Sword of the Gods - Bruce R. Cordell [73]
Was Carmenere so important a figure in Akanûl that informality accorded to her was extended to her friends, or was it just the queen’s way?
The woman’s presence was intoxicating. Combine that with how gracious she seemed and … Demascus blinked. Don’t even go there, he told himself. The version of himself that had met the avatar of the God of Knowledge had done so with aplomb, without becoming overawed. Then again, Oghma’s avatar hadn’t been mortal, female, or as bewitching as this violet-hued stormsoul …
Demascus realized everyone was looking at him.
He coughed. Enough foolishness. Time to concentrate on why he was there. He said, “Queen Arathane, thank you again for making time for us, and I hope you’ll agree our problem is something that requires immediate attention. You see, we’ve stumbled upon a cult operating secretly in the city. A cult that professes to worship some kind of chaos demon called the Elder Elemental Eye.” To his own ears, his words sounded a little rushed.
Arathane’s eyes narrowed.
He continued, concentrating on clarity, “As it happens, we gained the attention of this cult thanks to our meddling. They’ve tried to dispatch us once already.”
The queen glanced at Carmenere, a line of worry creasing her brow.
The silverstar said, “This was before they came to me, don’t worry, Aunt.”
“Anyhow,” said Demascus, “Evidence suggests that the cult might actually be headquartered out of the Firestorm Cabal. The only problem is—”
“Explain that last statement,” said the queen. All hint of a smile was gone from her features. The silvery lines of her szuldar sparked to life.
Chant interrupted, “Your Majesty, Demascus and I took a commission from Lieutenant Leheren to look for cult activity in the tower of Chevesh, the fire mage. What we found there convinced us that, though Chevesh is definitely a crazy lunatic who bears watching and probably investigation by the peacemakers, he has nothing to do with the cult. In fact, a lead we gained there sent us back to the Motherhouse. But when we returned, we found the structure entirely destroyed.”
Demascus noticed the queen’s posture stiffen ever so slightly.
“That news is well-known,” she said. “It is a great loss.”
Then, “I appreciate you bringing your suspicions to me. I agreed to meet you because I dote on my niece and haven’t seen her in months. But I’ve got my own sources of intelligence, thanks to the Steward of Earth, and I can assure you we’re bending all available resources into determining what happened to the Motherhouse.”
“Then you already know about the Cult of the Elder Elemental Eye?” said Chant.
“I grant you, that name is new to me. You can be sure I shall immediately inform Tradrem of this potential connection.”
Chant leaned forward to speak, but the queen said in a preemptory manner, “I’ve enjoyed meeting all of you. And it’s been especially nice to see you again, Carmenere; you should come around more. But I’m afraid my free time this morning has concluded, much as I regret it.”
Arathane stood, and the rest of them scrambled to follow her lead. She swept to the exit, her gown hem wavering over the ground like a storm cloud.
Demascus said to the woman’s retreating profile, “We saw your carriage outside the Motherhouse the night before it was destroyed. And we know you asked the Cabal to look into monster attacks across Airspur.”
The queen paused at the bower’s edge. She said, “How do you know that?”
“Lieutenant Leheren told us. Before she sent us to spy on the fire mage.”
“That was injudicious of her,” said the queen. “But ultimately irrelevant.”
Demascus threw up his hands and said, “Will you just listen?”
Carmenere shot him a warning glance. Arathane rotated and let the weight of her full regard fall on him.
He swallowed and said, “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, to raise my voice. But you should know that after we left the Motherhouse to, ah, meet up with Riltana, we were attacked by another of these demonic monsters. It targeted us specifically. And now