Sword of the Gods - Bruce R. Cordell [26]
Demascus said, “The demons I discovered were in an old shrine dedicated to animal spirits of some sort.”
“Exactly. For some reason, demonic creatures are popping up where spiritual energy once flowered. Such places are acting like beacons to these horrors. We have to find out why. Are you interested in helping us?”
Demascus blinked. “What? Me?”
“You seem the type; you showed up here to tell us what you’d found, as your friend indicated. In my experience, people who stumble upon an awful scene like the one you describe turn the other way and run. They don’t wonder how to fix the situation—they think only of saving their own skin. You picked up a sword and dealt with the threat that remained.”
“Actually, it caught me by surprise. I had no choice but to fight. It was lucky I managed to kill it. I’m no hero, if that’s what you’re implying.”
His denial tasted false in his mouth. The reclaimed memory of his stand against an undead host argued that he had faced down evil, and maybe’d been pretty good at it. His brows furrowed.
Leheren said, “But here you are, one monster to your credit, and obviously a desire to find out more. So, I’ll ask once more: do you want to help us figure out what’s going on and put a stop to it?”
“I want to find out what’s going on.” Including who the Hells I am, he didn’t say. “So, yes, I’d like to help, if I can.”
The woman glanced at Chant. “And you?”
The pawnbroker coughed and said, “I assume standard contractual terms apply?”
Leheren nodded impatiently. “Yes, I’ll pay you, if that’s what you’re asking!”
“Then, by all means, I’m interested in hearing what you have to say.”
“Good, because I’ve just thought of a task for you two. Based on how easily you walked into the Motherhouse, your talents seem suited for gathering reconnaissance. I need you to look into someone for me. Someone who I’d rather didn’t find out that the Firestorm Cabal is taking a closer look at his operations.”
Jett said, “Leheren, you’re too quick to trust these two strangers. And besides, I thought we decided not to risk antagonizing the fire wizard.”
“That hadn’t been decided,” Leheren said. “And, yes, I’m aware enlisting these two smacks of desperation. But we need answers. And besides, I prefer to think I’d be a fool if I did not take advantage of what’s just dropped in our lap.” She pointed at Demascus and Chant.
“You want to send us to spy for you because if we’re caught, you’ll have plausible deniability?” asked the pawnbroker.
“Perceptive,” said the lieutenant.
“Who do you want us to spy on?” said Demascus.
“A wizard named Chevesh. He’s got a tower in Airspur—”
“What’s Chevesh got to do with the demons at the shrine?” interrupted Demascus. Was Leheren sending them off in a direction that had nothing to do with his missing memory?
The lieutenant raised a placating hand and continued, “Everyone knows Chevesh has dabbled too deeply in fire magic, and his mind has cracked. But he’s too powerful to risk annoying on mere suspicion, so people in Airspur leave him to his pursuits. But on my list of who might be responsible for summoning demons randomly into the city, Chevesh is in the top three. He’s been sanctioned before for destructive experiments involving the Elemental Chaos.”
Something connected in Demascus’s memory. He blurted, “That’s where demons come from; the Abyss swirls at the center of the Elemental Chaos.”
“Right.” She raised an eyebrow at him, but went on, “However, suspicion isn’t evidence. We can’t just barge into his tower with an elite Cabal strike force without some sort of proof. The Order of the Firestorm