to stick. It will slide off-just like it did from the chitine."
Q'arlynd nodded to himself. So that was what had happened. Now he understood the greasy smudge he'd seen on Eldrinn's forehead when he'd found the boy on the High Moor. It explained why Eldrinn had survived his first attempt to use the lore-stone. A bit sad, really, that the boy could never be told this.
He realized that Eldrinn was still waiting for his reply. "Using the contingency clip is a clever idea…"
Eldrinn grinned.
"… but I won't allow you to risk yourself."
The grin disappeared. "It will work," Eldrinn said fervently. "I know it."
Q'arlynd stared down at the kiira. "I'm sure it will."
Zarifar was still playing with the ash, but Baltak and Piri watched Q'arlynd intently.
"It's Eldrinn's life," Baltak rumbled. "If he wants to-"
"No," Q'arlynd said. The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them. "I'll do it."
Eldrinn's mouth opened in surprise.
"Your contingency clip," Q'arlynd asked him. "It's something any wizard can use, right?"
Eldrinn was about to lie-Q'arlynd could see it in his eye-but then reluctantly nodded. "As long as you're wearing it, yes."
"Even if it's you who casts the spell into the clip?"
Another grudging nod.
"Good," Q'arlynd said. "Do it, but make the contingency that will trigger the spell a little broader. Instead of something that will 'kill' me, word it so that anything that might 'damage' me will trigger the spell. Is that clear?"
Eldrinn nodded.
In another moment, all was ready. The contingency clip had been ensorcelled and clipped to Q'arlynd's hair. The kiira was in his hands. All that remained was to press it to his forehead.
Q'arlynd hesitated. Did he dare?
Of course he did. He must. It would be just like free-falling from a ledge. Whatever happened, the contingency clip would pull him up in time. Already his blood pounded in anticipation of the mental jump.
He motioned Eldrinn and the others away from the chair, then sat down. Slowly, he lifted the kiira to eye level. All of the others stared at him, even Zarifar. "Link with me," he told them.
They did.
Q'arlynd paused to give a mental nod to the others. Baltak stood braced and steady on his wide feet, Zarifar closed his eyes and once again imagined a pattern drawn between them. Piri hovered near the door, seemingly ready to bolt through it. Eldrinn nodded vigorously, as if to assure Q'arlynd that it was, really, all right.
Wherever the kiira took Q'arlynd, they were ready to come along.
"Wish me luck." Q'arlynd pressed the kiira to his forehead.
Eldrinn's eyes sparkled. "Good-"
* * * * *
Q'arlynd shivered. Cold. He felt cold. His legs trembled.
He put out a hand to steady himself and touched stone. He glanced up and saw that he was standing in front of a massive stone door. The carvings on it looked familiar, but he couldn't quite figure out why. He knew he'd seen the door somewhere before, but…
Where in the Abyss was he?
Below ground, somewhere in the Underdark. Somewhere he didn't recognize at all. A corridor stretched away behind him, its walls illuminated with the faintest shimmer of Faerzress, and dead-ended at the door. There was a musty smell in the air, and dust on the floor. And footprints-a lot of footprints. And tools. Picks, pry bars, and-Q'arlynd jumped back in alarm when he saw it-a stonefire bomb, like the ones that had laid waste to Ched Nasad. The bomb was spent, though, its magical fire long since spilled. There was a deep, charred hole in the stone just to the right of the door. Q'arlynd peered into